Massinger, Philip · published 1633 · first performed or written 1625 (Annals) comedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T49 Wooing a mistress: suitors, go-betweens · 529 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T49: mistress, gentleman, love, lady, woman, pray, gentlewoman, hear, honest, way.
By this you know, how strong the motives were That did, my Lord, induce me to dispense A little with my gravity, to advance (In personating some few favours to him) The plots, and projects of the downtrod Welborne. Nor shall I e'er repent (although I suffer In some few men's opinions for't) the action. For he, that ventured all for my dear Husband, Might justly claim an obligation from me To pay him such a courtesy: which had I coily, or overcuriously denied, It might have argued me of little love To the deceased. What you intended Madam For the poor Gentleman, hath found good success, For as I understand his debts are paid, And he once more furnished for fair employment But all the arts that I have used to raise The fortunes of your loy, and mine, young Alworth, Stand yet in supposition, though I hope well For the young lovers are in wit more pregnant, Than their years can promise; and for their desires On my knowledge they are equal. As my wishes Are with yours my Lord, yet give me leave to fear The building though well grounded: to deceive Sir Giles, that's both a Lion, and a Fox In his proceedings, were a work beyond The strongest undertakers, not the trial Of two weak innocents. Despair not Madam: Hard things are compassed oft by easy means, And judgement, being a gift derived from heaven, Though sometimes lodged itt'h hearts of worldly men (That ne'er consider from whom they receive it) Forsakes such as abuse the giver of it. Which is the reason, that the politic, And cunning Statesman, that believes he fathoms The counsels of all Kingdoms on the earth Is by simplicity oft overreach. May he be so, yet in his name to express it Is a good O men. May it to myself Prove so good Lady in my suit to you: What think you of the motion? Troth my Lord My own unworthiness may answer for me; For had you, when that I was in my prime, My virgin-flower uncropped, presented me With this great favour, looking on my lowness Not in a glass of self-love, but of truth I could not but have thought it, as a blessing Far, far beyond my merit. You are too modest, And undervalue that which is above My title, or whatever I call mine. I grant, were I a Spaniard to marry A widow might disparage me, but being A true borne Englishman, I cannot find How it can taint my Honour; nay what's more, That which you think a blemish is to me The fairest lustre. You already Madam Have given sure proofs how dearly you can cherish A Husband that deserves you: which confirms me, That if I am not wanting in my care To do you service, you'll be still the same That you were to your Alworth, in a word Our years, our states, our births are not unequal, You being descended nobly and allied so, If then you may be won to make me happy, But join your lips to mine, and that shall be A solemn contract.
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)
By this you know, how strong the motiues were That did, my Lord, induce me to dispence A little with my grauity, to aduance (In personating some few fauours to him) The plots, and proiects of the downe-trod Welborne. Nor shall I e're repent (although I suffer In some few mens opinions for't) the action. For he, that ventur'd all for my deare Husband, Might rustly claime an obligation from me To pay him such a courtesse: which had I Coiley, or ouer-curiously denied, It might haue argu'd me of little loue To the deceas'd. What you intended Madam For the poore Gentleman, hath found good successe, For as I vnderstand his debts are pay'd, And he once more furnish'd for faire imployment But all the arts that I haue vs'd to raise The fortunes of your loy, and mine, young Alworth, Stand yet in supposition, though I hope well For the young louers are in wit more pregnant, Than their yeares can promise; and for their desires On my knowledge they are equall. As my wishes Are with yours my Lord, yet giue me leaue to feare The building though well grounded: to deceiue Sir Giles, that's both a Lyon, and a Fox In his proceedings, were a worke beyond The strongest vndertakers, not the triall Of two weake innocents. Despaire not Madam: Hard things are compass'd oft by easie meanes, And iudgement, being a gift deriu'd from heauen, Though sometimes lodg'd it'h hearts of worldly men (That ne're consider from whom they receiue it) Forsakes such as abuse the giuer of it. Which is the reason, that the politicke, And cunning Statesman, that beleeues he fathomes The counsels of all Kingdomes on the earth Is by simplicity oft ouerreach. May he be so, yet in his name to expresse it Is a good O men. May it to my selfe Proue so good Lady in my suite to you: What thinke you of the motion? Troth my Lord My owne vn worthinesse may answer for me; For had you, when that I was in my prime, My virgin-flower vncropp'd, presented me With this great fauour, looking on my lownesse Not in a glasse of selfe-loue, but of truth I could not but haue thought it, as a blessing Far, far beyond my merit. You are too modest, And vnderualue that which is aboue My title, or what euer I call mine. I grant, were I a Spaniard to marry A widdow might disparage me, but being A true borne Englishman, I cannot find How it can taint my Honour; nay what's more, That which you thinke a blemish is to me The fairest lustre. You alreadie Madam Haue giuen sure proofes how dearely you can cherish A Husband that deserues you: which confirmes me, That if I am not wanting in my care To doe you seruice, you'le be still the same That you were to your Alworth, in a word Our yeares, our states, our births are not vnequall, You being descended nobly and alli'd so, If then you may be wonne to make me happy, But ioyne your lipps to mine, and that shall be A solemne contract.