The Grateful Servant (The Faithful Servant) · chunk 24 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 T35 Fools, wit and railing · 496 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T35: fool, wit, aristippus, achilles, wise, fools, patroclus, thersites, master, men.
You are then a novice in the Art of Venus, and will tell Tales out a'the school, like your weak Gallants o'the first chin, that will brag what Ladies they have brought to their obedience, that think it a mighty honour, to discourse how many forts they have beleaguered, how many they have taken by battery, how many by composition, and how many by Stratagem; that will proclaim, how this Madam kisses, how like ivy the t'other bona Roba embraced 'em, and with what activity, a third plays her amorous prize, a fine commendation for such whelps is't not? A fault, a fault, who can deny it? But what are those you practice with? A touch, come, what Commodities? Not Sale-ware, Mercenary stuff, that ye may have i'th' Suburbs, and now maintain traffic with ambassador's servants, nor with Laundresses, like your Students in Law, who teach her to argue the case so long, till she find a Statute for it, nor with mistress silkworm in the city, that longs for cream and cakes, and loves to Cuckold her Husband in fresh air, nor with your waiting Gentlewoman, that is in love with poetry, and will not part with her honour, under a copy of fine verses, or an Anagram, nor with your course Lady herself, that keeps a Stallion and cousin's the old Knight, and his two pair of Spectacles, in the shape of a servingman, but with your rich, fair, high▪ fed, glorious and springing catamountains, Ladies of blood, whose eyes will make a soldier melt, and he were composed of marble, whose every smile, hath a magnetic force to draw up souls, whose voice will charm a satire, and turn a man's prayers into ambition, make a Hermit run to Hell for a touch on her, and there hug his own damnation. I have heard you, and now I think fit to discover myself to you, you are a rascal. Sir, I think I am one. Let not your wisdom think, I can be so easily guide. How Sir? How think you have talked very methodically, and cunningly all this while, and that I am as they say, a credulous coxcomb, and cannot perceive, that by your politic jeers upon my pleasures, you labour to discredit, not only my recreations, but myself to my own face, D'ye hear? the time may come you will not dare these things, and yet you shall see, I will not now so much as seem angry, preserve your humour, 'twill appear fresh o'ch. my learned Gymnosophist, very well, excellent well. Why does not your Lordship believe me then? dost thou think throughout the year, I will lose one minute of my pastime, for this your toothless satire▪ your mock▪ balled, go get some pretty tune, 'twill do you a great deal of credit, the next Lent to be presented by folly in an Anti maske mask, i'll to a wench presently. I came to carry you to one.
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)
You are then a Nouice in the Art of Uenus, and will tell Tales out a'the Schoole, like your weake Gallants o'the first chin, that will brag what Ladies they haue brought to their obedience, that thinke it a mighty honour, to discourse how many Fortes they haue beleaguerd, how many they haue taken by battery, how many by composition, and how many by Stratagem; that will proclaime, how this Madam kisses, how like Iuie the tother bona Roba embraced em, and with what actiuity, a third playes her amorous prize, a fine commendation for such Whelpes ist not? A fault, a fault, who can deny it? But what are those you practice with? A touch, come, what Commodities? Not Sale-ware, Mercenary stuffe, that yee may haue i'th Suburbs, and now maintaine traffique with Ambassadours Seruants, nor with Laundresses, like your Students in Law, who teach her to argue the case so long, till she find a Statute for it, nor with Mistris Silkeworme in the Citty, that longs for creame and cakes, and loues to Cuckold her Husband in fresh ayre, nor with your waiting Gentlewoman, that is in loue with poetry, and will not part with her honour, vnder a Copie of fine verses, or an Anagram, nor with your course Lady her selfe, that keepes a Stallion and cozens the old Knight, and his two paire of Spectacles, in the shape of a Seruingman, but with your rich, faire, high▪ fed, glorious and springing Catamountaines, Ladies of bloud, whose eyes will make a Souldier melt, and he were compos'd of marble, whose euery smile, hath a magneticke force to draw vp Soules, whose voyce will charme a Satyre, and turne a mans prayers into ambition, make a Hermit runne to Hell for a touch on her, and there hug his owne damnation. I haue eard you, and now I thinke fit to discouer my selfe to you, you are a Rascall. Sir, I thinke I am one. Let not your wisdome thinke, I can bee so easily guid. How Sir? Hou thinke you haue talked very methodically, and cunningly all this while, and that I am as they say, a creduous coxcombe, and cannot perceiue, that by your politique jeeres vpon my pleasures, you labour to discredit, not onely my recreations, but my selfe to my owne face, D'ee heare? the time may come you will no dare these things, and yet you shall see, I will not now so much as seeme angry, preserue your humor, 'twill appeare fresh o'ch Stage my learned Gymnosophist, very well, excellent well. Why does not your Lodship beleeue me then? Do't thou thinke throughout the yeare, I will loose one minute of my pastime, for this your tooth-lesse Satyr ▪ your mocke▪ balled, goe get some pretty tune, 'twill doe you a great deale of credit, the next Lent to be presented by folly in an Anti▪ maske, ile to a wench presently. I came to carry you to one.