Renaissance Drama — Topics · seed 42

Love's Riddle

Cowley, Abraham, published 1638 · pastoral · Nonprofessional;Boys Nonprofessional/School;Closet/Unacted

41chunks
20,522words
9topics
56 %unassigned

Metadata

TitleLove's Riddle
AuthorCowley, Abraham
Publication year (edition)1638
Genre (British Drama)pastoral
Genre group (comparison)pastoral — from the British Drama label · Annals: pastoral
Play typeNonprofessional;Boys Nonprofessional/School;Closet/Unacted
Work / edition / TCP / DEEPwork 539 · edition 1076 · TCP A19479 · DEEP 898
Edition roleRepresentative edition — used in the analysis
First performance / composition (Annals)1633 [c.1633-1636]
First performance (BritDrama)1634 [1630-1636]
PrinterDawson, John (2)
PublisherSeile, Henry
FormatOctavo
STC5904
Greg539a
Genre (Annals)Pastoral
Genre (BritDrama)Pastoral
BritDrama no.2452
Title pageLOVES RIDDLE. A PASTORALL COMÆDIE;
Corpus buildcorpus-v3-2026-09-08 · nodes 2746 · witness single

Topic composition (share of words)

unassigned
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Chunks in order

#nodeswordstopictyp.opening
10–67523unassignedMad feet, ye have been traitors to your Master: Where have you lead me? sure my truant mind Hath taught my bod…
268–132486unassignedThis fellow's wit amazeth me; but friend, What do you think of lovers? Worst of all; Is't not a pretty folly t…
3133–205537T3 Sickness, physic and doctors0.86The good Gods forbid it; I turn Physician? My Parents brought me up more piously, Then that I should play boot…
4206–265528T22 Shepherds, flocks and Pan0.82I see I am undone. Come no matter for that, you love my Daughter? By Pan; but come, no matter for that; you my…
5266–340536unassignedPray spare your fine persuasions, and set speeches, And rather tell them to those stones and trees, 'Twill be …
6341–414499T22 Shepherds, flocks and Pan0.82I cry you mercy Shepherdess, By Pan I did not see you. If my husband and Alupis were not here I'd rather pay h…
7415–480498unassignedWould I had died, when first I brought thee forth My Girl, my best Girl, than I should have slept In quiet, an…
8481–548512unassignedNever, farewell: good Demophil, Farewell Spodaia, temper your laments; If I return we shall again be happy. Yo…
9549–611495unassigneday, and you were a most rare fool for doing so, Why 'twas that poisoned all; Had I a Mistress I'd almost beat …
10612–674483unassignedIf it be any courtesy, 'tis one Which I would gladly do you, I have brought A rural present, some of our own a…
11675–742497T4 Love-longing and the lover's complaint0.78Let me speak In private with you; I am bold to bring A garland to you, 'tis of the best flowers Which I could …
12743–805482T20 Hercules: labours, suffering and virtue0.80You speak riddles. Which times commentary Must only explain to you; and till then Farewell good Bellula, farew…
13806–868489unassignedNow he's stark mad again upon the sudden; He had some sense even now. Thou look'st as if thou wert some wicked…
14869–933492unassignedThis is uncivil To thrust into our company; do you think That we admire your wit? pray go to them That do, we …
15934–997491T35 Fools, wit and railing0.81What are you biting? Where did you pick these fragments up of wit. Where I paid dear enough a conscience for t…
16998–1062495T22 Shepherds, flocks and Pan0.86Oh! you're courtly Sir. But your fine words will not defend my sheep, Or stop them if they wander; Let me go. …
171063–1131511unassignedAlas! I have Sir, and do therefore now Prepare to answer, if this passion be love, my fortune bids me to deny …
181132–1196480unassignedMust I? are you The master of my business? I will not. Faith but you shall; hear therefore and be patient. I'l…
191197–1264502T22 Shepherds, flocks and Pan0.81Is this your art? A lovers curse upon it; Oh! Alupis Thou hast done worse than murdered me: for which May all …
201265–1328492unassignedAnd there sits Capricorn. A Welshman is't not? There Cancer creeps along with gouty pace, As if his feet were …
211329–1400506unassigned'Tis a hard task, But if that fellow did so much by strength, I may well do't armed both with love and fury. O…
221401–1467502unassignedThe comely gravity which adorns your age, And makes you still seem lovely, hath so strucken me— Alas good soul…
231468–1533484unassignedBase villain, is this your love? Give me my ring again? No, no; soft there: I intend to bestow it on your husb…
241534–1603488T4 Love-longing and the lover's complaint0.78The Fates impose the like command on me, That you I must, that you I cannot love. Unhappy man! when I begin to…
251604–1674499T4 Love-longing and the lover's complaint0.82I cannot choose But pity these two Lovers, and am taken Much with the serious trifles of their passion. Let's …
261675–1741505unassignedThou sawst the gentleman whom I this morning Brought in to be my guest. Yes, but am ignorant, who, or from whe…
271742–1811519T4 Love-longing and the lover's complaint0.78Spare these titles I am a wretched woman, who for pity (Alas that I should pity! t'had been better That I had …
281812–1872474unassignedBefore when you denied your Daughter to me 'Twas Fortune's fault, not mine, but since good Fate Or rather Aego…
291873–1934472unassignedThat estate Which Fortune and my care hath given to me, The money which I have, and that's not much, The sheep…
301935–1995486unassignedWho's here? a most rare posture! How the good soul folds in his arms! he dreams Sure that he hugs his Mistress…
311996–2062498unassignedThe Gods convert these omens into good: And mock my fears; thrice in the very threshold, Without its Masters l…
322063–2129502T28 Marriage-making: weddings, brides and ma0.76Nay, than I see you are disposed to make us fools,— Did not I tell you that 'twas my intent To adopt Palaemon …
332130–2187461unassignedHow now? what are you both dumb? both thunderstruck? This was your plot Alupis. I'll begin. May his sheep rot,…
342188–2253492T1 Death, grief and revenge0.79Which he will never do; nay, go and plod, Your two wise brains will invent certainly Politique gins to catch m…
352254–2321496unassignedAre you resolved to be so cruel? I must, or be as cruel to myself. As sick men do their beds, so have I yet En…
362322–2386495T11 Siblings, kin and confidants0.84What shall we do? I have a sister dwells Close by this place, let's haste to bring them thither. But let's be …
372387–2453504T22 Shepherds, flocks and Pan0.83ay, there's a villain now; oh! that I had him here. Oh! say not so: The crimes which Lovers for their Mistress…
382454–2525531T33 Fathers, daughters and marriage negotiat0.90They marry not, but sell themselves t'a wife, Whom the large dowry tempts, and take more pleasure To hug the w…
392526–2597528unassignedI speak truth's Sir, Some fifteen years ago, as I was walking I found a Nurse wounded, and groaning out Her la…
402598–2671502T11 Siblings, kin and confidants0.81Yes; Philistus. I congratulate it Sir. The Gods make ye both happy: fool, as I am, You are at the height alrea…
412672–2745550T28 Marriage-making: weddings, brides and ma0.85With far more joy Than I would do the wealth of both the Indyes, Thou art above a father to me, Aegon. W'are f…