Massinger, Philip · published 1632 · first performed or written 1631 [licensed for stage, Mar 11] (Annals) tragicomedy · King's Men · Blackfriars unassigned nearest T52 Prodigals, portions and poor kin · 535 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T52: brother, father, uncle, cousin, son, poor, bread, old, given, master.
SIR by your own rules of Philosophy You know things violent last not, royal bounties Are great, and gracious while they are dispensed With moderation, but when their excess In giving giant-bulks to others, take from The PRINCE's just proportion, they lose The names of virtues, and, their natures changed, Grow the most dangerous vices In this, sister, Your wisdom is not circular; they that sow In narrow bounds, cannot expect in reason A crop beyond their ventures, what I do Disperse, I lend, and will with usury Return unto my heap: I only then Am rich, and happy, (though my coffers sound With emptiness) when my glad subjects feel, Their plenty and felicity is my gift; And they will find, when they with cheerfulness Supply not my defects, I being the stomach To the politic body of the State, the limbs Grow suddenly faint, and feeble; I could urge Proofs of more fineness in their shape and language, But none of greater strength: dissuade me not, What we will, we will do; yet to assure you, Your care does not offend us, for an hour, be happy in the converse of my best And dearest comfort; may you please to licence My privacy some few minutes? Licence Sir, I have no will, but is derived from yours, And that still waits upon you, nor can I be left with such security with any, As with the gracious Princess, who received Addition, though she be all excellence, In being styled your sister. O sweet creature! Let me be censured fond, and too indulgent, Nay though they say uxorious, I care not, Her love, and sweet humility exact A tribute far beyond my power, to pay Her matchless goodness. Forward. Now you find Your dying father's prophecy that foretold Your present greatness, to the full accomplished. For the poor aids, and furtherance I lent you, I willingly forget: e'en that binds me To a more strict remembrance of the favour, Nor shall you from my soul ingratitude, In any circumstance ever find cause T'upbraid me with your benefit. I believe so. Pray you give us leave: what now I must deliver Under the deepest seal of secrecy, Though it be for you good, will give assurance Of what is looked for, if you not alone Hear, but obey my counsels. They must be Of a strange nature, if with zealous speed I put 'em not in practice. 'Twere impertinence To dwell on circumstances, since the wound Requires a sudden cure, especially Since you that are the happy instrument Elected to it, though young in your judgement Write far above your years, and may instruct Such as are more experienced. Good madam, In this I must oppose you, I am well Acquainted with my weakness, and it will not Become your wisdom, by which I am raised To this titulary height, that should correct The pride, and overweening of my fortune, To play the parasite to it, in ascribing That merit to me, unto which I can Pretend no interest; pray you excuse My bold simplicity, and to my weight Design me where you please, and you shall find In my obedience, I am still your creature.
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)
SIR by your owne rules of Philosophie You know thing violent last not, royall bountie Are great, and gratious while they are dispens'd With moderation, but when their excesse In giuing gyant-bulkes to others, take from The Princes iust proportion, they loose The names of vertues, and, their natures chang'd Grow the most dangerous vices In this, sister, Your wisdome is not circular; they that sowe In narrow boundes, cannot expect in reason A croppe beyond their ventures, what I doe Disperse, I lend, and will with vsury Returne vnto my heape: I only then Am rich, and happy, (though my coffers sound With emptinesse) when my glad subiect feele, Their plenty and felicitie is my gifte; And they will finde, when they with cheerefulnesse Supplie not my defectes, I being the stomacke To the politick body of the State, the limbes Grow suddainely faint, and feeble; I could vrge Proofes of more finenesse in their shape and language, But none of greater strength: dissuade mee not, What wee will, we will doe; yet to assure you, Your care does not offend vs, for an houre, Bee happy in the conuerse of my best And deerest comfort; may you please to licence My priuacie some few minutes? Licence Sir, I haue no will, but is deriu'd from yours, And that still waites vpon you, nor can I Bee left with such security with any, As with the graious Princess, who receiue Addition, though shee bee all excellence, In being stilde your sister. O sweete creature! Let mee bee censur'd fond, and too indulgent, Nay though they sy vxorious, I care not, Her loue, and sweete humility exact A tribute far beyond my power, to pay Her matchlesse goodnesse. Forward. Now you finde Your dying fathers prophecie that foretolde Your present greatnesse, to the full accomplish'd. For the poore aides, and furtherance I lent you, I willingly forget: Eu'n that bindes me To a more strict remembrance of the fauor, Nor shall you from my soule ingratitude, In ny circumstance euer finde cause T'upbraid me with your benefit. I beleeue so. Pray you giu vs leaue: what now I must deliuer Vnder the deepest seale of secrecy, Though it b for you good, will giue assurance Of what is look'd for, if you not alone Heare, but obey my counsels. They must be Of a strange nature, if with zealous speed I put 'em not in practice. 'Twere impertinence To dwell on circumstances, since the wound Requires a suddain cure, especially Since you that are the happy instrument Elected to it, though yong in your iudgement Write far aboue your yeeres, and may instruct Such as are more experienc'd. Good madam, In this I must oppose you, I am well Acquainted with my weaknesse, and it will not Become your wisdome, by which I am rais'd To this titulary height, that should correct The pride, and ouerweening of my fortune, To play the parasite to it, in ascribing That merit to me, vnto which I can Pretend no interest; pray you excuse My bold simplicity, and to my waight Designe me where you please, and you shall find In my obedience, I am still your creature.