Shirley, James · published 1632 · first performed or written 1632 [licensed for stage, Jan 10] (Annals) comedy · King's Revels Company (?); Prince Charles's Men (second) (?) · Salisbury Court unassigned nearest T49 Wooing a mistress: suitors, go-betweens · 500 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T49: mistress, gentleman, love, lady, woman, pray, gentlewoman, hear, honest, way.
Which, which of them did most encourage thee? Be not you passionate still, but give me thanks, And call me fortunate, she has half consented. I shall be lost i'th' dark: declare which. Which? why the eldest; which? Chrysolina, Now be you advised, and court the other. Half consenting. I may say three quarters, and not lie. 'tis false; and such a stain thou throwest upon that Virgin, Thy blood deserves to purge. You do not mean to play the fool thus: Pox upon this madness: I woe not fight with you, And I will love that Gentlewoman: I thought I had done you a courtesy. So thou hast, if it be true. Have you a mind to be the everlasting madcap? And you can couple with both, I can resign; Poor Gentlewoman, shell ha' the worst on't. But I prithee tell me, With what Art didst thou so soon win her to thee? It was some months' ere I prevailed; and were I not Confident of thy honesty, I should Suspect some witchcraft. There is an Art In wooing, not revealed to every man, Which he that knows, shall do more with a Maid In some minute, than others in a twelvemonth. 'T must be a lucky minute. ay, he must take her i'th' nick; and court her In the precise minute: yet it may be, she In pity of my sufferings or mistrusting She might not be the first in your election, Inclined the sooner: Now would I have you, Without more ceremony, neglect the wench That I have choosed: D'ye mark? neglect her, And address all your courtship to the youngest, Your meaning will be clearly understood A both sides; so you shall with ease, enlarge Your own heart, fix on one whose arms already Are open to ye, and make my path direct, Without any rub to the other. Is this sense? Obey it then; set on afore with your Mistress A hand gallop, if I overtake you not, let me swing I'th' bridle, and set a saddle o'my back, and let all the Fools in the Town ride me. we must not be too rash, let's walk, and think on't. thouart a brave Wench. You are grown bold of late. I think so, gramercy Sack: Come kiss me, wilt thou be a Lady? I have no great ambition. I'll buy thee a parrot tomorrow, and a Monkey: Here, take this Ring. Pray keep it, and let me tell you Sir my mind. And I'll tell thee mine, that's one for another. Briefly then. Be as brief as you please, I can be as brief as you, and tedious too: I know thou lovest me: Sirrah, didst think I was such a fearful coxcomb as I made myself? No, I know when to be Lion, and when to be a Hare. But prithee tell me plainly, when shall we matrimony it, ha? thou dotest upon my good parts; come, speak to me, prithee be not bashful.
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)
Which, which of them did most encourage thee? Be not you passionate still, but give me thanks, And call me fortunate, she has halfe consented. I shall be lost ith' darke: declare which. Which? why the eldest; which? Chrysolina, Now be you advised, and court the other. Halfe consenting. I may say three quarters, and not lye. Tis false; and such a staine thou throwest upon that Virgin, Thy blood deserves to purge. You doe not meane to play the foole thus: Pox upon this madnesse: I wo not fight with you, And I will love that Gentlewoman: I thought I had done you a courtesie. So thou hast, if it be true. Have you a mind to be the everlasting madcap? And you can couple with both, I can resigne; Poore Gentlewoman, shel ha' the worst on't. But I prethee tell me, With what Art didst thou so soone win her to thee? It was some moneths 'ere I prevail'd; and were I not Confident of thy honesty, I should Suspect some witchcraft. There is an Art In wooing, not reveal'd to every man, Which he that knowes, shall doe more with a Maid In some minute, than others in a twelve-moneth. 'T must be a luckie minute. I, he must take her ith' nicke; and court her In the precise minute: yet it may be, she In pitty of my sufferings or mistrusting She might not be the first in your election, Inclin'd the sooner: Now would I have you, Without more ceremony, neglect the wench That I have chosed: D'ye marke? neglect her, And addresse all your courtship to the yongest, Your meaning will be cleerely understood A both sides; so you shall with ease, enlarge Your owne heart, fixe on one whose armes already Are open to yee, and make my path direct, Without any rub to the other. Is this sense? Obey it then; set on afore with your Mistris A hand gallop, if I overtake you not, let me swing I'th bridle, and set a saddle o'my backe, and let all the Fooles in the Towne ride me. Wee must not bee too rash, lets walke, and thinke on't. TH'art a brave Wench. You are growne bold of late. I thinke so, gramercy Sacke: Come kisse mee, wo't thou be a Lady? I have no great ambition. Ile buy thee a Parrat to morrow, and a Monkey: Here, take this Ring. Pray keepe it, and let me tell you Sir my mind. And Ile tell thee mine, that's one for another. Briefly then. Be as briefe as you please, I can be as briefe as you, and tedious too: I know thou lovest mee: Sirra, didst thinke I was such a fearefull coxcombe as I made my selfe? No, I know when to be Lion, and when to be a Hare. But prethee tell me plainely, when shall we matrimony it, ha? thou dot'st upon my good parts; come, speake to me, prethee be not bashfull.