Renaissance Drama — Topics · seed 42

Topic 26 — Devils, hell and fiends

Dominant work: The Devil Is an Ass · genre mix of this topic (British Drama labels): comedy 63%; tragedy 11%; moral 8%

87chunks
43,021words
47works
5works with ≥3 chunks
15 %dominant work
36 %top-3 works

All statistics on this page are on the representative editions (one per work). Including the other editions, placed after the fit: 89 chunks · 47 works · 44,004 words — those 2 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): Devils, hell and fiends
Original AI draft — before researcher review
draft label: Devils, hell and fiends · pattern basis: thematic_discourse
87 chunks, 47 works (5 with 3+), Devil Is an Ass 15 %. The devil as talked about and staged: fiends in disguise, hell, damnation jokes, the devil at Newgate or dancing with the collier; Jonson, Dekker, Davenport, Fulwell. Cross-work; most works contribute one or two chunks.
chunks read for the draft: 973_00053;707_00009;1110_00039;89_00003;1173_00034;972_00011;548_00031

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

Keywords

Class-TF-IDF (uniform rule)

devilhelldevilssuresoulfiendsrwifelordmen

KeyBERT-style (cosine of word to topic centroid)

devilsdevilgodsoulshellspiritdamnedfiendpraysoul

MMR (diversified)

devilswifeprayfiendhellsouldamnedbarnlordgod

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

Most typical chunk of each of the leading works

The Devil Is an Ass typ. 0.87
Jonson, Ben, 1631 · comedy · 13 chunks of this work here
SIR, your good pardon, that I thus presume Upon your privacy. I am borne a Gentleman, A younger brother; but, in some disgrace, Now, with my friends: and want some little means, To…
If It Be Not Good, the Devil Is in It (If This B typ. 0.80
Dekker, Thomas, 1612 · comedy · 9 chunks of this work here
Rather some devil sent to bewitch our souls. Subprior no more. I must speak, hear me brethren, Shall we (bound by solemn oaths) t'abjure the world, And all her sorceries▪ to whom n…
A New Trick to Cheat the Devil typ. 0.92
Davenport, Robert, 1639 · comedy · 9 chunks of this work here
He says true sir, Let all your anger then conclude in this, And bid the Devil take him. A good riddance. I know not how you could dispose him better And empty all your wishes. Well…
The Four P's typ. 0.70
Heywood, John, 1544 · not in BritDrama · 3 chunks of this work here
Be sure quoth he no tongue can tell What time thou couldst have come so well For this day lucyfer fell Which is our festival in hell Nothing unreasonable craved this day That shall…
The Night Walker, or The Little Thief typ. 0.86
Fletcher, John / Shirley, James, 1640 · comedy · 3 chunks of this work here
None left sir, They are gone, and carried all the candles with 'em Their fright is infinite, let's make good use on't We must be quick sir, quick, or the house will rise else. Was …
Like Will to Like (Quoth the Devil to the Collie typ. 0.75
Fulwell, Ulpian, 1587 · moral · 2 chunks of this work here
Tush, tush, that is already brought to pass, For a very skip jack is prouder I swear by the mass, And seeketh to go more gayer and brave: then doth a Lord though himself be a knave…
Enough Is as Good as a Feast typ. 0.89
Wager, William, 1570 · moral · 2 chunks of this work here
If thou speed well now I dare promise' thee, The Devil will give thee the Crown of hell. God speed you Sir, I pray you might I be so bold, As to have a word or two with you in your…
A Looking Glass for London and England typ. 0.84
Lodge, Thomas / Greene, Robert, 1594 · biblical play; moral · 2 chunks of this work here
Faith sir nothing, but to speak a few sentences to your worship. Say, what is it? I am sure sir you have heard of the spirits that walk in the City here. I, what of that? Truly sir…

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

comedy
55 (63 %)
tragedy
10 (11 %)
moral
7 (8 %)
not in BritDrama
5 (6 %)
masque
3 (3 %)
biblical play; moral
2 (2 %)
tragicomedy
2 (2 %)
tragedy; history
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

The Devil Is an Ass (13), If It Be Not Good, the Devil Is in It (I (9), A New Trick to Cheat the Devil (9), The Four P's (3), The Night Walker, or The Little Thief (3), Like Will to Like (Quoth the Devil to th (2), Enough Is as Good as a Feast (2), A Looking Glass for London and England (2), Wily Beguiled (2), The Duchess of Malfi (2), The Grateful Servant (The Faithful Serva (2), The Late Lancashire Witches (2), The Gypsies Metamorphosed (2), The Play of the Weather (1), The Three Laws of Nature, Moses, and Chr (1) …

Excerpts

A New Trick to Cheat the Devil (1639) · typ. 0.92
…e hence your Devil; how appears it? In Feminine shape? Yes, like a woman's sure. But not like Madam Proserpine your wife? No shape else can affright me. I must confess A Devil of her tongue, but no way else sir. Show me my Chamber. This. My lodging. There Command me two fair Tapers, that may last And burn out this night's hell. Instantly.…
A New Trick to Cheat the Devil (1639) · typ. 0.91
…ain thy Mother, and this work, Your ever patient and obedient wife. Marry Heaven continue it wife, 'tis but need; In conscience thou hast been froward long enough. These things so well succeeding, pray resolve us In what form doth this Devil haunt your house. A woman's sure. So I told you, sure your Mothers. Troth she was somewhat shrewis…
Enough Is as Good as a Feast (1570) · typ. 0.89
If thou speed well now I dare promise' thee, The Devil will give thee the Crown of hell. God speed you Sir, I pray you might I be so bold, As to have a word or two with you in your ear? Yea, hardly my friend say what yo…
The Dutch Courtesan (Cockle de Moye) (1605) · typ. 0.89
…innocent men have been hanged deservedly, but to be cast away for nothing. Good woman hold your peace, your prittles & your prattles your bibbles and your babbles, for I pray you hear me in private, I am a widower, and you are almost a widow, shall I be welcome to your houses, to your tables, and your other things. I have a piece of mutto…
The Devil Is an Ass (1631) · typ. 0.87
…, I'll serve you for your love. Ha'? without wages? I'll hearken o' that ear, were I at leisure. But now, I'm busy.' Pray the, friend forbear me, And ' thou hadst been a Devil, I should say Somewhat more to thee. Thou dost hinder, now, My meditations. Sir, I am a Devil. How! A true Devil, Sr. Nay, now, you lie: Under your favour, friend, …
Wily Beguiled (1606) · typ. 0.87
…without a fee. And because I know money goes low with Sophos, I'll pay you your fees: [He beats him,] take that, & that, and that: O good Sir, I beseech you, I'll do any thing; Then down to Hell, for sure thou art a Devil. O hold your hands, I am not a Devil by my troth. Sounds, dost thou cross me? I say thou art a Devil. O Lord sir save …
A New Trick to Cheat the Devil (1639) · typ. 0.87
…onjecture: oh but that Parchment By which I am obliged to pay a soul, The memory of that is horrible, And strikes me with affright: what can I guess, But that this is my devil's Stratagem, To have his Sergeant death arrest me here; And bear me to that cursed Dungeon, Hell? An Usurer would do't; any fat Sergeant That looks as plump in chee…
A New Trick to Cheat the Devil (1639) · typ. 0.87
…aise My ruined hopes, revenge me on my foes, Or end my wretched days in this despair. I could turn Sorcerer, Witch, or any thing Might I but blast her beauty, brave that Lord; And show some power o'er my ingrateful friends; The Devil, ay, the Devil; what music's this? Descends it from the Spheres? Hangs it in the Air? Or issues it from He…
The Merry Devil of Edmonton (1608) · typ. 0.87
… all piety to evil, Never did man thus overreach the Devil; No time on earth like phaetontic flames, Can have perpetual being. I'll return To my infernal mansion, but be sure Thy seven years done, no trick shall make me tarry, But Coreb, thou to hell shalt Fabell carry. Then thus betwixt us two this variance ends, Thou to thy fellow Fiend…
The Duchess of Malfi (1623) · typ. 0.86
…? Do not you ask the reason: but be satisfied, I say I would not. It seems you would create me One of your familiars. Familiar? what's that? Why, a very quaint invisible Devil, in flesh: An Intelligencer. Such a kind of thriving thing I would wish thee: and ere long, thou mayst arrive At a higher place by't. Take your Devils Which Hell ca…
The Devil Is an Ass (1631) · typ. 0.86
…able! You do not tumble enough. Wallow, gnash: O, how he is vexed! 'Tis too manifest. Give him more soap to foam with, now lie still. And act a little. What does he now, Sr. Show The taking of Tobacco, with which the Devil Is so delighted. Hum! And calls for Hum. You takers of strong Waters, and Tobacco, Mark this. Yellow, yellow, yellow,…
The Devil Is an Ass (1631) · typ. 0.86
…t. Can any fiend Boast of a better Vice, than here by nature, And art, th' are owners of? Hell ne'er own me, But I am taken! the fine tract of it Pulls me along! To hear men such professors Grown in our subtlest Sciences! My first Act, now, Shall be, to make this Master of mine cuckold: The primitive work of darkness, I will practise! I w…

All 87 chunks of the representative editions (chronological; click a header to sort)

chunkplayauthorpublishedgenrewordstypicality
22_00016The Play of the WeatherHeywood, John1544comedy5020.825
33_00012The Four P'sHeywood, John1544not in BritDrama4900.696
33_00011The Four P'sHeywood, John1544not in BritDrama4940.683
33_00013The Four P'sHeywood, John1544not in BritDrama4890.677
40_00005The Three Laws of Nature, Moses, and Christ, Corrupted Bale, John1548moral5160.736
99_00012Enough Is as Good as a FeastWager, William1570moral5170.889
99_00026Enough Is as Good as a FeastWager, William1570moral5110.747
129_00002The Most Virtuous and Godly SusannaGarter, Thomas1578moral5130.754
147_00013Fedele and Fortunia (Two Italian Gentlemen)Pasqualigo, Luigi / Munday, Anthon1585comedy4850.798
89_00002Like Will to Like (Quoth the Devil to the Collier)Fulwell, Ulpian1587moral5160.750
89_00003Like Will to Like (Quoth the Devil to the Collier)Fulwell, Ulpian1587moral5160.741
232_00030Friar Bacon and Friar BongayGreene, Robert1594comedy5050.850
216_00031A Looking Glass for London and EnglandLodge, Thomas / Greene, Robert1594biblical play; moral5020.838
209_00022A Knack to Know a KnaveAnonymous1594moral4890.808
216_00027A Looking Glass for London and EnglandLodge, Thomas / Greene, Robert1594biblical play; moral4850.771
476_00011Doctor FaustusAnonymous / Marlowe, Christopher1604tragedy4700.725
501_00033The Dutch Courtesan (Cockle de Moye)Marston, John1605comedy5270.886
548_00031Wily BeguiledAnonymous1606comedy4660.870
548_00032Wily BeguiledAnonymous1606comedy4800.771
569_00030The Whore of BabylonDekker, Thomas1607history; allegory5030.829
602_00030Westward HoDekker, Thomas / Webster, John1607comedy5140.800
617_00001The Merry Devil of EdmontonAnonymous1608comedy5120.865
651_00026A Mad World, My MastersMiddleton, Thomas1608comedy4760.859
640_00008A Yorkshire TragedyMiddleton, Thomas1608tragedy5110.826
665_00023Every Woman in Her HumorAnonymous1609comedy4840.814
708_00038The White Devil (Vittoria Corombona)Webster, John1612tragedy4900.852
707_00009If It Be Not Good, the Devil Is in It (If This Be Not aDekker, Thomas1612comedy4820.801
707_00014If It Be Not Good, the Devil Is in It (If This Be Not aDekker, Thomas1612comedy4800.799
707_00029If It Be Not Good, the Devil Is in It (If This Be Not aDekker, Thomas1612comedy4930.793
707_00001If It Be Not Good, the Devil Is in It (If This Be Not aDekker, Thomas1612comedy4800.761
707_00002If It Be Not Good, the Devil Is in It (If This Be Not aDekker, Thomas1612comedy4810.760
707_00039If It Be Not Good, the Devil Is in It (If This Be Not aDekker, Thomas1612comedy4510.744
707_00043If It Be Not Good, the Devil Is in It (If This Be Not aDekker, Thomas1612comedy4860.743
707_00041If It Be Not Good, the Devil Is in It (If This Be Not aDekker, Thomas1612comedy4960.736
707_00040If It Be Not Good, the Devil Is in It (If This Be Not aDekker, Thomas1612comedy4990.687
606_00050Volpone, or The FoxJonson, Ben1616comedy5120.810
843_00026The Virgin MartyrDekker, Thomas / Massinger, Philip1622tragedy4810.831
858_00004The Duchess of MalfiWebster, John1623tragedy4740.863
872_00024Twelfth Night, or What You WillShakespeare, William1623comedy5100.849
866_00018The Comedy of ErrorsShakespeare, William1623comedy4850.849
287_00003Richard the ThirdShakespeare, William1623tragedy; history4700.833
453_00023Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkShakespeare, William1623tragedy5140.776
858_00031The Duchess of MalfiWebster, John1623tragedy4630.757
928_00031The Grateful Servant (The Faithful Servant)Shirley, James1630comedy5090.754
928_00033The Grateful Servant (The Faithful Servant)Shirley, James1630comedy5010.692
973_00004The Devil Is an AssJonson, Ben1631comedy5120.873
973_00052The Devil Is an AssJonson, Ben1631comedy5170.863
973_00015The Devil Is an AssJonson, Ben1631comedy4920.862
973_00041The Devil Is an AssJonson, Ben1631comedy4960.861
953_00034Match Me in LondonDekker, Thomas1631tragicomedy4810.856
952_00108The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina)Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de1631tragicomedy; literary 4830.851
973_00049The Devil Is an AssJonson, Ben1631comedy5000.850
973_00032The Devil Is an AssJonson, Ben1631comedy4830.836
973_00050The Devil Is an AssJonson, Ben1631comedy5290.824
973_00000The Devil Is an AssJonson, Ben1631comedy5150.821
973_00048The Devil Is an AssJonson, Ben1631comedy4610.807
973_00003The Devil Is an AssJonson, Ben1631comedy5420.789
973_00018The Devil Is an AssJonson, Ben1631comedy4870.784
972_00011The Staple of NewsJonson, Ben1631comedy4920.777
973_00005The Devil Is an AssJonson, Ben1631comedy4900.766
958_00007Caesar and Pompey (The Wars of Caesar and Pompey)Chapman, George1631tragedy4930.747
973_00053The Devil Is an AssJonson, Ben1631comedy5140.745
967_00001Chloridia: Rites to Chloris and Her NymphsJonson, Ben1631masque4120.720
975_00009The Courageous Turk, or Amurath the FirstGoffe, Thomas1632tragedy5020.830
1001_00038Love's SacrificeFord, John1633tragedy4670.786
999_00006A Match at MidnightR., W.1633comedy4890.742
1020_00041The Late Lancashire WitchesHeywood, Thomas / Brome, Richard1634comedy5160.798
1020_00035The Late Lancashire WitchesHeywood, Thomas / Brome, Richard1634comedy5050.773
1030_00026Adrasta, or The Woman's Spleen and Love's ConquestJones, John1635tragicomedy4750.711
1051_00037The Lady of PleasureShirley, James1637comedy4860.775
1110_00032A New Trick to Cheat the DevilDavenport, Robert1639comedy4770.919
1110_00025A New Trick to Cheat the DevilDavenport, Robert1639comedy5230.912
1110_00033A New Trick to Cheat the DevilDavenport, Robert1639comedy5000.869
1110_00022A New Trick to Cheat the DevilDavenport, Robert1639comedy4820.868
1110_00012A New Trick to Cheat the DevilDavenport, Robert1639comedy5060.836
1110_00039A New Trick to Cheat the DevilDavenport, Robert1639comedy5090.824
1110_00030A New Trick to Cheat the DevilDavenport, Robert1639comedy5040.823
1110_00024A New Trick to Cheat the DevilDavenport, Robert1639comedy4990.744
1110_00023A New Trick to Cheat the DevilDavenport, Robert1639comedy4880.732
1127_00010The Night Walker, or The Little ThiefFletcher, John / Shirley, James1640comedy4830.858
1153_00004Sicily and Naples, or The Fatal UnionHarding, Samuel1640not in BritDrama5200.838
1173_00034A Tale of a TubJonson, Ben1640comedy5040.815
1127_00011The Night Walker, or The Little ThiefFletcher, John / Shirley, James1640comedy4870.810
1147_000061 Saint Patrick for IrelandShirley, James1640not in BritDrama4760.801
1127_00016The Night Walker, or The Little ThiefFletcher, John / Shirley, James1640comedy4890.789
1139_00013The Gypsies MetamorphosedJonson, Ben1641masque4980.770
1139_00012The Gypsies MetamorphosedJonson, Ben1641masque5070.673

Chunks from other editions (2; placed after the fit, not in the statistics)

chunkplayauthorpublishedgenrewordstypicality
281_00003Richard the ThirdShakespeare, William1597tragedy; history4720.793
233_00031Friar Bacon and Friar BongayGreene, Robert1630comedy5110.887
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.