The Bloody Brother (Rollo, Duke of Normandy) · chunk 3 of 39
Fletcher, John / Field, Nathan / Massinger, Philip · published 1639 · first performed or written 1617 [revised 1627-1630] (Annals) tragedy · King's Men unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 445 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
Is this a time to be spent thus by such As are the principal ministers of the State? When they that are the heads, have filled the Court With factions, a weak woman only left To stay their bloody hands? can her weak arms Alone divert the dangers ready now o fall upon the Common-wealth, and bury The honours of it, leaving not the name Of what it was. Oh Gisbert, the fair trials And frequent proofs which our late master made, Both of your love and faith, gave him assurance, To choose you at his death a Guardian; nay, A father to his sons; and that great trust How ill do you discharge? I must be plain, That, at the best, ye are a sad looker on Of those bad practices you should prevent; And where's the use of your Philosophy In this so needful a time? be not secure; For, Baldwin, be assured, since that the Princes When they were young, and apt for any form, Were given to your instruction, and grave ordering; 'Twill be expected that they should be good, Or their bad manners will b' imputed yours. 'Twas not in one, my Lord, to alter nature, Nor can my counsells work on them that will o. Vouchsafe me hearing. Do these answers sort, Or with your place, or persons, or your years; Can Gisbert being the pillar of the Laws, See them trod under foot, or forced to serve The Prince's unjust ends; and with a frown Be silenced from exclaiming on th'abuse; Or Baldwin only weep the desperate madness Of his seduced pupils? see their minds, Which with good arts he laboured to build up Examples of succeeding Times, o'erturned By undermining parasites; no one precept Leading to any Art, or great, or good, But is forced from their memory, in whose room Black councils are received, and their retirements, And secret conference producing only devilish designs, a man would shame to father; But I talk when I should do, and chide others For that I now offend in: See't confirmed, Now do, or never speak more. We are yours. You shall know whom I am. I do, my equal. Thy Prince: give way,— were we alone, I'd force thee, In thy best blood, to write thyself my subject, And glad I would receive it. Sir. Dear Lord. Thy subject? Yes, nor shall tame patience hold me A minute longer, only half myself; My birth gave me this Dukedom, and my sword Shall change it to the common grave of all That tread upon her bosom, ere I part with A piece of earth, or title that is mine.
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)
Is this a time to be spent thus by such As are the principall ministers of the State? When they that are the hads, have filld the Court With factions, a weake woman only left To say their bloody hands? can her weake armes Alone divert the dangers ready now o fall upon the Common-wealth, and bury The honours of it, leaving not the name Of what it was. Oh Gisbert, the faire trialls And frequent proofs which our late master made, Both of your love and faith, gave him assurance, To chuse you at his death a Guardian; nay, A father to his sons; and that great trust How ill doe you discharge? I must be plaine, That, at the best, y' are a sad looker on Of those bad practices you should prevent And where's the use of your Philosophy In this so needfull a time? be not secure; For, Baldwin, be assur'd, since that the Princes When they were young, and apt for any forme, Were given to your instruction, and grave ordering; 'Twill be expected that they should be good, Or their bad manners will b' imputed yours. 'Twas not in one, my Lord, to alter nature, Nor can my counsells work on them that will o. Vouchsafe me hearing. Doe these answers sort, Or with your place, or persons, or your yeeres; Can Gibert being the pillar of the Lawes, See them trod under foot, or forc'd to serve The Princes unjust ends; and with a frowne Be silenc'd from exclaiming on th'abuse; Or Baldwin only weep the desp'rate madnesse Of his seduced pupills? see their minds, Which with good artes he labour'd to build up Examples of succeeding Times, o'returnd By undermining parasites; no one precept Leading to any Arte, or great, or good, But is forc'd from their memory, in whose roome Black councells are receiv'd, and their retirements, And secret conference producing only Dev'lish designes, a man would shame to father; But I talk when I should doe, and chide others For that I now offend in: See't confirm'd, Now doe, or never speak more. We are yours. You shall know whom I am. I doe, my equall. Thy Prince give way,—were we alone, I'de force thee, In thy best blood, to write thy selfe my subject, And glad I would receive it. Sir. Deare Lord. Thy subject? Yes, nor shall tame patience hold me A minute longer, only halfe my selfe; My birth gave me this Dukedome, and my sword Shall change it to the common grave of all That tread upon her bosome, ere I part with A peece of earth, or title that is mine.