The Grateful Servant (The Faithful Servant) · chunk 15 of 38
Shirley, James · published 1630 · first performed or written 1629 [licensed for stage, Nov 3] (Annals) comedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.79 · 495 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
She kissed him, did she not? She kissed. He did salute her? Yes my Lord. And didst not see a flame hang on her lip, A spirit busy to betray her love, And in a sigh convey it to him? Oh, Thou canst not read a woman, did he not Woe her to be his Duchess? Yes my Lord. Thou shouldst ha' watched her cheek then, there a blush Had cene a guilt indeed, a feeble answer, With half a smile, had been an argument ee had beene lost, and the temptation Above her strength, which had I known, I could Ha' slept, and never been disturbed, although I had met her in a dream. My Lord, you weare A causeless trouble to yourself. Oh jealousy. I am ashamed— If ever woman loved With faith, Cleona honours you above Mankind, 'twere sin but to suspect so chaste, So furnished with all virtue, your Cleona, It were indeed, I am too blame Dulcino, Yet when thou comest to beso ripe, for so Much misery, as to love, thou wilt excuse me, My Lord if I might not offend with my Opinion, it were safest that you lose No time, your presence would confirm a joy To either, and prevent the Duke, whose strong Solicits, may in time. endanger much The quiet of your thoughts. Why can there be suspition she will vary, do not choke The confidence thou hadst, unsettle not, The faith I have in thee, she can prove false. Mistake me not, I do not doubt her truth, But she's a woman, and if you delay To interpose yourself, his greatness may In time, without injustice to your love, Win upon her affection, you shall do A great impiety to 〈◊〉 her now. With so much proof, and loyalte of honour. On never, never, and I will 〈◊〉 her low▪ beyond example, thus Dulci The 〈◊〉 return. My Lord I had much rather Wait on you to her. jush, thou understandest not What I have purposed, thou shalt presently Go back, and tell Cleona, I am dead. How dead? I boy, that I am dead, may mark The issue. But my Lord, she hath your Letter To check that. Thou shalt frame something, to take That off, some fine invention may be made, To say 'twas forged, wee'll study that anon, In the assurance of my death, which must Be so delivered, as she shall believe thee, She may affect the Duke. How Sir, the Duke? I, I, the Duke, for that's the plot, I must advance. And will you thus reward So great a love to you. Best, best of all, Shall I be so ungrateful to a Lady, Of such rare merit, when a Prince desires To make her great, by my unworthy interest Destroy her blessings, hinder such a fortune From fair Cleona, let her love the Duke, In this I will express the height, and glory Of my best service.
seed 43: T0 · seed 44: T0 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
She kiss'd him, did she not? She kiss'd. He did salute her? Yes my Lord. And didst not see a flame hang on her lip, A spirit busie to betray her loue, And in a sigh conuey it to him? Oh, Thou canst not read a woman, did he not Woe her to be his Dutchesse? Yes my Lord. Thou shouldst ha watcht her cheke then, there a blush Had cene a guilt indeed, a feeble answere, With halfe a smile, had beene an argument ee had beene lost, and the temptation Aboue her strength, which hd I knowne, I could Ha slept, and neuer beene disturb'd, although I had met her in a dreame. My Lord, you weae A causelesse trouble to your selfe. Oh Iealousie. I am asham'd— If euer woman lou'd With faith, Cleona honours you aboue Mankind, 'twere sinne but to suspect so chast, So furnish'd with all vertue, your Cleona, It were indeed, I am too blame Dulcino, Yet when thou com'st to beso ripe, for so Much miserie, as to loue, thou wo't excuse me, My Lord if I might not offend with my Opinion, it were safest that you loose No time, your presence would confirme a ioy To eyther, and preuent the Duke, whose strong Solicits, may in time. endanger much The quiet of your thougts. Why can there be Supition she will varie, doe not chke The confidence thou hadst, vnsettle not, The faith I haue in thee, shee cn proue false. Mistake me no, I do not doubt her truth, But shee's a woman, and if you dlay To inerpose your selfe, his Greatnesse may In time, without iniustice to your Loue, Winne vpon her affction, you shall doe A great impietie to her now. With so mch proofe, and loyale of honour. On neuer, neuer, and I will Hr lo ▪ beyond example, thus Dulc Th returne. My Lord I had much rather Waite on ou to her. Iush, hou vnderstandst not What I haue pupos'd, thou shal presently Goe backe, and tell Cleona, I am dead. How dead? I boy, that I am dead, may marke The isue. But my Lord, she hath your Letter To checke that. Thou shalt frame something, to take That off, some fine inuention may be made, To say 'twas forg'd, wee'l study that anon, In the assurance of my death, which must Be so deliuered, as she shall beleeue the, She may affct the Duke. How Sir, the Duke? I, I, the Duke, for that's the plot, I must aduance. And will you thus reward So great a loue to you. Best, bst of all, Shall I be so vngratefull to Lady, Of such rare merit, when a Prince desires To make her geat, by my vnworthy interest Destroy her blessing, hinder such a fortun From faire Cleona, let her loue the Duke, In this I will expresse the height, and glorie Of my best seruice.