The Grateful Servant (The Faithful Servant) · chunk 16 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 T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim typicality 0.85 · 491 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
Are you sir in earnest? I love her, and can never see her more, Posterity shall learn new piety In love from me, it will become me look on, Cleona a far off, and only mention Her name, as I do Angels in my Prayer, Thus she deserves I should converse with her▪ Thus I most nobly love her. Doth she languish Expecting you, and shall I carry death To comfort her? good heaven forbidden this Sir. Heaven d●… 〈◊〉 me to it, she shall reign Glorious in power, while I let fall my beads That she might prosper, be not thou an enemy To her and me, I see thovart unwilling To this employment, if thoust any wish To see me happy, to preserve my life, And honour, which was never more engaged, If I shall think thou art not very wicked, A false, dissembling boy, deny me not This office, use what circumstance thou wilt, To thrive in this report, and thy sad breath, Shall give a failed, save a real death. I'm lost i'th' springing of my hope, shall I Obey him to destroy myself? I must, I dare not be myself, no need have they▪ Of other force, that make themselves away. I smell a match again, the Duke will fetch her about, here was another Ambassadour at Dinner, and his highness is again expected, in confidence of my place that shall be, I will continue my state posture, use my toothpick with discretion, and cough distinctly, what can hinder my rising? I am no scholar, that exception is taken away, for most of our states men, do hold it a saucy thing, for any of their servants, to be ●…ser than themselves, observe the inventory of a great noble man's house, mark the number of the learned, I'll begin with them. imprimis, chaplains and school▪ masters one, two pages, 3. Gentlemen, 4. Footmen, 6. Horses, 8 serving creatures, and 10. couple of Dogs. a very Noble family. Worthy Sir— My Lady shall be at leisure for you presently— It may be you would speak with me first? I only entreat my Lady may have knowledge that I wait here. I will enrich my Lady's understanding, I'll say nothing else but that you are here shall I? that's enough if you have another Letter. What then? I would wish you deliver it to her own hand, but under your favour, the contents of the last Chapter, had like to undone us all, and Cupid had not been more merciful. Fear nothing, the news I bring, will make you merry. I'd laugh at that, howsoever you are hearty welcome and ever shall be, you do hear no harm of the Duke? No harm? You shall hear more shortly, I say no more, but heaven bless my Lady and his highness together, for my part though I speak a proud word— I'll tell my lady that you attend her.
seed 43: T5 · seed 44: T29 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Are you sir in earnest? I loue her, and can neuer see her more, Posteritie shall learne new pietie In loue from me, it will become me looke on, Cleona a farre off, and onely mention Her name, as I doe Angels in my Prayer, Thus she deserues I should conuerse with her▪ Thus I most nobly loue her. Doth shee languish Expecting you, and shall I carry death To comfort her? good Heauen forbid this Sir. Heauen d me to it, she shall raigne Glorious in power, while I let fall my beads That she might prosper, be not tho an enemy To her and mee, I see thouart vnwilling To this imployment, if th'ast any wish To see me happy, to preserue my life, And honour, which was neuer more engag'd, If I shall thinke thou art not very wicked, A false, disembling boy, deny me not This office, vse what circumstance thou wilt, To thriue in this report, and thy sad breath, Shall giue a faied, saue a reall death. I'me lost ith springing of my hope, shall I Obey him to destroy my selfe? I must, I dare not be my selfe, no neede haue they▪ Of other force, that make themselues away. I smell a match agen, the Duke will fetch her about, here was another Ambaadour at Dinner, and his Highnesse is againe expected, in confidence of my place that shall bee, I will continue my state posture, vse my toothpicke with discretion, and cough distinctly, what can hinder my rising? I am no Scholler, that exception is taken away, for most of our states men, doe hold it a sawcie thing, for any of their Seruants, to be ser then themselues, obserue the inuentorie of a great Nobl mans house, marke the number of the learned, Ile begin with them. mprimis, Chaplaines and Schoole▪ masters one, two Pags, 3. Gentlemen, 4. Footemen, 6. Horses, 8 Seruing crures, and 10. couple of Dogs. a very Noble family. Worthy Sir— My Lady shall be at leisure for you presently— It may bee you would speake with mee first? I only entreat my Lady may haue knowledge that I wate hee. I will enrich my Ladies vnderstanding, Ile say nothing else but that you are here shall I? that's enough if you haue another Letter. What then? I would wish you deliuer it to her owne hand, but vnder your fauour, the contents of the last Chapter, had like to vndone vs all, and Cupid had not bin more mercifull. Feare nothing, the newes I bring, will make you merry. de laugh at that, howsoeuer you are heartily welcome and euer shall bee, you doe heare no harme of the Duke? No harme? You shall heare more shortly, I say no more, but heauen blesse my Lady and his Highnesse together, for my part though I speake a proud word—Ile tell my Ldy that you attend her.