Greville, Fulke · published 1633 · first performed or written 1600 [c.1598-c.1600] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 505 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
By these hands that owe seruice to the State, And by his blood haue made it fortunate. What execration did he dying vse Against this violence of broken faith; Which wounds good soules more than the bodies death? In falling downe, these only words he spake: " Helpe people! helpe: My death your bondage brings: Behold! these wounds receiue I for your sake; " Reward of them that friend you vnder Kings. Vile Caine! that (like the Axe) do'st goe about, " To cut thy selfe an helue to weare thee out. Most wicked act! Could neither faith, nor law, Reuerence of State, remorse of doing ill, The paines of iustice, nor the hopes withdraw Thy raging hand? And do'st thou thinke the world can suffer this; That thou should'st glory to haue done amisse? Is thy desire growne wanton in her ioy? Or do'st thou seeme to say thy wishes nay, More kindly in the end with them to play? By fires of hell, which burne, and haue no light; By those foule spirits which ill men only see; I sweare thy death shall Mahomets requite. Vnto the world although I guilty be; I did thy will: let me be cleare to thee. In vaine I should command his death by sleights, That placed am vpon the fathers seat, Where power can easlier doe things, than intreat. The State of Kings is large; yet lacks in this, That easie each thing, but not lawfull is. Besides, you then a second brother were; Nor knew I, when this plot we did deuise, You should see clearer by your fathers eyes. Rumor, complaints, and scornfull thoughts of power, Are wayes of priuate hearts, that from below Misiudge those higher powers, they doe not know. But now borne vp into a Princes Throne, Beneath I see that world of discontent, Where error teacheth vse of punishment. Away with him. Entreatie is in vaine: Thy death to him is due, whom thou hast slaine. " Ah fearefull friendships with superior powers! Whose two parts, they themselues, and their Estates, " Diuide, or ioyne like nets; and be the snare, Where loue, and feare to power entrapped are. Alaham! aduow thy deed. To constant wickednesse men honour beare, Where truth it selfe hath iniurie by feare. I say; Let him be slaine. His fault is this, That Mahomet most trayterously he slew. Stay Sir! I say that he still liuing is, And my confession of my selfe vntrue. Traytor vnto thy selfe! and false to me! What riddles of contempt, and wicke nesse Are these, which of thy selfe confessed be? If Mahomet be dead; then shalt thou die: For murther of thy friend deserues no lesse. If Mahomet do liue; yet shalt thou die: For if no murther, scorne thou do'st confesse. Away with him. What tumult's this my Lord? The play of Chance, Which without mischiefe nothing can aduance. Yet good Sir! tell me what this tumult is. The fall of him whose heart hath done amisse.
seed 43: T7 · seed 44: T1 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
By these hands that owe seruice to the State, And by his blood haue made it fortunate. What execration did he dying vse Against this violence of broken faith; Which wounds good soules more than the bodies death? In falling downe, these only words he spake: " Helpe people! helpe: My death your bondage brings: " Behold! these wounds receiue I for your sake; " Reward of them that friend you vnder Kings. " Vile Caine! that (like the Axe) do'st goe about, " To cut thy selfe an helue to weare thee out. Most wicked act! Could neither faith, nor law, Reuerence of State, remorse of doing ill, The paines of iustice, nor the hopes withdraw Thy raging hand? And do'st thou thinke the world can suffer this; That thou should'st glory to haue done amisse? Is thy desire growne wanton in her ioy? Or do'st thou seeme to say thy wishes nay, More kindly in the end with them to play? By fires of hell, which burne, and haue no light; By those foule spirits which ill men only see; I sweare thy death shall Mahomets requite. Vnto the world although I guilty be; I did thy will: let me be cleare to thee. In vaine I should command his death by sleights, That placed am vpon the fathers seat, Where power can easlier doe things, than intreat. The State of Kings is large; yet lacks in this, That easie each thing, but not lawfull is. Besides, you then a second brother were; Nor knew I, when this plot we did deuise, You should see clearer by your fathers eyes. Rumor, complaints, and scornfull thoughts of power, Are wayes of priuate hearts, that from below Misiudge those higher powers, they doe not know. But now borne vp into a Princes Throne, Beneath I see that world of discontent, Where error teacheth vse of punishment. Away with him. Entreatie is in vaine: Thy death to him is due, whom thou hast slaine. " Ah fearefull friendships with superior powers! " Whose two parts, they themselues, and their Estates, " Diuide, or ioyne like nets; and be the snare, " Where loue, and feare to power entrapped are. Alaham! aduow thy deed. To constant wickednesse men honour beare, Where truth it selfe hath iniurie by feare. I say; Let him be slaine. His fault is this, That Mahomet most trayterously he slew. Stay Sir! I say that he still liuing is, And my confession of my selfe vntrue. Traytor vnto thy selfe! and false to me! What riddles of contempt, and wicke nesse Are these, which of thy selfe confessed be? If Mahomet be dead; then shalt thou die: For murther of thy friend deserues no lesse. If Mahomet do liue; yet shalt thou die: For if no murther, scorne thou do'st confesse. Away with him. What tumult's this my Lord? The play of Chance, Which without mischiefe nothing can aduance. Yet good Sir! tell me what this tumult is. The fall of him whose heart hath done amisse.