Topic 11 — Siblings, kin and confidants

Dominant work: Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant · genre mix of this topic (British Drama labels): comedy 49%; tragedy 22%; tragicomedy 13%

142chunks

70,108words

78works

15works with ≥3 chunks

6 %dominant work

13 %top-3 works

All statistics on this page are on the representative editions (one per work). Including the other editions, placed after the fit: 146 chunks · 79 works · 72,078 words — those 4 chunks are listed at the end of the page and are not part of any figure above.

Classification cross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · confirmed by the researcher
Label (researcher): Siblings, kin and confidants

Original AI draft — before researcher review

draft label: Siblings, kin and confidants · pattern basis: thematic_discourse
142 chunks, 78 works, no work above 6 %. What unites the chunks is kinship address — sister, brother, father, friend — in confidences, letters and family news rather than one subject. Cross-work by the numbers; when reading, decide whether this counts as a theme or only a register of address.
chunks read for the draft: 732_00009;1111_00024;857_00022;964_00005;730_00009;1104_00000;993_00018

In the analyses: author comparisons for this topic · this topic by decade.

Keywords

Class-TF-IDF (uniform rule)

sisterbrotherlovefriendheartfathermotherwomanlordhear

KeyBERT-style (cosine of word to topic centroid)

sisterbrotherlovemistressmotherfathersonladydaughterwife

MMR (diversified)

sisterpraylooknoblesoulleavefathermistressloveletter

Amber = capitalised in ≥80 % of occurrences (probable name). Keywords are computed on the unmasked text.

Most typical chunk of each of the leading works

Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant typ. 0.88

Cooke, John, 1614 · comedy · 8 chunks of this work here

Why I'll tell you sir what she is, if you do not know. No not I, I protest. Why 'tis your sister. How! my sister? Yes, your eldest sister. Now God bless the man, he had better choo…

The Maid's Revenge typ. 0.82

Shirley, James, 1639 · tragedy · 6 chunks of this work here

I cannot challenge her, but she has let fall Something to make me hope, how think you she's Affected to Antonio? May be Luke warm as yet, but soon as as she's caught, Inevitably hi…

The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the D typ. 0.79

Webster, John, 1623 · tragicomedy · 5 chunks of this work here

Alas, she mistakes, 'tis Contarino she wishes living; but I must fasten On her last words, for my own safety. Where, oh where shall I meet this comfort? Here in the vowed comfort o…

The Fair Maid of the Exchange typ. 0.84

Anonymous, 1607 · comedy · 4 chunks of this work here

But two words more at most: You have not then received any such letter? A vengeance take the lazy messenger; Brother if I live, i'll quittance thee for this, Good words, dear broth…

The Maid's Tragedy typ. 0.88

Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John, 1619 · tragedy · 4 chunks of this work here

I do,— but is not My share of credit equal with thine If I do stir. No? for it will be called Honour in thee to spill thy sister's blood, If she her birth abuse, and on the King A …

The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celesti typ. 0.81

Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de, 1631 · tragicomedy; literary play · 4 chunks of this work here

madam, by my life, as I am true old woman, or by any other oath you shall put me to, it is such, as all the whole Town is not able to match it. Look well upon it; it is as fine as …

King Lear typ. 0.89

Shakespeare, William, 1608 · tragedy · 3 chunks of this work here

I pray sir take patience, I have hope You less know how to value her desert, Then she to slack her duty. My curses on her. O Sir you are old, Nature on you stands on the very verge…

The Widow's Tears typ. 0.85

Chapman, George, 1612 · comedy · 3 chunks of this work here

'tIs such an obstinacy in you Sir, As never was conceited, to run on With an opinion against all the world, And what your eyes may witness; to adventure The famishment for grief of…

Genre mix (chunks of this topic, British Drama labels)

comedy

70 (49 %)

tragedy

31 (22 %)

tragicomedy

19 (13 %)

not in BritDrama

10 (7 %)

pastoral

4 (3 %)

tragicomedy; literary play

4 (3 %)

history

2 (1 %)

pastoral; masque

1 (1 %)

This is the direction topic → genre, on the raw British Drama labels; the share of each genre group's text that falls in this topic is on the Genre page.

Works

Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant (8), The Maid's Revenge (6), The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to L (5), The Fair Maid of the Exchange (4), The Maid's Tragedy (4), The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (4), King Lear (3), The Widow's Tears (3), The Deserving Favorite (3), Changes, or Love in a Maze (3), All's Lost by Lust (3), Tottenham Court (3), Covent Garden (3), Monsieur Thomas (Father's Own Son) (3), The Unfortunate Mother (3) …

Excerpts

Covent Garden (1638) · typ. 0.91
… but diviner attributes: Then they must call it nothing but itself. Have I found you? I shall search you deeper. The subject's weight would make a Poem weighty; And take away the imputation Which seeming solidness would throw upon't Of a light fancy. It seems you love my Sister? He were a Devil did not love such goodness. It is the only v…

The Cruel Brother (1630) · typ. 0.91
… thy poor Lord, may not borrow one word At parting? Draw, draw ingrateful Monster! That haste prevented thus our Dialogue. Sir, cool your spleen! take breath awhile: And hear me speak. No false Siren! thou holy Hypocrite! I know thy tricks too well! 'Cause I am young, Too soft of heart, and apt to melt In every flame of my own trivial lov…

The Just Italian (1630) · typ. 0.90
… with thee, then only love I serve, if with sad steps, I tread the way Unto my Brother's Hearse, I both obey. Thou dost requite the scorns which I did throw On thy first love. My destiny must needs Be tragic now: since the contracted scope Of all my joy, rests in diseased hope. Behold the Throne, your Lord commanded me Prepare: and here y…

The Jealous Lovers (1632) · typ. 0.90
…tle sister. I cannot blame your jealousy: for I find— Too much of sweetness in his amorous lips. There is no tie in nature, faith in blood Is but a thing that should be. Brothers, sisters, Fathers, and mothers are but specious names Of love and duty: you and I have been But guests in the same womb, that at first meeting Change kind and fr…

Tottenham Court (1638) · typ. 0.90
… circumvent her. here's half a crown wench; methinks 'tis a fair rate. Ha! singer in the eye? Keep thy tears for penance in Bride well. Cry when money's offered thee? Oh Brother. Ha! are you my Sister? Your Sister Bellamie. Why she's in the Country at mine uncles, Teaching her hand some neat industrious practice; Or painting with her need…

King Lear (1608) · typ. 0.89
… of gratitude, Thy half of the kingdom, hast thou not forgot Wherein I thee endowed. Good sir to'th purpose. Who put my man i'th' stocks? What trumpets that? I know't my sisters, this approves her letters, That she would soon be here, is your Lady come? This is a slave, whose easy borrowed pride Dwells in the fickle grace of her a follows…

The Hollander (Love's Trial) (1640) · typ. 0.89
…te, (For such are nuptial bonds) experience sister Enforces me to lament her Know How equally we two Divide true, sorrow sympathize in grief, As in our blood and nature: sister you When your affectionate fancy fixed your heart Upon your husband's love, had no suspicion Of his unmanly jealousy, and I When I confined my love to Free Freewit…

Changes, or Love in a Maze (1632) · typ. 0.89
… to defy me. I have no title from her blood, and yet Her virtue is so near me, I must tell you, She hath deserved your best esteem. She has told you belike some story. I pray see her, I'll wait upon you. To what purpose? To love and cherish her, that claims your heart, The office of your soul to honour her, Does not your conscience trembl…

The Lover's Melancholy (1629) · typ. 0.88
…ease and wantonness, Embroideries, and all these antic fashions, That shape a woman monstrous; to transform Your education, and a Noble birth Into contempt and laughter. Sister, Sister, She who derives her blood from Princes, aught To glorify her greatness by humility. Then you conclude me proud. Young Menaphon, My worthy friend, has love…

Tottenham Court (1638) · typ. 0.88
…I scorn to strike, Unless I saw some armour for resistance. This is my Husband Brother, far as vows Can join us, till Church-ceremony hath Confirmed it stronger. He your Brother sweet? His pardon first; then leave I may embrace His worthy love. 'Tis not your compliment Can win upon me. If your worth deserves My sister's love (I hope my Un…

The Maid's Tragedy (1619) · typ. 0.88
…ing from me To counterfeit again, sword hold thine edge, My heart will never fail me? Diphilus, Thou comest as sent. Yonder has been such laughing. Betwixt whom? Why our sister and the King, I thought their spleens would break, They laughed us all out of the room. They must weep Diphilus. Must they? They must? thou art my brother, & if I …

Amends for Ladies (1618) · typ. 0.88
…d somewhere on my life. Prithee let me alone— Do I stand to defend that wretched life That is in doubt of hers, here worthy Lord, Behold a breast, framed of thy sister's love, Hew it, for thou shalt strike but on a stock, Since she is gone that was the cause it lived. Out false dissembler, are not married? No, behold, it is my younger bro…

All 142 chunks of the representative editions (chronological; click a header to sort)

chunk	play	author	published	genre	words	typicality
103_00034	Supposes	Gascoigne, George / Ariosto, Ludov	1573	comedy	503	0.744
103_00032	Supposes	Gascoigne, George / Ariosto, Ludov	1573	comedy	439	0.708
153_00002	Andria (The Woman from Andros)	Terence (Publius Terentius Afer)Ky	1588	comedy	499	0.774
244_00014	Dido, Queen of Carthage	Marlowe, Christopher / Nashe, Thom	1594	tragedy	481	0.827
239_00014	Mother Bombie	Lyly, John	1594	comedy	493	0.818
244_00025	Dido, Queen of Carthage	Marlowe, Christopher / Nashe, Thom	1594	tragedy	504	0.797
363_00017	1 The Two Angry Women of Abingdon	Porter, Henry	1599	comedy	480	0.810
363_00013	1 The Two Angry Women of Abingdon	Porter, Henry	1599	comedy	496	0.764
404_00040	Every Man in His Humor	Jonson, Ben	1601	comedy	480	0.827
404_00039	Every Man in His Humor	Jonson, Ben	1601	comedy	486	0.774
441_00014	A Larum for London, or The Siege of Antwerp	Anonymous	1602	history	510	0.764
416_00014	Il Pastor Fido, or The Faithful Shepherd	Dymoke, Tailboys / Guarini, Giovan	1602	pastoral	464	0.728
471_00004	1 The Honest Whore (1 The Converted Courtesan) (The Pat	Dekker, Thomas / Middleton, Thomas	1604	comedy	482	0.828
471_00005	1 The Honest Whore (1 The Converted Courtesan) (The Pat	Dekker, Thomas / Middleton, Thomas	1604	comedy	497	0.781
500_00019	The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Thre	Anonymous	1605	history	527	0.872
518_00007	All Fools	Chapman, George	1605	comedy	498	0.843
533_00017	The Gentleman Usher (Vincentio and Margaret)	Chapman, George	1606	comedy	485	0.877
596_00016	The Fleer	Sharpham, Edward	1607	comedy	491	0.860
603_00027	A Woman Killed with Kindness	Heywood, Thomas	1607	tragedy	476	0.844
570_00032	The Fair Maid of the Exchange	Anonymous	1607	comedy	504	0.837
570_00015	The Fair Maid of the Exchange	Anonymous	1607	comedy	514	0.806
586_00013	The Miseries of Enforced Marriage	Wilkins, George	1607	tragedy	470	0.787
570_00023	The Fair Maid of the Exchange	Anonymous	1607	comedy	507	0.747
570_00020	The Fair Maid of the Exchange	Anonymous	1607	comedy	494	0.747
623_00020	King Lear	Shakespeare, William	1608	tragedy	525	0.894
623_00043	King Lear	Shakespeare, William	1608	tragedy	490	0.811
623_00012	King Lear	Shakespeare, William	1608	tragedy	488	0.783
629_00002	Law Tricks	Day, John	1608	comedy	508	0.694
663_00006	The Case Is Altered	Jonson, Ben	1609	comedy	466	0.791
672_00028	The Two Maids of More-Clacke	Armin, Robert	1609	comedy	478	0.710
699_00031	The Widow's Tears	Chapman, George	1612	comedy	497	0.854
697_00028	A Woman Is a Weathercock	Field, Nathan	1612	comedy	505	0.809
699_00014	The Widow's Tears	Chapman, George	1612	comedy	493	0.759
699_00021	The Widow's Tears	Chapman, George	1612	comedy	477	0.743
710_00031	The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois	Chapman, George	1613	tragedy	509	0.840
720_00011	Cynthia's Revenge, or Maenander's Ecstasy	Stephens, John	1613	tragedy	487	0.745
732_00005	Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant	Cooke, John	1614	comedy	483	0.879
732_00029	Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant	Cooke, John	1614	comedy	486	0.878
732_00009	Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant	Cooke, John	1614	comedy	480	0.878
732_00010	Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant	Cooke, John	1614	comedy	463	0.861
732_00030	Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant	Cooke, John	1614	comedy	480	0.837
732_00025	Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant	Cooke, John	1614	comedy	498	0.817
732_00019	Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant	Cooke, John	1614	comedy	496	0.817
730_00010	The Hog Hath Lost His Pearl	Tailor, Robert	1614	comedy	487	0.795
732_00018	Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant	Cooke, John	1614	comedy	464	0.753
730_00009	The Hog Hath Lost His Pearl	Tailor, Robert	1614	comedy	502	0.706
741_00026	Cupid's Revenge	Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John	1615	tragedy	489	0.871
745_00015	Albumazar	Tomkis, Thomas	1615	comedy	507	0.851
745_00002	Albumazar	Tomkis, Thomas	1615	comedy	510	0.841
753_00001	The Scornful Lady	Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John	1616	comedy	478	0.818
798_00016	Amends for Ladies	Field, Nathan	1618	comedy	484	0.879
798_00029	Amends for Ladies	Field, Nathan	1618	comedy	508	0.750
800_00022	The Maid's Tragedy	Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John	1619	tragedy	499	0.879
800_00014	The Maid's Tragedy	Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John	1619	tragedy	497	0.865
800_00020	The Maid's Tragedy	Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John	1619	tragedy	505	0.853
800_00038	The Maid's Tragedy	Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John	1619	tragedy	519	0.834
808_00032	A King and No King	Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John	1619	tragicomedy	487	0.785
808_00017	A King and No King	Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John	1619	tragicomedy	495	0.757
848_00014	Herod and Antipater	Markham, Gervase / Sampson, Willia	1622	tragedy	491	0.809
864_00035	Measure for Measure	Shakespeare, William / Middleton,	1623	tragicomedy	488	0.814
857_00025	The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the Devil Is	Webster, John	1623	tragicomedy	513	0.792
890_00011	Antony and Cleopatra	Shakespeare, William	1623	tragedy	507	0.778
857_00036	The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the Devil Is	Webster, John	1623	tragicomedy	502	0.759
857_00022	The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the Devil Is	Webster, John	1623	tragicomedy	505	0.741
229_00037	The Taming of the Shrew	Shakespeare, William	1623	comedy	500	0.699
857_00031	The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the Devil Is	Webster, John	1623	tragicomedy	506	0.691
857_00032	The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the Devil Is	Webster, John	1623	tragicomedy	518	0.636
896_00000	The Bondman (The Noble Bondman)	Massinger, Philip	1624	tragicomedy	497	0.759
914_00006	The Lover's Melancholy	Ford, John	1629	tragicomedy	500	0.885
917_00051	The Deserving Favorite	Carlell, Lodowick	1629	tragicomedy	494	0.841
917_00049	The Deserving Favorite	Carlell, Lodowick	1629	tragicomedy	508	0.726
914_00013	The Lover's Melancholy	Ford, John	1629	tragicomedy	511	0.723
917_00048	The Deserving Favorite	Carlell, Lodowick	1629	tragicomedy	517	0.674
926_00031	The Cruel Brother	Davenant, William	1630	tragedy	504	0.906
927_00027	The Just Italian	Davenant, William	1630	tragicomedy	496	0.904
927_00030	The Just Italian	Davenant, William	1630	tragicomedy	504	0.855
926_00008	The Cruel Brother	Davenant, William	1630	tragedy	475	0.840
928_00003	The Grateful Servant (The Faithful Servant)	Shirley, James	1630	comedy	485	0.799
945_00030	A Chaste Maid in Cheapside	Middleton, Thomas	1630	comedy	507	0.749
952_00050	The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina)	Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de	1631	tragicomedy; literary	427	0.807
964_00005	Rhodon and Iris	Knevet, Ralph	1631	pastoral	484	0.788
952_00112	The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina)	Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de	1631	tragicomedy; literary	520	0.778
952_00012	The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina)	Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de	1631	tragicomedy; literary	515	0.771
952_00044	The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina)	Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de	1631	tragicomedy; literary	490	0.713
987_00017	The Jealous Lovers	Randolph, Thomas	1632	comedy	478	0.897
980_00019	Changes, or Love in a Maze	Shirley, James	1632	comedy	499	0.887
983_00059	The Rival Friends	Hausted, Peter	1632	comedy	490	0.862
987_00018	The Jealous Lovers	Randolph, Thomas	1632	comedy	492	0.860
981_00032	The Northern Lass	Brome, Richard	1632	comedy	505	0.819
980_00008	Changes, or Love in a Maze	Shirley, James	1632	comedy	498	0.816
980_00022	Changes, or Love in a Maze	Shirley, James	1632	comedy	486	0.768
983_00056	The Rival Friends	Hausted, Peter	1632	comedy	482	0.752
993_00018	All's Lost by Lust	Rowley, William	1633	tragedy	485	0.870
993_00005	All's Lost by Lust	Rowley, William	1633	tragedy	506	0.835
1003_00001	The Broken Heart	Ford, John	1633	tragedy	511	0.814
1004_00038	A Fine Companion	Marmion, Shackerley	1633	comedy	504	0.795
1003_00009	The Broken Heart	Ford, John	1633	tragedy	490	0.779
993_00021	All's Lost by Lust	Rowley, William	1633	tragedy	462	0.756
998_00010	The Jew of Malta	Marlowe, Christopher	1633	tragedy	476	0.732
1018_00028	The Two Noble Kinsmen	Shakespeare, William / Fletcher, J	1634	tragicomedy	510	0.865
1018_00029	The Two Noble Kinsmen	Shakespeare, William / Fletcher, J	1634	tragicomedy	483	0.827
1027_00010	The Traitor	Shirley, James	1635	tragedy	491	0.845
1040_00035	A Challenge for Beauty	Heywood, Thomas	1636	tragicomedy	447	0.875
1039_00003	The Wonder of A Kingdom	Dekker, Thomas	1636	comedy	506	0.849
1039_00019	The Wonder of A Kingdom	Dekker, Thomas	1636	comedy	508	0.831
1057_00005	Comus (The Masque at Ludlow Castle)	Milton, John	1637	pastoral; masque	509	0.747
1082_00019	Covent Garden	Nabbes, Thomas	1638	comedy	502	0.909
1077_00023	Tottenham Court	Nabbes, Thomas	1638	comedy	492	0.895
1077_00024	Tottenham Court	Nabbes, Thomas	1638	comedy	506	0.882
1082_00020	Covent Garden	Nabbes, Thomas	1638	comedy	482	0.878
1082_00013	Covent Garden	Nabbes, Thomas	1638	comedy	474	0.848
1077_00016	Tottenham Court	Nabbes, Thomas	1638	comedy	495	0.843
1076_00035	Love's Riddle	Cowley, Abraham	1638	pastoral	495	0.837
1076_00039	Love's Riddle	Cowley, Abraham	1638	pastoral	502	0.807
1067_00026	The Fancies Chaste and Noble	Ford, John	1638	comedy	504	0.796
1067_00027	The Fancies Chaste and Noble	Ford, John	1638	comedy	484	0.794
1071_00031	The Wise Woman of Hogsdon	Heywood, Thomas	1638	comedy	480	0.782
1113_00012	Albertus Wallenstein	Glapthorne, Henry	1639	not in BritDrama	504	0.873
1101_00020	The Lady's Trial	Ford, John	1639	not in BritDrama	477	0.844
1104_00000	Monsieur Thomas (Father's Own Son)	Fletcher, John	1639	comedy	502	0.840
1104_00004	Monsieur Thomas (Father's Own Son)	Fletcher, John	1639	comedy	491	0.835
1111_00010	The Maid's Revenge	Shirley, James	1639	tragedy	492	0.822
1111_00024	The Maid's Revenge	Shirley, James	1639	tragedy	506	0.820
1111_00022	The Maid's Revenge	Shirley, James	1639	tragedy	490	0.800
1104_00006	Monsieur Thomas (Father's Own Son)	Fletcher, John	1639	comedy	492	0.795
1111_00027	The Maid's Revenge	Shirley, James	1639	tragedy	493	0.782
1111_00025	The Maid's Revenge	Shirley, James	1639	tragedy	516	0.775
1111_00000	The Maid's Revenge	Shirley, James	1639	tragedy	518	0.744
1101_00001	The Lady's Trial	Ford, John	1639	not in BritDrama	478	0.734
1118_00023	The City Match	Mayne, Jasper	1639	comedy	500	0.692
1148_00034	The Hollander (Love's Trial)	Glapthorne, Henry	1640	comedy	482	0.890
1137_00030	The Strange Discovery	Gough, J.	1640	romance	481	0.864
1134_00011	The Unfortunate Mother	Nabbes, Thomas	1640	not in BritDrama	501	0.840
1128_00032	The Opportunity	Shirley, James	1640	comedy	480	0.826
1153_00036	Sicily and Naples, or The Fatal Union	Harding, Samuel	1640	not in BritDrama	497	0.824
1129_00030	The Bride	Nabbes, Thomas	1640	not in BritDrama	498	0.823
1134_00014	The Unfortunate Mother	Nabbes, Thomas	1640	not in BritDrama	502	0.822
1144_00014	The Ladies' Privilege (The Lady's Privilege)	Glapthorne, Henry	1640	not in BritDrama	480	0.816
1140_00040	The Antipodes	Brome, Richard	1640	not in BritDrama	513	0.808
1172_00031	The Magnetic Lady, or Humors Reconciled	Jonson, Ben	1640	comedy	501	0.787
1148_00012	The Hollander (Love's Trial)	Glapthorne, Henry	1640	comedy	512	0.783
1134_00025	The Unfortunate Mother	Nabbes, Thomas	1640	not in BritDrama	484	0.733

Chunks from other editions (4; placed after the fit, not in the statistics)

chunk	play	author	published	genre	words	typicality
368_00026	Every Man Out of His Humor	Jonson, Ben	1616	comedy	463	0.847
405_00043	Every Man in His Humor	Jonson, Ben	1616	comedy	498	0.800
625_00021	King Lear	Shakespeare, William	1623	tragedy	511	0.844
625_00020	King Lear	Shakespeare, William	1623	tragedy	498	0.801

Grace · generated by 13_site.py from run runs_Qwen_Qwen3-Embedding-0.6B_masked_hdb10, seed 42. Texts: EEBO-TCP / EarlyPrint (CC BY-NC 3.0). Metadata: DEEP, Wiggins & Richardson.