Q. How do we capture the numbers (1-3) that appear repeatedly above words in the poem? As superscripted numbers? (if so, where do we place them?) Or do we ignore them?
A. Treat them as superscripted numbers; place them after the word over which they appear, like this:
<L>VErtue^1, beawtie^2, and speach^3,
did strike^1, wound^2, charme^3,</L>
<L>My harte^1, eyes^2, eares^3,
with wonder^1, loue^2, delight^3:</L>
[This seems to be a kind of poetic puzzle; one makes sense of it by connecting the words with the same numbers in the same line. Thus the two lines above mean roughly "Vertue did strike my heart with wonder; beauty did strike my eyes with love; speech did charme my ears with delight." So the numbers are significant and should be captured; since we have no special way of recording this kind of scheme, we'll just record the fact of their existence, using superscripts.]
Re: Wing C565
UMI ID # 1212189
AUTHOR: Carew
TITLE: Poems and a masque
IMG # 104 (pp. 204-5)
Q. Are the numbers 1, 2, and 3, which appear at the beginning of several lines (and once or twice in the middle of a line) <milestones>?
A. No, I think these are <SPEAKER>s: "1" "2" and "3" apparently refer to characters in the play called "Kingdom 1," "Kingdom 2," and "Kingdom 3."
This raises two questions that you don't ask, but which I will attempt to answer anyway:
Q1. How should we tag "KINGDOMES." which introduces a set of speeches by several different "Kingdoms"?
A1. There is no perfect way within the DTD to do this, but the easiest is to regard "KINGDOMES." and the following number as forming a single <SPEAKER> description. (If this fails, try using <STAGE>, which can appear almost anywhere).
I would therefore tag as follows (example on p. 205):
<SP><SPEAKER>KINGDOMES. 1.</SPEAKER>
<L>These shed a nobler influence,</L>
</SP>
<SP>
<SPEAKER>2.</SPEAKER>
<L>These by a pure Intelligence</L>
<L>Of more transcendent Vertue move,</L>
</SP>
<SP>
<SPEAKER>3.</SPEAKER>
<L>These first feel, then kindle Love,</L>
</SP>
Q2. How should we tag speeches in verse drama that begin in the middle of a verse line?
A2. Break the line at the end of the speech.
Example (from p. 204):
<SP>
<SPEAKER>KINGDOMES 1.</SPEAKER>
<L>From your consecrated woods</L>
<L>Holy Druids.</L>
</SP>
<SP>
<SPEAKER>2.</SPEAKER>
<L>Silver floods,</L>
<L>From your channels fring'd with flowers,</L>
</SP>
<SP>
<SPEAKER>3.</SPEAKER>
<L>Hither move; forsake your bowers,</L>
</SP>