Jonson, Ben · published 1631 · first performed or written 1614 [Oct 31] (Annals) comedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men unassigned nearest T49 Wooing a mistress: suitors, go-betweens · 494 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T49: mistress, gentleman, love, lady, woman, pray, gentlewoman, hear, honest, way.
If you would not give it to my modesty, allow it yet to my wit; give me so much of woman, and cunning, as not to betray myself impertinently. How can I judge of you, so far as to a choice, without knowing you more? you are both equal, and alike to me, yet: and so indifferently affected by me, as each of you might be the man, if the other were away. For you are reasonable creatures, you have understanding, and discourse. And if fate sand me an understanding husband, I have no fear at all, but mine own manners shall make him a good one. Would I were put forth to making for you, than. It may be you are, you know not what's toward you: will you consent to a motion of mine, Gentlemen? What ever it be, we'll presume reasonableness, coming from you. And fitness, too. I saw one of you buy a pair of tables, even now. Yes, here they be, and maiden ones too, unwritten in. The fit for what they may be employed in. You shall writ either of you, here, a word, or a name, what you like best; but of two, or three syllables at most: and the next person that comes this way (because Destiny has a high hand in business of this nature) I'll demand, which of the two words, he, or she doth approve; and according to that sentence, fix my resolution, and affection, without change. Agreed, my word is conceived already. And mine shall not be long creating after. But you shall promise', Gentlemen, not to be curious to know, which of you it is, taken; but give me leave to conceal that till you have brought me, either home, or where I may safely tender myself. Why that's but equal. We are pleased. Because I will bind both your endeavours to work together, friendly, and jointly, each to the others fortune, and have myself sitted with some means, to make him that is forsaken, a part of amendss. These conditions are very courteous. Well my word is out of the Arcadia, than: Argalus. And mine out of the play, Palemon. Have you any warrant for this, Gentlemen? WIN-W. Ha! There must be a warrant had, believe it. For what? Fot whatsoever it is, any thing indeed, no matter what. 'Slight, here's a fine ragged Prophet, dropped down i'th' nick! Heaven quit you, gentlemans. Nay, stay a little, good Lady, put him to the question. You are content, than? QVAR. Yes yes. Sir, here are two names written— Is judice Overdoo, one? How, Sir? I pray you read 'em to yourself, it is for a wager between these Gentlemen, and with a stroke or any difference, mark which you approve best. They may be both worshipful names for aught I know, Mistress, but Adam Overdoo had been worth three of 'em, I assure you, in this place, that's in plain english.
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)
If you would not giue it to my modeſty, allow it yet to my wit; giue me ſo much of woman, and cunning, as not to betray my ſelfe impertinently. How can I iudge of you, ſo farre as to a choyſe, without knowing you more? you are both equall, and alike to mee, yet: and ſo indifferently affected by mee, as each of you might be the man, if the other were away. For you are reaſonable creatures, you haue vnderſtanding, and diſcourſe. And if fate ſend me an vnderſtanding husband, I haue no feare at all, but mine owne manners ſhall make him a good one. Would I were put forth to making for you, then. It may be you are, you know not what's toward you: will you conſent to a motion of mine, Gentlemen? What euer it be, we'll preſume reaſonableneſſe, comming from you. And fitneſſe, too. I ſaw one of you buy a paire of tables, e'en now. Yes, heere they be, and maiden ones too, vnwritten in. The fitter for what they may be imployed in. You ſhall write either of you, heere, a word, or a name, what you like beſt; but of two, or three ſyllables at moſt: and the next perſon that comes this way (becauſe Deſtiny has a high hand in buſineſſe of this nature) I'le demand, which of the two words, he, or ſhe doth approue; and according to that ſentence, fixe my reſolution, and affection, without change. Agreed, my word is conceiued already. And mine ſhall not be long creating after. But you ſhall promiſe, Gentlemen, not to be curious to know, which of you it is, taken; but giue me leaue to conceale that till you haue brought me, either home, or where I may ſafely tender my ſelfe. Why that's but equall. Wee are pleas'd. Becauſe I will bind both your indeauours to work together, friendly, and ioyntly, each to the others fortune, and haue my ſelfe ſitted with ſome meanes, to make him that is forſaken, a part of amends. Theſe conditions are very curteous. Well my word is out of the Arcadia, then: Argalus. And mine out of the play, Palemon. Haue you any warrant for this, Gentlemen? WIN-W. Ha! There muſt be a warrant had, beleeue it. For what? Fot whatſoeuer it is, any thing indeede, no matter what. S'light, here's a fine ragged Prophet, dropt downe 'ithe nicke! Heauen quit you, Gentlemen. Nay, ſtay a little, good Lady, put him to the queſtion. You are content, then? QVAR. Yes yes. Sir, heere are two names written— Is Iudice Ouerdoo, one? How, Sir? I pray you read 'hem to your ſelfe, it is for a wager betweene theſe Gentlemen, and with a ſtroake or any difference, marke which you approue beſt. They may be both worſhipfull names for ought I know, Miſtreſſe, but Adam Ouerdoo had beene worth three of 'hem, I aſſure you, in this place, that's in plaine engliſh.