The Seven Champions of Christendom · chunk 12 of 43
Kirke, John · published 1638 · first performed or written 1635 [1634-1638] (Annals) romance · Red Bull Company (second) · Red Bull T13 Knights, squires and ladies typicality 0.81 · 512 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T13: knight, raph, lady, knights, george, master, squire, rafe, pray, god.
Betimes this morning unfolding my sheep, Some half a mile off the dragon's den: For he's no nightwalker, take that by th' way, And in the day time I'll keep out of's company. Come forward. Comes me a Gentleman all in black armour, To inquire of me where was the dragon's lodging: I told him where he kept house, but wished him, If he would be welcome, to bring his stool with him; For he was very churlish, and as most Of our great men nowadays, devour all his neighbours: He smiled, and on he rode; I followed to see What would follow, and into a tree I got me: The trampling of his Horse awaked the Monster, And forth comes the devil out of his den, The Knight runs at him with his Lance, Pierced through one of his ugly wings, But by fatal chance his Courser stumbled, And by unfortunate hap threw him between The monster's jaws, who in a trice With his large devilish teeth crushed him in pieces. Alas poor Gentleman! He had not hardly breathed himself a little, When suddenly two gallant Knights assailed him, Who long held combat with him, till the Lion, His devilish dear companion, came to help him; Who presently then sent 'em To accompany their fellows fate. Unhappy chance! They having done their work, went to their dens, To lick their wounds, I think for want Of better Surgeons: I took the opportunity, And hither stole to relate the news. But soft, what music's this? surely there are Some great ones abroad, and here they come: Let's stand aside awhile. Ancetes, thou hast told us deeds of wonder, And, but our eyes convince our doubtful thoughts, We could not give belief to't: Now their deaths, That ran on danger for their Countries good, Have ample recompense: what power, for none But a Celestial one, could arm your hands, And give your spirits vigour to o'ercome So much of danger? No other sir, but our true born loves To noble actions, pity of others wronged, And fair renown, are all the spurs Should put on noble spirits to warlike actions, And in that to fall, or rise with glory: Who would not venture this weak piece Of flesh, which every Ague beats? Nor ever held I life at such a rate, But to get fame, I dare and will tempt Fate. What a bold spirit he moves with! Noble youths; we glory that our country's earth Now bears so much of man upon her. Sir, by my father's leave I do pronounce Y'are freely welcome, not to us alone, but to all, All faithful subjects to my Father, and their loud joys Shall speak it; one work of gratitude We owe the gods, the other to your valours. What remains, but that you bless our eyes With the true figures of our dear lives preserver? Therefore unarm yourselves, your dangerous combat, The heat and dust, and the fast closure of Your Armours strictness may much impair your healths; Let me prevail with you.
seed 43: T20 · seed 44: T17 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Betimes this morning unfolding my ſheepe, Some halfe a mile off the Dragons denne: For hee's no night-walker, take that by th' way, And in the day time I'le keepe out of's company. Come forward. Comes me a Gentleman all in black armour, To inquire of me where was the Dragons lodging: I told him where he kept houſe, but wiſht him, If he would be welcome, to bring his ſtoole with him; For he was very churliſh, and as moſt Of our great men now a dayes, devoure all his neighbours: He ſmil'd, and on he rode; I followed to ſee What would follow, and into a tree I got me: The trampling of his Horſe awak't the Monſter, And forth comes the devill out of his denne, The Knight runnes at him with his Launce, Pierc't through one of his ugly wings, But by fatall chance his Courſer ſtumbl'd, And by unfortunate happe threw him betweene The Monſters jawes, who in a trice With his large devilliſh teeth cruſht him in pieces. Alas poore Gentleman! He had not hardly breath'd himſelfe alittle, When ſuddenly two gallant Knights aſſaild him, Who long held combate with him, till the Lyon, His devilliſh deare companion, came to helpe him; Who preſently then ſent 'em To accompany their fellows fate. Vnhappy chance! They having done their worke, went to their dens, To licke their wounds, I thinke for want Of better Surgeans: I tooke the opportunity, And hither ſtole to relate the newes. But ſoft, what Muſick's this? ſurely there are Some great ones abroad, and here they come: Let's ſtand aſide awhile. Ancetes, thou haſt told us deeds of wonder, And, but our eyes convince our doubtfull thoughts, We could not give beleefe too't: Now their deaths, That ran on danger for their Countries good, Have ample recompence: what power, for none But a Celeſtiall one, could arme your hands, And give your ſpirits vigor to o'recome So much of danger? No other ſir, but our true borne loves To noble actions, pitty of others wrong'd, And faire renowne, are all the ſpurres Should put on noble ſpirits to warlike actions, And in that to fall, or riſe with glory: Who would not venture this weake peece Of fleſh, which every Ague beats? Nor ever held I life at ſuch a rate, But to get fame, I dare and will tempt Fate. What a bold ſpirit he moves with! Noble youths; we glory that our Countries earth Now beares ſo much of man upon her. Sir, by my fathers leave I doe pronounce Y'are freely welcome, not to us alone, but to all, All faithfull ſubjects to my Father, and their loud joyes Shall ſpeake it; one worke of gratitude We owe the gods, the other to your valours. What remaines, but that you bleſſe our eyes With the true figures of our deare lives preſerver? Therefore unarme your ſelves, your dangerous combate, The heate and duſt, and the faſt cloſure of Your Armours ſtrictneſſe may much impaire your healths; Let me prevaile with you.