Dominant work: A Trick to Catch the Old One · genre mix of this topic (British Drama labels): comedy 88%; tragedy 6%; history 4%
52chunks
25,920words
18works
5works with ≥3 chunks
21 %dominant work
54 %top-3 works
All statistics on this page are on the representative editions (one per work). Including the other editions, placed after the fit: 53 chunks · 18 works · 26,408 words — those 1 chunks are listed at the end of the page and are not part of any figure above.
Classificationcross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · confirmed by the researcher Label (researcher): Widows, wooing and remarriage Notes (researcher): review supports widowhood, wooing and remarriage. The full All's Lost by Lust sample contains widow/remarriage language before a tragic turn. Remove the universal wealth assumption; retain concentration and mixed-chunk caveats. Reviewed excerpts (three different works): 591_00012; 683_00040; 993_00031. Full-chunk follow-up: 993_00031.Original AI draft — before researcher review
draft label: Rich widows wooed · pattern basis: thematic_discourse 52 chunks, 18 works (5 with 3+), Trick to Catch the Old One 21 %, top three 54 %. The widow-hunt: widows courted for their wealth, old husbands and young wives, the widow's jointure; Middleton, Barry, Rowley, Armin, even 3 Henry VI (Edward and Lady Grey). A clear comic motif shared across works — verify first; the top-three share is a flag for a robustness check, not a reason to exclude. chunks read for the draft: 614_00021;683_00038;999_00035;721_00008;765_00030;268_00024;672_00000
Middleton, Thomas, 1608 · comedy · 11 chunks of this work here
Go too do't I say, thou shalt hear better from me. Is not this a better place than 5. Mark a year standing wages; say a man had but 3. such clients in a day, methinks he might make…
Barry, Lording, 1611 · comedy · 9 chunks of this work here
Thart quite wide, A marigold doth open wide all day, And shuts most close at night; I hope thou know'st, All wenches do the contrary: but sirrah, How does thy Uncle the old Doctor,…
R., W., 1633 · comedy · 8 chunks of this work here
He makes at you forsooth. Let him come, I have ever an English virtue to put by a Welsh. O noble widows, her heart was full of woes. No noble Welshman, her heart was in her hose. '…
Heywood, Thomas / Rowley, William, 1632 · comedy · 4 chunks of this work here
No Widow, I'll stand to no hazard of blind Bargains; either promise me marriage, and give Me earnest in a handfast, or I'll not budge A foot. No Sir, are you grown so stout already…
Cooke, John, 1614 · comedy · 3 chunks of this work here
Why sure the man is mad? bethink thyself, Thou hast forgot thy errand? I have indeed, fair Lady; for my errand Should first have been delivered on your lips. Why thou impudent fell…
Anonymous / Marlowe, Christopher / Shakespea, 1623 · history · 2 chunks of this work here
Lords give us leave, I'll try this Widows wit. I, good leave have you, for you will have leave, Till Youth take leave, and leave you to the Crutch. Now tell me, Madame, do you love…
Middleton, Thomas, 1607 · comedy · 2 chunks of this work here
O why will you offer me this Gentlemen? indeed I will not look upon you; when the Tears are scarce out of mine Eyes, not yet washed off from my Cheeks, and my dear husband's body s…
S., S., 1616 · comedy · 2 chunks of this work here
Help her to bear it in, and see't laid up. Zlid, my wife takes degrees; she rises fairly. I sold her hither whore some tricks to do. Now she's turned whore, and Bawd, and Hostess t…
Genre mix (chunks of this topic, British Drama labels)
comedy
46 (88 %)
tragedy
3 (6 %)
history
2 (4 %)
not in BritDrama
1 (2 %)
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.
The Puritan, or The Widow of Watling Street (The P (1607) · typ. 0.91 O why will you offer me this Gentlemen? indeed I will not look upon you; when the Tears are scarce out of mine Eyes, not yet washed off from my Cheeks, and my dear husband's body scarce so cold as the Coffin, what reason have you to offer it? I am not like some of your widows that will bury one in the Evening, and be sure to another…
A Trick to Catch the Old One (1608) · typ. 0.90 …I was never brought up with so little honesty, to refuse any man's money never; what gulls there are a this side the world, now know I the widows mind, none but my young master comes in her clutches, ha, ha, ha. Now my dear Gentlemen stand firmly to me, you know his follies, and my worth. we do sir. But Master Hoord, are you sure he is no…
A Match at Midnight (1633) · typ. 0.90 …hen. Whelp of the Devil, thou shalt see thy Sire for't. Gentlemen what mean ye? Let her come, let her come, Randalls will redeem reputations her warrant her. Redeem your wit sir, first for you Sir, you are a stranger, and see you,— but you, fie Master Bloodhound. Ha, Bloodhound, good sir let me speak with you. Sounds, what do Randalls amo…
Michaelmas Term (1607) · typ. 0.89 …. I entertain both thee and thy Device, 'twill put 'em both to shame. That is my hope sir, Especially that strumpet. Save you sweet widow, I suffer for your heaviness. O Master Rerage, I have lost the dearest husband that ever woman did enjoy. You must have patience yet. Oh talk not to me of patience and you love me, good Master Rerage. Y…
Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant (1614) · typ. 0.89 …at has moved thee To prosecute thy ruin? hath my bounty, For which thy Master was an orator, Importune thee to pay me with abuse? Sirrah retire, or I will to your shame, With clamours raise the house, and make your Master For this attempt, return you to the Dungeon, From whence you came. Nay then I must be desperate: Widow, hold your Clap…
A Trick to Catch the Old One (1608) · typ. 0.89 …r.— Oh for more scope, I could laugh eternally, Give you joy Mistress Hoord, I promise your fortune was good forsooth, you'ave fell upon wealth enough, and there's young Gentlemen enough can help you to the rest; now it requires our wits: carry thyself but heedfully now, and we are both— Master Wit-good your Uncle— Cuds me, remove thyself…
3 Henry the Sixth (The True Tragedy of Richard Duk (1623) · typ. 0.89 …give us leave, I'll try this Widows wit. I, good leave have you, for you will have leave, Till Youth take leave, and leave you to the Crutch. Now tell me, Madame, do you love your Children? I, full as dearly as I love myself. And would you not do much to do them good? To do them good, I would sustain some harm. Then get your Husband's Lan…
Ram Alley, or Merry Tricks (1611) · typ. 0.87 …skinned country Gentlewoman, That never saw Baboons, lions, or Courtiers, Might prove a handsome wife, or what do you say To a citizen's daughter, that never was in love With a Player, that never learned to dance, That never dwelled near any Inn a Court, Might not she in time prove an honest wife? Faith take a maid, and leave the widow, M…
Cupid's Revenge (1615) · typ. 0.87 … Widow? As a person in whom all graces are, Come, Come, ye flatter: I'll clap your cheek for that, and you shall not be angry. Hast no Music? Now could I cut three times with ease, and do a cross point, should shame all your gallants. I do believe you, and yourself too: Lord what a fine old Zany my Love has made him? is mine, I am sure: H…
A New Wonder, A Woman Never Vexed (1632) · typ. 0.87 …You shall have one with some, and you have me, Here's witness, come hither Sir. cousin, I must call you shortly; and you sirrah, be witness to this match; here's Man and Wife. I joy at mine Uncle's happiness, Widow. I do forbid the Banes: Alas poor Shagragge, My Mistress does but gull him; you may Imagine it to be Twelve-day at night, and…
A Trick to Catch the Old One (1608) · typ. 0.87 Master Wit-good I have forborn my money long. I pray speak low sir, what do you mean? We hear you are to be married suddenly to a rich Country widow? What can be kept so …
A Trick to Catch the Old One (1608) · typ. 0.87 …, your most welcome to this Noble City governed with the sword in the Scabbard, And the wit in the pommel, good Master Sam. I return the salute. By the mass she's coming wife, let me see now how thou wilt entertain her. I hope I am not to learn sir, to entertain a widow, 'tis not so long ago since I was one myself? Uncle? she's come indee…
All 52 chunks of the representative editions (chronological; click a header to sort)