The Contention for Honor and Riches · chunk 1 of 11
Shirley, James · published 1633 · first performed or written 1631 [c.1625-1632; adapted 1658] (Annals) moral unassigned nearest T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim · 484 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
MY Lady desires to speak with you. Your Lady? who's your Lady? The Lady Honour. Let Honour come to Riches, it will not Disparage her, my friend. She is not well. Honour is seldom sound, what ails her Ladyship? She had a fall lately. A fall? And sprained Her foot. Teach her to climb; she's so ambitious. Please you to do her the favour, she will wait Upon your Ladyship another time. I cannot come Good Madam. I ha' the gout You may command a Coach. Riches I know May command any thing but I do not use To come to every one desires my company Beside, my servants are abroad, and it Becomes me not to go so unattended. I shall be fortunate, if you accept My service. Is that state enough for me? Although it be in fashion with your Lord, To amble with his foot man and Page, I use to have more followers. Great Ladies Have no such train, many are held superfluous, The Gentleman Usher nowadays is thought Sufficient for a Countess, nay, for two Take him by turns, & yet he may be courteous To the waiting Gentlewoman. You assume, methinks, Much liberty in talking, what's your name? They which know me, call me Ingenuity. Ingenuity? Out upon! thee I suspect, You are a Scholar. I have studied Arts. Defend me from his witchcraft had thy Mistress: None but a Scholar to employ upon Her compliments to me, one whose profession I hate, whose memory is my disease, And conversation death? how rank he smells Of Aristotle, and the musty Tribe Of worm-eaten Philosophers? get from me, I will endure the Bears, and their provision, Lie in an Hospital, or French-footmen, feed With prisoners, or be racked at Westminster, Nay, die, & make poor orphans my Executors, Ere be confined to hear thy learned nonsense. Why should you be such enemy to Scholars? They waste Minerva's precious dew, their sweat, To gain your favour, and would think themselves Blessed, when your golden beams but shine upon'em. 'tis not your flattery can win upon me. Go, and declaim against me, good Diogenes, Admire a virtuous poverty, and nakedness, Call Fortune whore, and write whole volumes in The praise of hunger and your lousy wardrobe, Yes, teach the world, Riches is grown a monster, And that she dotes on ignorance: these are Your vulgar doctrines, and I pray pursue'em, My most immortal beggar, and get fame With some twice sodden pamphlet, till you make Submission to my fool, in hope of the Reversion of his Grooms bare livery: Your Theses, and your Syllogisms, will No doubt convert the Beadle, and the dog-whip. Be pleased to hear me speak— What impudence Does this appear, you should desire that favour? Have I not given testimony to the world Sufficiently, I do not love a Scholar? Endure me for my Mistress Lady Honour.
seed 43: T5 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
MY Lady desires to speake with you. Your Lady? who's your Lady? The Lady Honor. Let Honor come to Riches, it will not Disparage her, my friend. She is not well. Honor is seldom sound, what ailes her Ladiship? She had a fall lately. A fall? And spraind Her foot. Teach her to clime; shee's so ambitious. Please you to do her the favour, she will waite Vpon your Ladi-ship another time. I cannot come Good Madam. I ha the goue You may command a Coach. Riches I know May command any thing but I doe not use To come to every one desires my company Beside, my servants are abroad, and it Becomes me not to goe so unattended. I shall be fortunate, if you accept My service. Is that state enough for me? Although it be in fashion with your Lord, To amble with his foot man and Page, I use to have more followers. Great Ladies Have no such traine, many are held supersuous, The Gentleman Vsher now a dayes is thought Sufficient for a Countesse, nay, for two Take him by turnes, & yet he may be courteous To the waiting Gentlewoman. You assume, me thinkes, Much liberty in talking, wha'ts your name▪ They which know me, call me Ingenuity. Ingenuity? Out upon! thee I suspect, Your are a Scholler. I have studyed Arts. Defend me from his witchcraft had thy Mistris: None but a Scholler to employ upon Her complements to me, one whose profession I hate, whose memory is my disease, And conversation death? how ranck he smells Of Aristotle, and the musty Tribe Of worme-eaten Philosophers? get from me, I will endure the Beares, and their provision, Lie in an Hospitall, or French-footmen, feed With prisoners, or be rack'd at Westminster, Nay, die, & make poore orphants my Executors, Ere be confind to heare thy learned nonsence. Why should you be such enemy to Schollers? They waste Mineraes precious dew, their sweat, To gaine your favour, and would thinke themselves Blest, when your golden beames but shine upon'em. Tis not your flattery can win upon me. Goe, and declame against me, good Diogenes, Admire a vertuous poverty, and nakednesse, Call Fortune whore, and write whole volumes in The praise of hunger and your lowsie wardrobe, Yes, teach the world, Riches is growne a monster, And that she dotes on ignorance: these are Your vulgar doctrines, and I pray pursue'em, My most immortall begger, and get ame With some twice sodden pamphle, till you make Submission to my foole, in hope of the Reversion of his Groomes bare livery: Your Theses, and your Syllogismes, will No doubt convert the Beadle, and the dog-whip. Be pleas'd to heare me speake— What impudence Does this appeare, you should desire that favour? Have I not given testimony to the world Sufficiently, I doe not love a Scholler? Indure me for my Mistresse Lady Honor.