Jonson, Ben · published 1631 · first performed or written 1616 [Oct-Nov (?)] (Annals) comedy · King's Men T49 Wooing a mistress: suitors, go-betweens typicality 0.82 · 476 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T49: mistress, gentleman, love, lady, woman, pray, gentlewoman, hear, honest, way.
Stand for me, good friend. Troth, Sir, 'tis more than true, that you have uttered Of my unequal, and so sordid match here, With all the circumstances of my bondage. I have a husband, and a two-legged one, But such a moonling, as no wit of man Or roses can redeem from being an Ass. HE is grown too much, the story of men's mouths To scape his lading: should I make't my study, And lay all ways, yea, call mankind to help, To take his burden of, why, this one act Of his, to let his wife out to be courted, And, at a price, proclaims his asinine nature So loud, as I am weary of my title to him. But Sir, you seem a Gentleman of virtue, Not less than blood; and one that every way Looks as he were of too good quality, To entrap a credulous woman, or betray her: Since you have paid thus dear, Sir, for a visit, And made such venture, on your wit, and charge Merely to see me, or at most to speak to me, I were too stupid; or (what's worse) ingrate Not to return your venture. Think, but how, I may with safety do it; I shall trust My love and honour to you, and presume; You'll ever husband's both, against this husband; Who, if we chance to change his liberal ears, To other ensigns, and with labour make A new beast of him, as he shall deserve, Cannot complain, he is unkindly dealt with. This day he is to go to a new play, Sir. From whence no fear, no, nor authority, Scarcely the King's command, Sir, will restrain him, Now you have fitted him with a Stage-garment, For the mere names sake, were there nothings else, And many more such journeys, he will make. Which, if they now, or, any time hereafter, Offer us opportunity, you hear, Sir, who'll be as glad, and forward to embrace, Meet, and enjoy it cheerfully as you. I humbly thank you, Lady. Keep your ground Sir. Will you be lightened? Mum. And but I am, By the sad contract, thus to take my leave of you At this so envious distance, I had taught Our lips ere this, to seal the happy mixture Made of our souls. But we must both, now, yield To the necessity. Do not think yet, Lady, But I can kiss, and touch, and laugh, and whisper, And do those crowning courtships too, for which Day, and the public have allowed no name But, now, my bargain binds me. IT were rude injury, T' importune more, or urge a noble nature, To what of its own bounty it is prove to: Else, I should speak— But, Lady, I love so well, As I will hope, you'll do so to. I have done, Sir.
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)
Stand for mee, good friend. Troth, Sir, tis more then true, that you haue vttred Of my vnequall, and ſo ſordide match heere, With all the circumſtances of my bondage. I haue a husband, and a two-legg'd one, But ſuch a moon-ling, as no wit of man Or roſes can redeeme from being an Aſſe. H' is growne too much, the ſtory of mens mouthes To ſcape his lading: ſhould I make't my ſtudy, And lay all wayes, yea, call mankind to helpe, To take his burden off, why, this one act Of his, to let his wife out to be courted, And, at a price, proclaimes his aſinine nature So lowd, as I am weary of my title to him. But Sir, you ſeeme a Gentleman of vertue, No leſſe then blood; and one that euery way Lookes as he were of too good quality, To intrap a credulous woman, or betray her: Since you haue payd thus deare, Sir, for a viſit, And made ſuch venter, on your wit, and charge Meerely to ſee mee, or at moſt to ſpeake to mee, I were too ſtupid; or (what's worſe) ingrate Not to returne your venter. Thinke, but how, I may with ſafety doe it; I ſhall truſt My loue and honour to you, and preſume; You'll euer husband both, againſt this husband; Who, if we chance to change his liberall eares, To other enſignes, and with labour make A new beaſt of him, as hee ſhall deſerue, Cannot complaine, hee is vnkindly dealth with. This day hee is to goe to a new play, Sir. From whence no feare, no, nor authority, Scarcely the Kings command, Sir, will reſtraine him, Now you haue fitted him with a Stage-garment, For the meere names ſake, were there nothings elſe, And many more ſuch iourneyes, hee will make. Which, if they now, or, any time heereafter, Offer vs opportunity, you heare, Sir, Who'll be as glad, and forward to imbrace, Meete, and enioy it chearefully as you. I humbly thanke you, Lady. Keepe your ground Sir. Will you be lightned? Mum. And but I am, By the ſad contract, thus to take my leaue of you At this ſo enuious diſtance, I had taught Our lips ere this, to ſeale the happy mixture Made of our ſoules. But we muſt both, now, yeeld To the neceſſity. Doe not thinke yet, Lady, But I can kiſſe, and touch, and laugh, and whiſper, And doe thoſe crowning court-ſhips too, for which Day, and the publike haue allow'd no name But, now, my bargaine binds me. 'T were rude iniury, T' importune more, or vrge a noble nature, To what of it's owne bounty it is prone to: Elſe, I ſhould ſpeake—But, Lady, I loue ſo well, As I will hope, you'll doe ſo to. I haue done, Sir.