Rutter, Joseph / Corneille, Pierre · published 1637 · first performed or written 1637 [1637-1638] (Annals) not in BritDrama · before the Court unassigned nearest T14 Royal love, favour and dynastic relation · 437 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T14: prince, princess, love, king, lord, queen, madam, grace, lady, life.
To instruct him by example, this I'll say In spite of envy, let him read my life, And by that story learn to tame fierce Nations. To set on any place, to range an Army, And lay his ground of honour on his actions. Living examples move more forcibly Than books, in which a Prince scarce learns his duty: But what I pray has all your long years done That one day of my actions has not equalled? If you were valiant once, I still am so, This arm's the firm supporter of Castille, My sword once drawn has made Granado tremble, Arragon quake; without me other laws You must have had, and other Princes served: Each day, each instant, to my eternal glory, Has piled up victory on victory. The Prince to set an edge upon his valour, Marching by me shall be victorious, Far from your cold instructions, he shall learn (Though to my valour they're preferred by some) In seeing my actions, how to overcome. In vain you tell me that I know already, I've seen you fight, and under me command. When age hath shrunk my sinews up with cold, Your youth and valour have supplied my place. But not to make so many words of nothing, You are what I was once, and yet the King 'Twixt our deserts has put a difference. That which was my desert, you have obtained. He that has got it, sure has best deserved it. He that can best discharge it, best deserves it. 'Tis no good sign though to be put beside it. Like an old Courtier, by much suit you got it. My honourable actions stood for me. Come, come, the King thus honoured your grey hairs He prized my valour, when he gave it me. If so, the honour had been mine, not yours. He that could not obtain't, did not deserve it. Not I deserve it, mean you? No, not you. Take that, rash Dotard, for thy impudence. Nay make it up, and after this affront. Take my life too. What dost thou hope to do thou feeble fool, Thy sword is mine, but yet I scorn to take it, Go now and bid the Prince read o'er thy life, And let him not omit this part of it, In which he'll find the just revenge I take Of this thine insolence, a fair example. Will you then spare my life? I'm satisfied; Mine eyes cry shame unto mine hands for this. Then you do scorn to take it. If I should, I did but cut the thread of three days lasting.
seed 43: T14 · seed 44: T9 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
To inſtruct him by example, this I'le ſay In ſpight of envie, let him read my life, And by that ſtory learne to tame fierce Nations. To ſet on any place, to range an Army, And lay his ground of honour on his actions. Living examples move more forcibly Than books, in which a Prince ſcarce learnes his duty: But what I pray has all your long yeares done That one day of my actions has not equall'd? If you were valiant once, I ſtill am ſo, This arm's the firme ſupporter of Caſtile, My ſword once drawne has made Granado tremble, Arragon quake; without me other lawes You muſt have had, and other Princes ſerv'd: Each day, each inſtant, to my eternall glory, Has pil'd up victory on victory. The Princeto ſet an edge upon his valour, Marching by me ſhall be victorious, Farre from your cold inſtructions, he ſhall learne (Though to my valour they're prefer'd by ſome) In ſeeing my actions, how to overcome. In vaine you tell me that I know already, I've ſeene you fight, and under me command. When age hath ſhrunke my ſinewes up with cold, Your youth and valour have ſuppli'd my place. But not to make ſo many words of nothing, You are what I was once, and yet the King 'Twixt our deſerts has put a difference. That which was my deſert, you have obtain'd. He that has got it, ſure has beſt deſerv'd it. He that can beſt diſcharge it, beſt deſerves it. 'Tis no good ſigne though to be put beſide it. Like an old Courtier, by much ſuit you got it. My honourable actions ſtood for me. Come, come, the King thus honour'd your gray hairs He priz'd my valour, when he gave it me. If ſo, the honour had beene mine, not yours. He that could not obtain't, did not deſerve it. Not I deſerve it, meane you? No, not you. Take that, raſh Dotard, for thy impudence. Nay make it up, and after this affront. Take my life too. What doſt thou hope to doe thou feeble foole, Thy ſword is mine, but yet I ſcorne to take it, Goe now and bid the Prince read o're thy life, And let him not omit this part of it, In which hee'le finde the juſt revenge I take Of this thine inſolence, a faire example. Will you then ſpare my life? I'me ſatisfied; Mine eyes cry ſhame unto mine hands for this. Then you doe ſcorne to take it. If I ſhould, I did but cut the threed of three dayes laſting.