Massinger, Philip · published 1632 · first performed or written 1631 [licensed for stage, Mar 11] (Annals) tragicomedy · King's Men · Blackfriars unassigned nearest T48 Addressing a lady: love, desire and inti · 515 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T48: lady, love, heart, fair, eyes, la, lord, tears, fie, face.
'Tis nobly answered, and I glory in The building I have raised; go on, sweet Lady, In this your virtuous progress but to the point, You know, nor do I envy it, you have Acquired that power, which, not long since, was mine, In governing the Emperor, and must use The strength you hold in the heart of his affections, For his private, as the public preservation, To which there is no greater enemy, Than his exorbitant prodigality, howe'er his sycophants, and flatterers call it Royal magnificence, and though you may Urge what's done for your honour, must not be curbed, or be controlled by you, you cannot in Your wisdom but conceive, if that the torrent Of his violent bounties be not stopped, or lessened, It will prove most pernicious. Therefore, Madam, Since 'tis your duty, as you are his wife, To give him saving counsels, and in being Almost his idol, may command him to Take any shape you please, with a powerful hand, To stop him in his precipice to ruin. Avert it heaven. Heaven is most gracious to you, madam, In choosing you to be the instrument Of such a pious work. You see he signs What suit soever is preferred, not once Inquiring what it is, yielding himself A prey to all; I would therefore have you, Lady, As I know you will to advise him, or command him, As he would reap the plenty of your favours, To use more moderation in his bounties, And that before he gives, he would consider, The what, to whom, and wherefore. Do you think Such arrogance, or usurpation, rather, Of what is proper, and peculiar To every private husband, and much more To him an Emperor, can rank with th'obedience And duty of a wife? are we appointed In our creation (let me reason with you) To rule, or to obey? or 'cause he loves me With a kind impotence, must I tyrannize Over his weakness? or abuse the strength With which he arms me to his wrong? or, like A prostituted creature, merchandise Our mutual delight for hire? or to Serve mine own sordid ends? in vulgar nuptials Priority is exploded, though there be A difference in the parties, and shall I, His vassal from obscurity raised by him To this so eminent light, presume to appoint him To do, or not to do this, or that: when wives Are well accommodated by their husbands With all things both for use, and ornament, Let them fix there, and never dare to question Their wills or actions. For myself, I vow, Though now my Lord would rashly give away His Sceptre, and imperial Diadem, Or if there could be any thing more precious, I would not cross it; but I know this is But a trial of my temper, and as such I do receive it, or if't be otherwise, You are so subtle in your arguments, I dare not stay to hear them. Is't e'en so? I have power over these yet, and command their stay, To harken nearer to me.
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)
'Ti nobly answer'd, and I glory in The building I haue rais'd; go on, sweet Lady, In this your vrtuous progresse but to the point, You know, nor do I enuy it, you haue Acquir'd that power, which, not long since, was mine, In gouerning the Emperor, and must vse The strength you hold in the heart of his affections, For his priuate, as the publique preseruation, To which there is no greater enemy, Then hi exorbitant prodigality, How ere his sycophants, and flatterers call it Royall magnificence, and though you may Vrge what's done for your honor, must not be Curb'd, or be controul'd by you, you cannot in Your wisdome but conceiue, if that the torrent Of his violent bounties be not stopp'd, or lessen'd, It will proue most pernitious. Therefore, Madam, Since 'tis your duty, as you are his wife, To giue him sauing counsells, and in being Almost his idoll, may command him to Take any shape you please, with a powerfull hand, To stop him in his precipice to ruine. Auert it heauen. Heauen is most gratious to you, madam, In choosing you to be the instrument Of such a pious work. You see he signes What suit soeuer is preerr'd, not once Inquiring what it is, yeelding himselfe A prey to all; I would therefore haue you, Lady, As I know you will to aduise him, or command him, As he would reap the plenty of your fauours, To vse more moderation in his bounties, And that before he giues, he would consider, The what, to whom, and wherefore. Do yo think Such arrogance, or vsurpation, rather, Of what is proper, and peculiar To euery priuate husband, and much more To him an Emperor, can ranck with th'obedience And duty of a wife? are we appointed In out creation (let me reason with you) To rule, or to obey? or 'cause he loues me With a kinde impotence, must I tyrannize Ouer his weaknesse? or abuse the strength With which he armes me to his wrong? or, like A prostituted creature, merchandize Our mutuall delight for hire? or to Serue mine owne sordid ends? in vulgar nuptials Priority is exploded, though there be A difference in the parties, and shall I, His vassall from obscurity rais'd by him To this so eminent light, presume to appoint him To do, or not to do this, or that: when wiues Are well aocommodated by their husbands With all things both or vse, and ornament, Let them fix there, and neuer dare to question Their wils or actions. For my selfe, I vow, Though now my Lord would rashly giue away His Scepter, and imperiall Diadem, Or if there could be any thing more pretious, I would not crosse it; but I know this is But a triall of my temper, and as such I do receiue it, or if't be otherwise, You are so subtill in your arguments, I dare not stay to heare them. Is't eu'n so? I haue power ore these yet, and commnd heir stay, To hearken nearer o me.