Field, Nathan / Massinger, Philip · published 1632 · first performed or written 1619 [1617-1619] (Annals) tragedy · King's Men · Blackfriars unassigned nearest T6 Money, debt and credit · 479 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T6: money, master, pound, law, lawyer, chain, gentleman, gold, pay, pray.
The motion honest. And 'tis freely granted. Then I confess my Lords, that I stood bound, When with my friends, even hope itself had left me To this man's charity for my liberty, Nor did his bounty end there, but began: For after my enlargement, cherishing The good he did, he made me master of His only daughter, and his whole estate: Great ties of thankfulness I must acknowledge, Could any one freed by you, press this further? But yet consider, my most honoured Lords, If to receive a favour, make a servant, And benefits are bonds to tie the taker To the imperious will of him that gives, there's none but slaves will receive courtesy. Since they must fetter us to our dishonours. Can it be called magnificence in a Prince, To pour down riches, with a liberal hand, Upon a poor man's wants, if that must bind him To play the soothing parasite to his vices? Or any man, because he saved my hand, Presume my head and heart are at his service? Or did I stand engaged to buy my freedom (When my captivity was honourable) By making myself here and fame hereafter, Bondslaues to men's scorn and calumnious tongues? H hi faire daghters mind bin like her feature, Or for some little blemish I had sought For my content elsewhere, wasting on others My body and her dowry; my forehead then Deserved the brand of base ingratitude: But if obsequious usage, and fair warning To keep her worth my love, could preserve her From being a whore, and yet no cunning one, So to offend, and yet the fault kept from me? What should I do? let any freeborn spirit Determine truly, if that thankfulness, Choice form with the whole world given for a dowry Could strengthen so an honest man with patience, As with a willing neck to undergo The insupportable yoke of slave or wit toll. What proof have you she did play false, besides your oath? Her own confession to her father. I ask him for a witness. 'Tis most true. I would not willingly blend my last words With an untruth. And then to clear myself, That his great wealth was not the mark I shot at, But that I held it, when fair Beaumelle Fell from her virtue, like the fatal gold Which Brennus took from Delphos, whose possession Brought with it ruin to himself and Army. here's one in Court, Baumont, by whom I sent All grants and writings back, which made it mine, Before his daughter died by his own sentence, As freely as unasked he gave it to me. They are here to be seen. Open the casket. Peruse that deed of gift. Half of the danger Already is discharged: the other part As bravely, and you are not only free, But crowned with praise for ever.
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)
The motion honest. And 'tis freely granted. Then I confesse my Lords, that I stood bound, When with my friends, euen hope it selfe had left me To this mans charity for my liberty, Nor did his bounty end there, but began: For after my enlargment, cherishing The good he did, he made me master of His onely daughter, and his whole estate: Great ties of thankfulnesse I must acknowledge, Could any one freed by you, presse this furthe? But yet consider, my most honourd Lords, If to receiue a fauour, make a seruant, And benefits are bonds to tie the taker To the imperious will of him that giues, Ther's none but slaues will receiue courtesie. Since they must fetter vs to our dishonours. Can it be cal'd magnificence in a Prince, To powre downe riches, with a liberall hand, Vpon a poore mans wants, if that must bind him To play the soothing parasite to his vices? Or any man, because he sau'd my hand, Prsume my head and heart are at his seruice? Or did stand ingag'd to buy my freedome (When my captiuity was honourable) By making my selfe here and fame hereafter, to mens scorne and calumnious tongues? H hi faire daghters mind bin like her feature, Or for some little blemsh I had sought For my content elsewhe, wasting on others My bod and her dowry; my forhad then Deseru'd the brand of base ingratitude: But if obsequou vsage, and faire warning To keepe her worth my loue, could preserue her From being a whore, and yet no cunning one, So to offend, and yet the fault kept from me? What shoud I doe? let any freeborne spirit Determine truly, if that thankfulnesse, Choise forme with the whole world giuen for a dowry Could strenghen so an honest man with patience, As with a willing necke to vndergoe The insupportable yoake of slaue or wit toll. What proofe haue you she did play false, besides your oath? Her owne confession to her father. I aske him for a witnesse. 'Tis most true. I would not willingy blend my last words With an vntruth. And then o cleere my selfe, That his great wealth was not the marke I shot at, But that I hld it, when faire Beaumelle Fell from her vertue, like the fatall gold Which Brennu tooke from Delphos, whose possession Boght with it ruine to himselfe and Army. Her's one in Cour, Baumont, by whom I sent All graunts and writings backe, which made it mine, Before his daughter dy'd by his owne sentence, As freely a vnask'd he gaue i to me. They are here to be seene Open the casket. Peruse hat deed of gift. Halfe of the danger Already is discharg'd: the other part As brauely, and you are not onely free, But crownd with praise for euer.