The Grateful Servant (The Faithful Servant) · chunk 19 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 unassigned nearest T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour · 501 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
Begun, And never see me more, who ever knew Falsehood so ripe at thy years? Is not yet My poor heart broke? hath nature given it So strong a temper, that no wound will kill me? What charm was in my gratitude to make me Undo so many comforts with one breath, Or was it for some sin I had to satisfy? I have not only widowed Cleona, But made myself a misery beneath, An orphan, I ne'er came to have a friend, I ha' destroyed my hope, that little hope, I had to be so happy. Is't e'en so? My friend, what make you here? who sent for you? Begun dye hear, begun I say the word too, there is a Porters lodge else, where you may have due chastisement, you'll begun. I'm sorry, I have offended Sir. So am not I, Let me see, somebody is dead, if I knew who, no matter 'tis one that my Lady loved, and I am glad to hear it, for mine ownsake, now Venus' speed the Duke's plough and turn me lose to a privy counsellor. Signior Jacomo, where's your Lady? She is within my good Lord, wilt please you walk this way? Prithee make haste, the Duke is coming. I small him hither to, So so, I will take this opportunity, to present myself to his highness, that he may take particular notice, of my bulk and personage, he may chance speak to me, I have common places to answer any ordinary question, and for other, he shall find by my impudence, I come not short of a perfect Courtier. Here he comes, I will dissemble some contemplation, and with my hat on, give him cause to observe me the better. What fellows that? A servant of Cleona's. Signior? Your highness' humble creature, you have blessed my lips, and I will wear them threadbare, with my prayers, for your grace's immortal prosperity. Soranzo is returned, How fares Cleona? My Lord not well, I found her full of sadness, which is increased, she cannot as becomes her duty, observe your highness. One word with your Grace in private, she is as well, as either you, or i Sayest thou so? There came indeed before you certain news, that a noble Gentleman, I know not who, and therefore he shall be nameless, but some dear friend of hers, is dead, and that's all, and that has put her into a melancholy mood, with your gracious pardon, if I were worthy to be one of your counsellors— What then? I would advise you, as others do, to take your own course, your Grace knows best, what is to be done. So Sir; Didst thou not see that pretty boy I told thee of? No my good Lord. We are resolved to comfort her, set forward. You had simple grace? A touch or so, abeame with which his highness, Doth use to keep desert warm, good my Lord, It is not come to that yet.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Begon, And neuer see me more, who euer knew Falshood so ripe at thy yeares? Is not yet My poore heart broke? hath nature giuen it So strong a temper, that no wound will kill me? What charme was in my gratitude to make me Vndoe so many comforts with one breath, Or was it for some sinne I had to satisfie? I haue not onely widowed Cleona, But made my selfe a miserie beneath, An Orphant, I nere came to haue a friend, I ha destroy'd my hope, that little hope, I had to be so happy. Is't e'ne so? My friend, what make you here? who sent for you? begon dee heare, begon I say the word too, there is a Porters lodge else, where you may haue due chastisement, youle begon. I'm sorry, I haue offended Sir. So am not I, Let me see, somebody is dead, if I knew who, no matter 'tis one that my Lady lou'd, and I am glad to heare it, for mine ownesake, now Uenus speed the Dukes plough and turne me loose to a priuy Conncellor. Signior Iacomo, where's your Lady? She is within my good Lord, wilt please you Walke this way? Prethee make hast, the Duke is comming. I small him hither to, So so, I will take this opportunity, to present my selfe to his Highnesse, that hee may take particular notice, of my bulke and personage, hee may chance speake to me, I haue common places to answer any ordinary question, and for other, he shall find by my impudence, I come not short of a perfect Courtier. Here hee comes, I will dissemble some contemplation, and with my hat on, giue him cause to obserue me the better. What fellowes that? A Seruant of Cleona's. Signior? Your Highnesse humble creature, you haue blest my lips, and I will weare them thredbare, with my prayers, for your Graces immortall prosperitie. Soranzo is return'd, How fares Cleona? My Lord not well, I found her full of sadnesse, which is increast, shee cannot as becomes her duty, obserue your Highnesse. One word with your Grace in priuate, shee is as well, as either you, or I. Sayst thou so? There came indeed before you certaine newes, that a noble Gentleman, I know not who, and therefore he shall bee namelesse, but some deare friend of hers, is dead, and thats all, and that has put her into a melancholy mood, with your gracious pardon, if I were worthy to bee one of your Counsellours— What then? I would aduise you, as others doe, to take your owne course, your Grace knowes best, what is to be done. So Sir; Didst thou not see that pretty boy I told thee of? No my good Lord. We are resolu'd to comfort her, set forward. You had simple grace? A touch or so, abeame with which his Highnesse, Doth vse to keepe desert warme, good my Lord, It is not come to that yet.