Gascoigne, George / Kinwelmershe, Francis / Yelverton, ChristopherEuripides / Dolce, Lodovico · published 1573 · first performed or written 1566 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 489 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
IF greedy lust of man's ambitious eye (That thirsteth so for sway of earthly things) Would eke foresee, what mischiefs grow thereby, What careful toil to quiet state it brings, What endless grief from such a fountain springs: Then should he swim in seas of sweet delight, That now complains of fortune's cruel spite. For then he would so safely shield himself With sacred rules of wisdoms sage advise, As no alluring train of trustless pelf, To fond affects his fancy should entice, Then wary heed would quickly make him wise: Where contrary (such is our skilless kind) We most do seek, that most may hurt the mind. Amid the troop of these unstable toys, Some fancies lo to beauty most be bent, Some hunt for wealth, and some set all their joys, In regal power of princely government, Yet none of these from care are clean exempt: For either they be got with grievous toil, Or in the end foregone with shameful fail. This flitting world doth firmly nought retain, Wherein a man may boldly rest his trust, Such fickle chance in fortune doth remain, As when she lust, she threateneth whom she lust, From high renown to throw him in the dust: Thus may we see that each triumphing joy By fortune's frown is turned to annoy. Those elder heads may well be thought to err, The which for easy life and quiet days, The vulgar sort would seem for to prefer. If glorious Phoebe, withhold his glistering rays, From such a peer as crown and sceptre sways, No marvel though he hide his heavenly face, From us that come of less renowned race. seld shall you see the ruin of a Prince, But that the people eke like brunt do bear, And old records of ancient time long since, From age to age, yea almost everywhere, With proof hereof hath glutted every ear: Thus by the follies of the PRINCE's heart, The bounden subject still receiveth smart. Lo, how unbridled lust of private reign, Hath pricked both the brethren unto war: Yet Pollinyce, with sign of less disdain, Against this land hath brought from countries far, A foreign power, to end this cruel jar, Forgetting quite the duty, love, and zeal, He ought to bear unto this common weal. But whosoever gets the victory, We wretched dames, and thou O noble town, Shall feel thereof the woeful misery▪ Thy gorgeous pomp, thy glorious high renown, Thy stately towers, and all shall fall a down, Sith raging Mars will each of them assist In other breast to bathe his bloody fist. But thou O son of Semele, and of Ioue, (That tamed the proud attempt of giants strong) Do thou defend, even of thy tender love, Thy humble thralls from this afflicting wrong, Whom waste of war hath now tormented long: So shall we never fail ne day ne night With reverence due thy praises to recite.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T6 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
IF gréedie lust of mans ambitious eye (That thristeth so for swaye of earthly things) Would eke foresée, what mischiefes growe therby, What carefull toyle to quiet state it brings, What endlesse griefe from such a fountaine springs: Then should he swimme in seas of swéete delight, That nowe complaines of fortunes cruell spight. For then he would so safely shielde himselfe With sacred rules of wisedomes sage aduise, As no alluring trayne of trustles pelfe, To fonde affectes his fancie should entise, Then warie héede would quickly make him wise: Where contrary (such is our skillesse kind) We most doe séeke, that most may hurt the minde. Amid the troupe of these vnstable toyes, Some fancies loe to beautie most be bent, Some hunt for wealth, and some set all their ioyes, In regall power of princely gouernement, Yet none of these from care are cleane exempt▪ For either they be got with grieuous toyle, Or in the ende forgone with shamefull fayle. This flitting world doth firmely nought retaine, Wherin a man may boldly rest his trust, Such fickle chaunce in fortune doth remaine, As when she lust, she threatneth whom she lust, From high renoume to throwe him in the dust: Thus may we sée that eche triumphing ioye By fortunes froune is turned to annoye. Those elder heads may well be thought to erre, The which for easie life and quiet dayes, The vulgar sort would séeme for to preferre. If glorious Phoebe, with-holde his glistring rayes, From such a péere as crowne and scepter swayes, No meuaile though he hide his heauenly face, From vs that come of lesse renounied race. Selde shall you sée the ruine of a Prince, But that the people eke like brunt doe beare, And olde recordes of auncient time long since, From age to age, yea almost euerie where, With proofe hereof hath glutted euery eare: Thus by the follies of the princes harte, The bounden subiect stil receiueth smart. Loe, how vnbrideled lust of priuate raigne, Hath pricked both the brethren vnto warre: Yet Pollinyce, with signe of lesse disdaine, Against this lande hath brought from countries farre, A forraine power, to end this cruell iarre, Forgetting quite the dutie, loue, and zeale, He ought to beare vnto this common weale. But whosoeuer gets he victorie, We wretched dames, and thou O noble towne, Shall féele therof the wofull miserie▪ Thy gorgeous pompe, thy glorious high renoume, Thy stately towers, and all shall fall a downe, Sith raging Mas will eache of them assist In others brest to bathe his bloudie fist. But sonne of , and of Ioue, (That tamde the proude attempt of giaunts strong) Doe thou defende, euen of thy tender loue, Thy humble thralls from this afflicting wrong, Whom wast of warre hath now tormented long: So shall we neuer faile ne day ne night With reuerence due thy prayses to resight.