The Bloody Brother (Rollo, Duke of Normandy) · chunk 7 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 T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour · 493 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
And rather than posterity shall have cause To say I ruined all, divide the dukedom, I will accept the moiety. I embrace it. Divide me first, or tear me limb by limb, And let them find as many several graves As there are villages in Normandy: And 'tis less sin than thus to weaken it. To hear it mentioned doth already make me Envy my dead lord, and almost blaspheme Those powers that heard my prayer for fruitfulness, And did not with my first birth close my womb: To me alone my second blessing proves My first of misery, for if that heaven Which gave me Rollo, there had stayed his bounty, And Otto, my dear Otto, ne'er had been, Or being, had not been so worth my love, The stream of my affection had run constant Iu one faire current, all my hopes had been Laid up in one; and fruitful Normandy In this division had not lost her glories: For as 'tis now, 'tis a fair diamond, Which being preserved entire, exceeds all value, But cut in pieces (though these pieces are Set in fine gold by the best workman's cunning) Parts with all estimation: So this Dukedom, As 'tis yet whole, the neighbouring Kings may covet, But cannot compass; which divided, will Become the spoil of every barbarous foe That will invade it. How this works in both! Prince Rollos' eyes have lost their fire. And anger, that but now wholly possessed Good Otto, hath given place to pity. End not thus Madam, but perfect what's so well begun. I see in both, fair signs of reconcilement, Make them sure proofs they are so: the Fates offer To your free choice, either to live Examples Of piety, or wickedness: if the later Blinds so your understanding, that you cannot Pierce through her painted outside, and discover That she is all deformity within, Boldly transcend all precedents of mischief, And let the last, and the worst end of tyrannies, The murder of a mother, but begin The stain of blood you after are to heighten: But if that virtue, and her sure rewards, Can win you to accept her for your guide, To lead you up to heaven, and there fix you The fairest Stars in the bright Sphere of Honour; Make me the parent of an hundred sons, All brought into the world with joy, not sorrow, And every one a father to his country, In being now made mother of your concord. Such, and so good, loud fame for ever speak you. ay, now they meet like Brothers. My heart's joy flows through my eyes. May never woman's tongue Hereafter be accused, for this ones Goodness. If we contend, from this hour, it shall be How to o'ercome in brotherly affection. Otto is Rollo now, and Rollo, Otto, Or as they have one mind, rather one name: From this atonement let our lives begin, Be all the rest forgotten.
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)
And rather than posterity shall have cause To say I ruin'd all, devide the dukedome, I will accept the moytie. I embrace it. Devide mee first, or teare mee limbe by limbe, And let them finde as many severall graves As there are villages in Normandy: And 'tis lesse sinne than thus to weaken it. To heare it mentiond doth already make mee Envie my dead lord, and almost blaspheme Those powers that heard my prayer for fruitfullnesse, And did not with my first birth close my wombe: To mee alone my second blessing proves My first of misery, for if that heaven Which gave mee Rollo, there had stayd his bounty, And Otto, my deare Otto, ne're had been, Or being, had not been so worth my love, The streame of my affection had runne constant Iu one faire current, all my hopes had been Layd up in one; and fruitfull Normandy In this division had not lost her gloryes: For as tis now, tis a faire diamond, Which being preserv'd intire, exceeds all value, But cut in peeces (though these peeces are Set in fine gold by the best work-mans cunning) Parts with all estimation: So this Dukedome, As 'tis yet whole, the neighbouring Kings may covet, But cannot compasse; which divided, will Become the spoile of every barbarous foe That will invade it. How this works in both! Prince Rollos eyes have lost their fire. And anger, that but now wholly possessed Good Otto, hath given place to pitie. End not thus Madam, but perfect what's so well begun. I see in both, faire signes of reconcilement, Make hem sure proofes they are so: the Fates offer To your free choyce, either to live Examples Of pietie, or wickednesse: if the later Blinds so your understanding, that you cannot Pierce through her painted out-side, and discover That she is all deformity within, Boldly transcend all presidents of mischiefe, And let the last, and the worst end of tyrannies, The murther of a mother, but begin The staine of blood you after are to heighten: But if that vertue, and her sure rewards, Can win you to accept her for your guide, To lead you up to heaven, and there fix you The fairest Starres in the bright Spheare of Honour; Make me the parent of an hundred sonnes, All brought into the world with joy, not sorrow, And every one a father to his countrey, In being now made mother of your concord. Such, and so good, loud fame for ever speake you. I, now they meet like Brothers. My hearts joy flows through my eyes. May never womans tongue Hereafter be accus'd, for this ones Goodnesse. If we contend, from this houre, it shall be How to orecome in brotherly affection. Otto is Rollo now, and Rollo, Otto, Or as they have one mind, rather one name: From this attonement let our lives begin, Be all the rest forgotten.