Marmion, Shackerley · published 1632 · first performed or written 1631 [Dec] (Annals) comedy · Prince Charles's Men (second) · Salisbury Court T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim typicality 0.85 · 508 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
This Lady is sister and 〈◊〉 mistress. Yet both unknown to him, some few years since, Her father jealous of my love, because I was a Gentleman of no great fortune, Sent her away, and charged her by an oath, To marry none, till seven years were expired, Six parts of which are gone, yet she remains Constant to what she promised, though his death, Has partly quit her: To live in her sight, And not enjoy her, is a heavenly torment, But unsufferable, I must live apart, Till the prefixed minute be expired. In the mean time, I'll work by some good means, To win his love, and draw him from his folly. But first by him, I'll try her constancy. I must prepare her for his entertainment, Because she will admit no Company, Nor will be known to any, but myself. Come Sir, let's go, by that which shall ensue, You shall affirm, what I relate, is true. 'tIs a dull age this same, casts not her eyes On men of worth, Captains and Commanders, Victorious abroad, are vanquished at home, With poverty, and disgrace, they look as bad As Brutus, when he met his evil Genius: Worse, than they had been frighted from the ruins Of Isis' Temple; and you Sir, for your part, That have been brought up under me at my elbow, A daily witness unto all my projects, That might have got experience enough To cozen a whole State, if they had trusted you. Now to be wanting to yourself, worn out, No name, or title, but on posts, and trenchers, And doors, scored with a coal, in stead of chalk. Are my hopes come to this? What should I do? I have no thriving way to lie and flatter, Nor have I such dexterity of wit As you have (blessed be heaven) to convert Black into white. Nay, if you have no will, Nor power to free yourself, you must resolve To stick in the dirt still. Nor can I promise The death of any by the Stars, I have No rich man's funeral to solemnize, That left a guilt ring for my Legacy, And his old Velvet jerkin to survive him. I have no secret boils within my breast. For which I am feared, no suit in Law to follow, No accusation 'gainst a great man, No house to let to farm, no tender wife To prostitute, or skill to corrupt others, And sleep amidst their wanton Dialogues. I cry you mercy, you would fain be styled An honest politic fool, see all men's turns Served but your own; so leave off to be good. For what is now accounted to be good? Take a good Lawyer, or a good Attorney, A Citizen that's a good Chapman; In a good sense what are they? I would knows Why a good Gamester, or a good Courtier? Is't for their honest dealing? Take a good Poet, And if he write not bawdy lines and raptures, I'll not give a pin for him.
seed 43: T5 · seed 44: T44 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
This Lady ſiſter and Mſris. Yet both unknowne to him, ſome few yeares ſince, Her father iealous of my love, becauſe I was a Gentleman of no great fortune, Sent her away, and charg'd her by an oath, To marry none, till ſeven yeares were expir'd, Six parts of which are gone, yet ſhee remaines Conſtant to what ſhe promis'd, though his death, Has partly quit her: To live in her ſight, And not enioy her, is a heavenly torment, But unſufferable, I muſt liue apart, Till the praefixed minute be expir'd. In the meane time, I'll worke by ſome good meanes, To winne his love, and draw him from his folly. But firſt by him, I'll try her conſtancy. I muſt prepare her for his entertainment, Becauſe ſhe will admit no Company, Nor will be knowne to any, but my ſelfe. Come Sir, let's goe, by that which ſhall enſue, You ſhall affirme, what I relate, is true. TIs a dull age this ſame, caſts not her eyes On men of worth, Captaines and Commanders, Victorious abroad, are vanquiſh'd at home, With poverty, and diſgrace, they looke as bad As Brutus, when he met his evill Genius: Worſe, then they had beene frighted from the ruines Of Iſis Temple; and you Sir, for your part, That have beene brought up under me at my elbow, A daily witneſſe unto all my proiects, That might have got experience enough To cozen a whole State, if they had truſted you. Now to be wanting to your ſelfe, worne out, No name, or title, but on poſts, and trenchers, And dores, ſcor'd with a cole, in ſtead of chalke. Are my hopes come to this? What ſhould I doe? I haue no thriuing way to lye and flatter, Nor haue I ſuch dexterity of wit As you haue (bleſt be heaven) to convert Blacke into white. Nay, if you have no will, Nor power to fre your ſelfe, you muſt reſolve To ſticke in the dirt ſtill. Nor can I promiſe The death of any by the Starres, I haue No rich mans funerall to folemnize, That left a guilt ring for my Legacie, And his old Velvet jerkin to ſurvive him. I have no ſecret boyles within my breaſt. For which I am fear'd, no ſit in Law to follow, No accuſation 'gainſt a great man, No houſe to let to farme, o tender wife To proſtitute, or skill to corrupt others, And ſleepe amidſt their wanton Dialogues. I cry you mercy, you would faine be ſtil'd An honeſt politicke foole, ee all mens tunes Seru'd but your owne; ſo leave off to be good. For what is now accounted to be good? Take a good Lawyer, or a good Atturney, A Citizen that's a good Chapman; In a good ſenſe what are they? I would knows Why a good Gameſter, or a good Courtier? Is't for their honeſt dealing? Take a good Poet, And if he write not bawdy lines and raptures, I'll not giue a pinne for him.