Renaissance Drama — Topics · seed 42

Rule a Wife and Have a Wife

Fletcher, John, published 1640 · comedy · Adult Professional;Professional

37chunks
18,557words
5topics
62 %unassigned

Metadata

TitleRule a Wife and Have a Wife
AuthorFletcher, John
Publication year (edition)1640
Genre (British Drama)comedy
Genre group (comparison)comedy — from the British Drama label · Annals: comedy
Play typeAdult Professional;Professional
Work / edition / TCP / DEEPwork 598 · edition 1152 · TCP A00967 · DEEP 985
Edition roleRepresentative edition — used in the analysis
First performance / composition (Annals)1624 [licensed for stage, Oct 19]
First performance (BritDrama)1624 [Oct]
Company (BritDrama)King's Men
Company (Annals)King's Men
Title-page companyKing's Men
PrinterLichfield, Leonard
PublisherLichfield, Leonard
FormatQuarto
STC11073
Greg598a
Genre (Annals)Comedy
Genre (BritDrama)Comedy
BritDrama no.2141
Title pageRVLE A WIFE And have a Wife. A COMOEDY.
Title-page performance noteACTED BY HIS Majesties Servants.
Corpus buildcorpus-v3-2026-09-08 · nodes 2450 · witness single

Topic composition (share of words)

unassigned
62.3 %
10.8 %
10.7 %
8.1 %
5.5 %
2.7 %

Chunks in order

#nodeswordstopictyp.opening
10–60505T59 Spanish courts: war, honour and courtshi0.75PLeasure attend ye, and about ye sit The springs of mirth fancy delight and wit To stir you up, do not your lo…
261–128481T8 Captains, gallants and cheats0.82But she is proud sir, that I know for certain, And that comes seldom without wantonness, He that shall marry h…
3129–194480unassignedI shall love you dearly, And 'tis a sin to fling away affection, I have no Mistress, no desire to honour Any b…
4195–265506unassignedDost thou count it base to suffer? Suffer abundantly, 'tis the crown of honour; You think it nothing to lie tw…
5266–338490unassignedshe would fain marry. 'tis a proper calling, And well beseems her years, who would she yoke with? That's left …
6339–401489unassignedYou must get a ladder when you would beat This fellow. I cannot choose but kick again, pray pardon me. Hadst t…
7402–464512unassignedI am not so ignorant, but that I know well, How to be commanded, And how again to make myself obeyed sir, I wa…
8465–535505unassignedBecause a husband stops all doubts in this point, And clears all passages. What husband mean ye. A husband of …
9536–598494unassignedYou are merry sir, You intend a safer war at home belike now. I do not think I shall fight much this year colo…
10599–669504unassignedBe as merry as you will: can you as handsomely When you are sent for back, come with obedience, And do your du…
11670–737510unassignedYes too, And the most kind man, and the ablest also To give a wife content, he is sound as old wine, And to hi…
12738–803509unassignedI shall leave ye Till then, and pray all may go sweetly with ye. Why where's this girl, whose's at the door. W…
13804–875504unassignedNo, no, they shall have all, And take their pleasure too, 'tis for our advantage, Why, what's four days, had y…
14876–944489T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour0.77He knows his distance Madam, I warrant ye, he is busy in the cellar Amongst his fellow servants, or asleep, Ti…
15945–1011498T23 Husbands, wives and jealousy0.88Pray ye be not angry, My indiscretion has made bold to tell ye, What you'll find true. Thou darest not talk. N…
161012–1077521unassignedShall I never return to mine own house again, We are lodged here in the miserablest dog-hole, A conjurer's cir…
171078–1148511T8 Captains, gallants and cheats0.85Let 'em be known and honest, And do my service to your niece. I shall sir, But if I come not at my hour come t…
181149–1220530unassignedNay pray ye come out, and let me understand ye, And tune your pipe a little higher Lady, I'll hold ye fast: ru…
191221–1283517unassignedIs she a whore too? Little better Gentleman, I dare not say she is so sir, because She is yours, sir, but thes…
201284–1349493T23 Husbands, wives and jealousy0.86Why where's this dinner? 'tis not ready Madam, Nor shall not be until I know the guests too, Nor are they fair…
211350–1408500T23 Husbands, wives and jealousy0.82Is this the fellow that the people pointed at, For the mere sign of man, the walking image, He speaks wondrous…
221409–1471495unassignedI have seen a miracle, hold thine own soldier, Sure they dare fight in fire that conquer women. Has beaten all…
231472–1538509unassignedI'll go to a conjurer but i'll find this polecat, This pilfering whore, a plague of veils I cry, And covers fo…
241539–1605505unassignedA plague upon thee, answer me directly, Why didst thou marry me? To be my husband; I had thought you had had i…
251606–1675510unassignedShe knew me not; No, nor no title that I had. 'twas well carried; No more, I am right and straight. I would be…
261676–1741511T59 Spanish courts: war, honour and courtshi0.83He shall not have his will, I shall prevent him, I have a toy here that will turn the tide, And suddenly, and …
271742–1808514T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour0.80Has taken a brave way to save his honour, And cross the Duke, now I shall love him dearly, By the life of cred…
281809–1872507unassignedAnd you were a thousand shames you shall along with me, At home I am sure you'll prove a million, Every man ca…
291873–1935504unassignedAnd what of them? They are mine Sir, and you know it, My wives I mean, and so conferred upon me, The hangings …
301936–1996498unassignedNow thou art a brave Gentleman, And by this sacred light I love thee dearly, The house is none of yours, I did…
311997–2060482unassignedWho's that is cheated, speak again thou vision, But art thou cheated? minister some comfort, Tell me directly …
322061–2126495T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour0.83Whether you will, I wait upon your pleasure; Live in a hollow tree Sir, I'll live with ye. ay, now you strike …
332127–2188505T23 Husbands, wives and jealousy0.85Nay what ail you sweet wife To put these daily pastimes on my patience, What dost thou see in me, that I shoul…
342189–2255473T8 Captains, gallants and cheats0.86I know you have mercy. If I had tons of mercy thou deserv'st none, What new tricks is now afoot, and what new …
352256–2318496T48 Addressing a lady: love, desire and inti0.85I have none Lady, My wounds I counterfeited cunningly, And feigned the quarrel too, to enjoy you sweet, Let's …
362319–2381489unassignedI am most miserable. You are indeed, And like a foolish thing you have made yourself so, Could not your own di…
372382–2449516T8 Captains, gallants and cheats0.84Go carry him to sleep, A fool's love should be drunk he has paid well for't too. When he is sober let him out …