Berkeley, William · published 1638 · first performed or written 1637 [1637-1638] (Annals) not in BritDrama unassigned nearest T1 Death, grief and revenge · 497 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
What furies govern man? we hazard all Our lives and fortunes to gain hated memories: And in the search of virtue, tremble at shadows. But how are you ascertained that he did This horrid act? He sent the bitter summons of her death, By her that had betrayed her; the report Did make her spirits throng unto her heart, And sure had killed it, had not Heaven decreed His hand should be as black as his intent. She begged sometime for prayer, and retired: In her own blood did write her Tragedy, And parting, wishes to her dear betrothed. Now hear the strangest mistook piety, That ever entered in a virgin's breast: She so much loved this barbarous Homicide, She would not have him guilty of her death, And therefore with her own hand wounds herself, And as she bled, she writ unto her Lord: At last concludes. They will not let me make them innocent: I'm called unto my death, and I repent My wound, because I would not hurt That which I hope you loved: this bloody note Was found the next day in her pocket. And came it to the Lord LYSICLES? It did, and if you e'er had seen A hundred parents at one time deplore The unexpected deaths of their lost Children: The father's sorrow, and the mother's tears, Would Emblemise, but not express his grief. Sometimes he shrieked, as if he'd sent his soul Out in his voice: sometimes stood fixed, and gazed As if he had no sense of what he saw: Sometime he'd sound, and if the memory Of his dear Mistress, even i'th' gates of Death Had not pursued him, he had certain died: Torment did now give life, at last he drew His sword, and ere he could be stayed, did fall Upon the point. This I think did preserve him, For not being mortal, and he fainting with The loss of blood, had not then strength enough To end himself; until he was persuaded To live, to celebrate her memory, Which nightly he doth do upon her Tomb, Whither he now is gone. I have not heard of such a love as this! Nor never shall of such a beauty as did cause it. 'Tis late, and I'll not trouble you with her story: When you are at Court, all tongues will speak Her merit to your wonder. I'll bring you to your horse. And will you marry now? Indeed will I. And what shall be done with all those locks of hair You have? Why I'll make buttons of'em, and had they half The value that I swore they had, when I did beg'em, Rich orient Diamonds could not equal them: Some came easily, and some I was forced to dig for in the Mine And your prized liberty, what shall become of that? You swore you would not marry till there were A Law established, that married men Might be redeemed as Slaves are.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
What furies governe man? we hazard all Our lives and fortunes to gaine hated memories: And in the search of vertue, tremble at shadowes. But how are you ascertain'd that he did This horrid act? He sent the bitter summons of her death, By her that had betray'd her; the report Did make her spirits throng unto her heart, And sure had kild it, had not Heaven decreed His hand should be as blacke as his intent. She begg'd sometime for prayer, and retir'd: In her owne blood did write her Tragedy, And parting, wishes to her deare bethroth'd. Now heare the strangest mistooke piety, That ever entred in a Virgins breast: She so much lov'd this barbarous Homicide, She would not have him guilty of her death, And therefore with her owne hand wounds her selfe, And as she bled, she writ unto her Lord: At last concludes. They will not let me make them innocent: I'me cald unto my death, and I repent My wound, because I would not hurt That which I hope you lov'd: this bloody note Was found the next day in her pocket. And came it to the Lord LYSICLES? It did, and if you e're had seene A hundred parents at one time deplore The unexpected deaths of their lost Children: The fathers sorrow, and the mothers teares, Would Emblemize, but not expresse his griefe. Sometimes he shreekt, as if h'ad sent his soule Out in his voice: sometimes stood fixt, and gaz'd As if he had no sence of what he saw: Sometime he'd sound, and if the memory Of his deare Mistresse, even ith'gates of Death Had not pursu'd him, he had certaine dyed: Torment did now give life, at last he drew His sword, and ere he could be staid, did fall Upon the point. This I thinke did preserve him, For not being mortall, and he fainting with The losse of bloud, had not then strength enough To end himselfe; untill he was perswaded To live, to celebrate her memory, Which nightly he doth doe upon her Tombe, Whither he now is gone. I have not heard of such a love as this! Nor never shall of such a beauty as did cause it. 'Tis late, and I'le not trouble you with her story: When you are at Court, all tongues will speake Her merit to your wonder. I'le bring you to your horse. And will you marry now? Indeed will I. And what shall be done with all those lockes of haire You have? Why I'le make buttons of'em, and had they halfe The value that I swore they had, when I did beg'em, Rich orient Diamonds could not equall them: Some came easily, and some I was forc'd to dig for in the Mine And your priz'd liberty, what shall become of that? You swore you would not marry till there were A Law established, that married men Might be redeem'd as Slaves are.