in A New Wonder, A Woman Never Vexed — Rowley, William; Heywood, Thomas (?)
Metadata
Play
A New Wonder, A Woman Never Vexed
Author
Rowley, William; Heywood, Thomas (?)
Year (catalogued)
1632
First performance
1611
Decade
1630s
Genre
Comedy
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Unknown
Speech prefix(es)
Iane. | Ian. | Iane
Words
803
Characters
4129
Typicality
0.31 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A11153
BritDrama no.
2084
Cluster
Cluster 4 — Constant hearts & virtuous ladies
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
I am Like to have a couple of fair Chapmen: If they were at my own dispose, I would Willingly rifle them both at twelve pence a share; they Would be good food for a new plantation; the Tone might mend his experience; and the other his Observation very much. So, Sir. Then you never served for't it seems. It must needs be a fair and comely suit then. On Sir, I would not interrupt you, because you Should be brief. In good time; and what Trade was your father, Sir? What, before your father was married? I then came your wealth in, Sir. A very innocent resolution. Sir, if you love nothing but my face, I cannot fell it From the rest. I would desire no better wooing of so bade suitors. Well Sir, you love me then? No Sir, I'l believe you rather, and I thank you for't. I thank you too Sir; I am so much beholding To you both; I am afraid I shall never requite it. Nay, pray you Gentlemen do not quarrel, Till you know for what. You send me to the Galleys, Sir; pray you redeem Me as soon as you can; these are pretty Things for mirth, but not for serious uses. Nay I dare take in hand to part'm without Any danger; but I beseech you let me not Be too long a prisoner. Will you walk Gentlemen. Sir Godfry, you are the eldest; pray led the way. I was glad of my release, Sir: Suitors call you'm, keep dish water continually boiling, but I'ld Sees such Suitors; I have had much ado to Keepe'm from bloodshed; I have seen for all The world, a couple of cowardly Curs quarrel In that fashion, as one turns his head, the Other snaps behind; and as he turns, his Mouth recoils again: but I thank my pains For't, I have leagued with'm for a week without Any farther intercourse. Three's the woman's total Arithmetic in Deed, I would learn to number no farther, If there was a good account made of that. Take heed, Sir; I have had ill handfell to day; Perhaps it's not the fortunate season, you were Best adjourn your journey to some happier time. You'll not betray me with love-powder Never the more for that, Father; If I use him Kindly, it shall be forsomething I Like in him. Self, and not for any good he borrows of his father, But come Sir, alke into the Garden; for That's the field I have best fortune to overcome My Suitors in. Taste sweetly and welcome Sir; for there grows Honesty, I can tell you. By my honesty but you shall not Sir: I'l hold You a hand full of Pennyroyal of that y'faith, If you touch my honesty there, I'l make you eat Sorrill to your supper, though I eat Sullenwood my self: No Sir, gather first Time and Sage, and such wholesome Herbs; and Honesty and Hearts-ease will ripen The whilst. Yes Sir, Roses; but no Gillyflowers. Very well Father: We spoke something, but did Nothing at all; I requested him to pull me A Catherin Pear, and had not I looked to him He would have mistook and given me a Popperrin; And to requite his kindness, I plucked him a Rose, And he had almost pricked my finger for my pains. GEntlemen, my Father's not within; please You to walk a turn or two in the garden, He'll not be long. Must I be stickler then? But will you stand both at my disposing? You love me both you say? Pray spare your oaths; I do believe you do You would not else make all this stir to woo. Sir Godfry, you are a knight both tough and old, A rotten building cannot long time hold. You're rich too, at least your self so say; What though? you're but a gilded man of clay. Should I wed you, the fire with frost must marry January and May; I for a younger tarry. They must be welcome Sir, that come with you; To thee ten thousand welcomes still are endue. I will not go to him father on any of these conditions. Nay, and y play booty, I dare not trust you. I marry Sir, these are better conditions than the Inheritance of three father's; let me have Love in Esse, let lands follow in Posse: Now I'l have thee as fast as the Priest Can dispatch us, let him read as fast as he can. If every quality you have be as large in relation S Your name Sir, I should imagine the best of them, rather Than hear them reported. You are the sweet youth Sir, whose pretty eyes Would make me love; but you must first be wise.
Plot summary
Plot — A New Wonder, A Woman Never Vexed
Old Forster has recently made his fortune by marrying a rich widow, but they are both dissatisfied with the financial irresponsibility of his brother and son, whom ===== PAGE 17 ===== 1624 they are on the point of disowning. Robert, the son, has purloined some of his stepmother’s money to buy his uncle, Stephen Forster, out of debtors’ prison; he also gives Stephen money to buy new clothes. Stephen uses the money for gambling, and is cheated. Robert is disappointed to find him in the gaming-house, and he himself likewise gets into trouble with his stepmother for going there, even though he only went in to look for Stephen. Mistress Forster has an uncommonly even- tempered friend, another rich widow, who enjoys miraculous good fortune. When she loses her wedding ring in the river, it turns up inside a salmon bought by her maid. She meets Stephen at the gaming-house and likes him. She suggests that he should marry for money, and offers herself. He accepts, and they perform a hand-fasting. Jane is being pursued by two undesirable suitors, an old knight and a young fool. Her father, Alderman Brune, suggests Robert Forster as a third option, if he can be reconciled with his father. Brune is Old Forster’s partner in a mercantile venture, but accepts Forster’s offer to buy him out; he takes payment in cloth rather than cash, which clears Forster’s warehouses for the new merchandise due in any day. However, Forster continues to look askance at Robert. News arrives that the ships have sunk in the Thames: Forster is bankrupt, and voluntarily commits himself to prison in order to avoid his creditors. Stephen takes charge of his new wife’s property, and proves, against expectations, to be provident rather than spendthrift. He asks Robert to help him manage the estate, and adopts him as his heir, insisting only that he does nothing to help his father. However, Stephen himself pays the prison-keeper to ensure that his brother remains comfortable. When Jane’s two other suitors complain of the favour shown to Robert, Stephen produces evidence that they are in debt to the widow’s first husband (and therefore now to him), and the threat of arrest gets rid of them. The widow generously accepts their payment of £200 to discharge a debt of ten times that amount. Unable to resist his sense of filial obligation, Robert purloins the money and gives it to his father. Stephen pretends to be angry, but secretly pays off his brother’s creditors and thereby secures his release.…