Golding, Arthur / Beza, Theodore · published 1577 · first performed or written 1575 (Annals) biblical play unassigned nearest T51 Parents and children: blessing, birthrig · 496 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
ALas my God, and was there ever any, That hath endured of cumbrances so many, As I have done by fleeting too and fro, Since I my native country did forego? Or is there any living on the ground, Of benefits that hath such plenty found? Lo how thou makest mortal men to see, Thy passing goodness by calamity. And as of naught thou madest every thing: So out of ill thou causest good to spring. Was never wight so blessed at thy hand, That could thy greatness fully Understand. Full threescore years and thereto fifteen more, My life had lasted now in weal and woe. According to the course in sundry wise Appointed by thy heavenly destinies, Whose will it was I should be bred and borne Of parents rich in cattles, coin, and corn. But unto him that richest is in fee, What joy or comfort could his riches be, When he compelled, compelled was (I say) To see, to serve, and worship every day, A thousand forged gods in steed of thee, Which mad'st the heaven & earth which we do see? Thou then eftsoons didst will me to convey Myself from those same places quite away. And I immediately upon thy call, Left Parents, country, goods with gods & all. Yea Lord, thou knowest I witted not whither then Thou wouldst me lead, nor where me stay again: But he that followeth thee, full well may say, He goeth right: and while he holds that way He never needs to fear that he shall stray. In thinking and bethinking me what store Of benefits I have had erst heretofore, Of thee my God which ever hast provided To keep my mind and body undefiled, And furthermore according to thy word (Which I took then as spoken but in board) Hast blessed mine aged time above all other, By giving me the happy name of mother. I am so ravished in my thought and mind, That (as I would full fain) no mean I found The lest of all the benefits to commend, Which thou my God dost daily still me sand. Yet sith alone with thee Lord here I am, I will thee thank at lest wise as I can. But is not yw my husband whom I see? I thought he had been further of from me. Sara Sara, thy mind I well allow, Naught hast thou said but I the same avow. Come on, and let us both give thanks together For Gods great mercy since our coming hither The fruit thereof as both of us hath found: Let praise & thanks from both of us resound. Contented Sir, how might I better do, Than you to please in all you set me too? And even therefore hath God ordained me. Again, wherein can time spent better be, Than in the setting forth of God's dew praise, Whose majesty doth show itself always, Above and eke beneath before our eyes?
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)
ALas my God, and was there euer any, That hath indurde of cōbrāces so many, As I haue done by fleeting too and fro, Since I my natiue countrie did forgo? Or is there any liuing on the ground, Of benefits that hath such plenty found? Loe how thou makest mortall men to see, Thy passing goodnes by calamitie. And as of nought thou madest euery thing: So out of ill thou causest good to spring. Was neuer wight so blessed at thy hand, That could thy greatnes fully Vnderstand. Full threescore yeares and thereto fifteene mo, My life had lasted now in weale and woe. According to the course in sundry wise Appointed by thy heauenly destinies, Whose will it was I should be bred and borne Of parents rich in catell, coyne, and corne. But vnto him that richest is in fee, What ioy or comfort could his riches be, When he compeld, compelled was (I say) To see, to serue, and worship euery day, A thowsand forged gods in steede of thee, Which madst ye heauen & earth which we do see? Thou then eftsoones didst will me to conuey My selfe from those same places quite away. And I immediatly vpon thy call, Left Parents, countrie, goods with gods & all. Yea Lord, thou knowest I wist not whither thē Thou wouldst me lead, nor where me stay agen: But he that followeth thee, full well may say, He goeth right: and while he holds that way He neuer needes to feare that he shall stray. In thinking and bethinking me what store Of benefits I haue had erst heretofore, Of thee my God which euer hast prouided To keepe my mind and bodie vndefiled, And furthermore according to thy word (Which I tooke then as spoken but in boord) Hast blist mine aged time aboue all other, By giuing me the happy name of mother. I am so rauisht in my thought and mind, That (as I would full fayne) no meane I find The least of all the benefits to commend, Which thou my God doest daily still me send. Yit sith alone with thee Lord here I am, I will thee thanke at least wise as I can. But is not yuu my husband whom I see? I thought he had bin further of from me. Sara Sara, thy mind I well allow, Nought hast thou sayd but I the same auow. Come on, and let vs both giue thankes togither For Gods great mercy since our cōming hither The frute thereof as both of vs hath found: Let prayse & thankes from both of us resownd. Contented Sir, how might I better doe, Than you to please in all you set me too? And euen therefore hath God ordeyned me. Agein, wherein can time spent better be, Than in the setting forth of Gods dew praise, Whose maiestie doth shew it selfe alwayes, Aboue and eke beneath before our eyes?