in The Two Merry Milkmaids, or The Best Words Wear the Garland — Cumber, John (?)
Metadata
Play
The Two Merry Milkmaids, or The Best Words Wear the Garland
Author
Cumber, John (?)
Year (catalogued)
1620
First performance
1619
Decade
1620s
Genre
Comedy
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Red Bull (Revels) Company (first)
Theater
before the Court;
Speech prefix(es)
Iul. | Iulia. | Iuli. | Iule | Iul, | Iul
Words
1921
Characters
9577
Typicality
0.33 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A17460
BritDrama no.
1896
Cluster
Cluster 4 — Constant hearts & virtuous ladies
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 4 (loyalty, handmaid, spotless, blessings, hamilcar, moves…). Matches are highlighted.
men's imaginations, To be so monstrous Goatishly inclined. Oh fie my Lord! think with your self this ill, Provokes not in the flesh, but in your will: Your blood moves slow and cold and all the fire, That strikes up any heat, is in desire: I blush for you, think of it. Yes to the heart believe it. No. Thy worst: for I will mine,
Full speech
Come in a time I doubt to make you blush. Why what mad conference are you two in? As how? Take him off, why he is not so fierce, me thinks: What, do you weep Brother? A moist Milksop Lover, hang him, on whom Love has no more operation then and Oynion: Why, did not I tell you this was the wrong way, & taught you the right; Lectured unto you according to my own heart, and my heart is made of the same stuff that other Women's are: for shame leave, it is both and ill sighed and and ill sign to see a man drop at the Nose. No; what use then of your handkercher? Some Feather Like a Woman. So. So, so: For he did but so, so, For he did but so, so, and so let her go. Not worse; much about one, as the Collier to the Devil: but what shall we do, shall we not see the Duke? Prythe let's, there requires not much wit about it. If my consent will do't, it's. Yes, I saw him very spruce. Y faith 'twere good—would, would. Why I'll tell thee sirrah. To go Like Milkmaids. By this light if thou dost, thou shalt starve for want of Butter. Give him all to be rid of him. You are resolved then. Why, but he is not a Lord, I hope, Sir? I beseech your Majesty let us depart, these fine men flout us. Udfoot, we shall be whipped anon for this Abuse. Indeed you are better able bear it. A Ditcher an't shall Like you. My life lies on it too. The Courtiers begin to melt, and my mighty Madame knows how to command: I wonder what I shall be? The Dice went equally once in my own opini on for Duchess; but Duchess Mate, that's my comfort. Troth Madame I doubt him too: but if the worst come to the worst, it's but a foolish Lover cast away. She ha sent you a picking. Would the World believe there were such a Man? Pray my Lord tell me your meaning? Sure your Honour had a silent Nurse. He would indeed Seignior: I donnot think, but if his Tongue were clipped, he would talk yet; what think you? Take heed of that, so you may wrong your self. I would my Lord that I could understand you, I do persuade my self then I could love you. Why this is well my Lord, can you go on? Admirable; good my Lord go forward, Talk, and I'll love you infinitely, that is, beyond talk. Let Wisdom go to graven ones, give us Talk, It is Youth's Music, and does stir Affection, As Motion, Heat. Good my Lord talk. Oh my Lord. You will ravish me. I mean you'll overcome me: And if you talk much, I shall entreat you you will hold your peace. Away my Lord, I am bound to stop mine ears; the Sire's sing in you. I will maintain this in him, to make him talk his Lungs our.—O,—O. Would I had never herd this Tongue of yours: But I was cursed to hear it, more to provoke it. Fie, fie, fie, this is not to be endured. The Duchess; good my Lord leave until anon there time. My Lord. He is as great a stranger unto me as to you Ma dame, I never saw him since. You may pray rather he ha not spent his time As Faustus did, and many that are there, In Negromancie, so to perform the Task You have laid on him. Why, have we it not recorded, Faustus did Fetch Bruno is Wife, Duchess of Saxoni In the dead time of Winter, Grapes she longed for? Well, had I been as you, I'de not have laid so deep and Oath vpon't. I obey you Madame. Oh my deer brother. Where is my wretched Mistress? What means this? I am uncapable of this ill language: But suppose I were (my Lord) as you esteem me, Is this a time, when my heart's full of sorrow, Ready to break for their unfortunate fates, To give admittance to so loathed a fact, That never could be tempted in the height Of festivals: and all the soothing flatteries Trust up in vows and glories of a Court. 'Tis wisdom to conceal what I do think, And truth to call thee villain: Oh we are Ruined, all of us are ruined, Oh worthy Sir, how does my brother? Why do you leave him? Oh Sir they lie in you. For next unto the delivery of my Mistress, My brother's welfare is, which you promised. That is his voice, where are you brother? Before me? Trust me I cannot see you. Sir, you may command me, and for his sake, To utmost of my pour, I am bound to you. Oh my deer brother, how you joy my soul To see you up again, in health, and lusty? Sir you are worthy of a better choice, But let me for your own sake thus advise you, If you have entertained any such thought, (As I hope you are wiser) to partly with it; For trust me, this poor heart I carry here, Is not mine own; I do but walk with it, And keep it for another: pray no more Sir, Brother farewell, I shall be wanting to the Duchess. Is that all? They are. I will. As you are unto me; for if you prove The master of your word, I will be over mine the mistress, And though it be a jewel I esteem, I never saw how I could partly with it better. I herd none. Who do you talk to? Farewell. Oh brother we are undone: All's out of joint again As much or rather more then ever. The Duke's in old fit, and the poor Princess Clapped up close prisoner, look to your self Or you are lost. (me Why should you ask a question so frivolous. You know I do. Why alas? brother I did tell this man How hopeless I was, prayed him to desist, And make some better choice. Why if you be so desperate a lover, That you will die for me, think me the Like, That I can die as well for him I love. One that you praised your self into my heart, Although his youth and feature needs no Orator. By Cupid's self I donnot. It's and unreasonable request in you, But yet to show I am not ashamed of him, It is young Bernard. Young Bernard. The same. There is no giving back, welcome my love, And in a time that I did wish for thee; Yet I shall startle you and try your temper: For since I have found away how to infranchise My poor afflicted mistress, I'll be pleasant. Oh but my Bernard, we do never meet With any happiness, but some kind of mischief Mingles still with it, yet 'tis more or less, As you shall make of it, if you might take me now: Why, I were worth your love, for I am yet; (I did not lie much, if I said a Virgin) But without blushing I dare say a Maid. But it is to be lost. But not on him, for so it is not lost, To deal directly with you, I cannot bring, That thing called maiden head, for it is promised. And if you cannot love me without that, Deal plainly then with me, as I with you, And I will look out for another man: Another handsome man a Citizen. That shall make much of me, and not a whit, Love me the worse for want of such a trifle. Oh you are a stout lover to be dejected thus, for such a vanity as a Maidenhead is, you'd ill endure to have your wife run away with another man two or three year together, and afterwards brought home, and a gain accepted with Suppers and with Trumpets. But since it is so estimate a Jewel, Come my Barnard w'eele not partly with it, But lay our heads together how to preserve it. How now? As in the fiction, Giants make war with heaven, But are struck dead, so malice may strike at Virtue; But at last, I see the blow will light where it began. Welcome my Royal mistress, and I hope Unto more comfort, then ever yet the Saxon Court afforded, it bears the likeliest face Upon us now. Away you are a villain, I came back to tell you so: And long life which is a blessing to others, unto thee's a curse: thou shame of such a reverence dost not see, to what a monster lust in thee is grown: at lest in men's imaginations. A man as old in show as time himself, Made up for counsel Like another Nestor: At least in men's imaginations, To be so monstrous Goatishly inclined. Oh fie my Lord! think with your self this ill, Provokes not in the flesh, but in your will: Your blood moves slow and cold and all the fire, That strikes up any heat, is in desire: I blush for you, think of it. Yes to the heart believe it. No. Thy worst: for I will mine, Farewell then, and repent, Nay I will not loose the honour of being the cour ted Lady. Nay, and you give out, you have lost the day. Would I were i'the Country again, I shall run mad here: your tumultuous Courtiers wonnot let me rest; Visitants early and late, and all come about one but sinesse, to tell me I am fair, which I know well enough, yet can be well content to let them swear it. I have the Prayers of all the Mercers, Tailors, Haberdashers, i'the whole City, and their Wives Curses; for not a Man looks that way: I am the Bird, at which each well drawn Courtier shoots his Bolt. Look you, I am spy ed already: They leave all Companies, all Places; upon Service times, the Chapel, if I be not there. Now my tongue-tied Lord, whose Language is i'the Motion of his Neck, I wonder he is not troubled with the Crick: What does your Lordship say? I donnot hear you. Pray away. Lay ofy our wicked hands. Adders and Scorpions shall as soon embrace me, Shall my deer mistress that equally laments: My adverse Fate, which heeres if not about it. And in her tears lies bathed, breaking her sighs : Into as many pieces, as if she strived To number up her sins, which are no more, Then will make truth appear that she must sin, And shall I throw away all thought of her, That altogether thinks of Heaven and me, Whom hourly she solicits and ascends, And calls me along with her in her Prayers, Shall I forget this Lady, and to lust Prostrate my self to him that works her ruin. First, may Heaven point me out, his mark or veng ance. And I unable to avoid the stroke. Be rend and torn as Thunder does and Oak, Keep of. I do know it brother, and do thank him. Heartily thank him, and the Duchess shall, That owes him equally as much as we, Thank him a better way. Pray speak it. Yes believe me, though I have made no noise With h sighs, able to blow up mountains.
Plot summary
Plot — The Two Merry Milkmaids, or The Best Words Wear the Garland
Bernard sneaks into his tutor Landoff’s study, reads his magic books, and attempts to conjure up the devil. The spirit who appears is in fact Landoff himself in disguise: he has been trying to. find out why his pupil is melancholy, and left his study door unlocked so that the prospect of magic might cause him to reveal the answer. It does: Bernard wants to go home because he has fallen for a local girl, Julia, but has not yet plucked up the courage to tel her. Dorilus tries to court the proud, ambitious Dorigen, but she has her sights set on becoming a duchess. On - hearing that the Duke is coming to the area, she and Julia dress up as milkmaids and go to see him. The Duke is attracted by Dorigen’s flirtatious manner, and he grants her a boon. She asks that he make her father an earl, and, once that is done, she points out that there is no impediment of rank preventing him from 1619 marrying her. He does so, but Dorilus persists in his attentions after the wedding. She promises to reciprocate if he fulfils an impossible task: to bring her a garland containing every species of flower, which will remain fresh so long as he is constant in his love. Landoff, still posing as a spirit, agrees to fetch him the blooms, and Dorilus gladly signs away his estate to Bernard by way of payment. Presented with the garland, Dorigen is disconcerted to realize that she will have to keep her side of the bargain. She confesses to the Duke, who seems unconcerned at the prospect of her adultery, but sets Raymond to spy on her. Dorilus refuses to press his claim on Dorigen, but Raymond reports that adultery has occurred: he has become infatuated with Julia and thinks his chances will be enhanced by the fall of Dorigen. Dorigen is imprisoned for treasonable adultery and her family expelled from the court; she is to be allowed no advocate to speak for her at her trial. Dorilus procures an invisibility ring from Landoff, supplied by a genuine spirit, and intervenes in the trial after Dorigen refuses to defend herself. The Duke accepts that his disembodied voice was sent by providence to exonerate an innocent woman, and Dorigen is freed. However, Raymond persuades him to change his mind, and Dorigen is taken back to prison. Dorilus loses the invisibility ring, but it is found by Frederick, Dorigen’s foolish brother, who puts it on and is surprised to find that everyone ignores him. He witnesses Raymond attempting to seduce Julia with the promise of Dorigen’s freedom; although she…