The Misfortunes of Arthur (Certain Devices and Shows Presented to Her Majesty) · chunk 6 of 35
Hughes, Thomas / Fulbecke, William · published 1587 · first performed or written 1588 [Feb 28] (Annals) tragedy · before the Court T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi typicality 0.85 · 500 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
Well should should she seem most guiltless unto thee, whate'er she be, that's guilty for thy sake. The remnant of that sober mind, which thou Hadst heretofore near vanquished, yet resists. Suppress for shame that impious mouth so taught, And to much skilled t'abuse the wedded bed. Look back to former Fates: Troy still had stood, Had not her Prince made light of wedlock's lore. The vice, that threw down Troy, doth threat thy Throne: Take heed: there Mordred stands, whence Paris fell. Since that your highness knows for certain truth What power your sire prepares to claim his right: It nearly now concerns you to resolve In humbliest sort to reconcile yourself. 'gainst his return: will war. that lies in chance I have as great a share in chance, as he. His ways be blind, that maketh chance his guide. Whose refuge lies in chance, what dares he not? wars were a crime far worse than all the rest. The safest passage is from bad to worse. That were to pass too far, and put no mean. He is a fool, that puts a mean in crimes. But sword and fire would cause a common wound. So sword and fire will often sear the soar. Extremest cures must not be used first. In desperate times, the headlong way is best. Youhave many foes. No more than faithful friends. Trust to't, their faith will faint, where Fortune fails. Where many men pretend a love to one, Whose power may do what good, and harm he will: 'tis hard to say, which be his faithful friends. Dame Flattery flitteth oft: she loves and hates With time, a present friend an absent foe. But yet I'll hope the best: Even then you fear The worst Fears follow hopes, as fumes do flames. Mischief is sometimes safe: but ne'er secure: The wrongful sceptre's held with trembling hand. Whose rule wants right, his safety's in his Sword. For Sword and Sceptre comes to Kings at once. The Kingliest point is to affect but right, Weak is the Sceptres hold, that seeks but right, The care whereof hath dangered many Crowns. As much as water differeth from the fire, So much man's profit jars from what is just. A freé recourse to wrong doth oft secure The doubtful seat, and plucks down many a foe. The Sword must seldom cease: a sovereign's hand Is scantly safe, but whiles it smites. Let him Usurp no Crown, that likes a guiltless life: Aspiring power and justice yield agree. He always fears, that shames to offer wrong. What son would use such wrong against his sire? Come son, come sire, I first prefer myself. And since a wrong must be, than it excels, When 'tis to gain a Crown. I hate a peer, I loathe, I irk, I do detest a head. beit Nature, be it Reason, be it Pride, I love to rule: my mind nor with, nor by, Nor after any claims, but chief and first.
seed 43: T25 · seed 44: T6 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Well should should she seéme most guiltlesse vnto theé, Whate'r she be, that's guiltie for thy sake. The remnant of that sober minde, which thou Hadst heretofore nere vanquisht, yet resists. Suppresse for shame that impious mouth so taught, And to much skild t'abuse the wedded bed. Looke backe to former Fates: Troy still had stoode, Had not her Prince made light of wedlocks lore. The vice, that threw downe Troy, doth threat thy Throne: Take heéde: there Mordred stands, whence Paris fell. Since that your highnes knowes for certaine truth What power your sire prepares to claime his right: It neérely now concernes you to resolue In humbliest sort to reconcile your selfe. Gainst his returne: will warre. that lies in chaun I haue as great a share in chaunce, as he. His waies be blinde, that maketh chaunce his guide. Whose refuge lies in chaunce, what dares he not? Warres were a crime farre worse then all the rest. The safest passage is from bad to worse. That were to passe too farre, and put no meane. He is a foole, that puts a meane in crimes. But sword and fire would cause a common wound. So sword and fire will often seare the soare. Extremest cures must not be vsed first. In desperate times, the headlong way is best. Y'haue many foes. No more then faythfull friends. Trust to't, their faith will faint, where Fortune failes. Where many men pretend a loue to one, Whose power may doe what good, and harme he will: T'is hard to say, which be his faithfull friends. Dame Flatterie flitteth oft: she loues and hates With time, a present friend an absent foe. But yet y'll hope the best: Euen then you feare The worst▪ Feares follow hopes, as fumes doe flames. Mischiefe is sometimes safe: but ne'r secure: The wrongfull Scepter's held with trembling hand. Whose rule wants right, his safety's in his Sword. For Sword and Scepter comes to Kings at once. The Kingliest point is to affect but right, Weake is the Scepters hold, that seékes but right, The cae whereof hath danger'd many Crownes. As much as water differeth from the fire, So much man's profit iarres from what is iust. A freé recourse to wrong doth oft secure The doubtfull seate, and plucks downe many a foe. The Sword must seldome cease: a Soueraignes hand Is scantly safe, but whiles it smites. Let him Usurpe no Crowne, that likes a guiltles life: Aspiring power and Iustice ield agreé. He alwaies feares, that shames to offer wrong. What sonne would vse such wrong against his sire? Come sonne, come sire, I first preferre my selfe. And since a wrong must be, then it excels, When t'is to gaine a Crowne. I hate a peére, I loath, I yrke, I doe detest a head. B'it Nature, be it Reason, be it Pride, I loue to rule: my minde nor with, nor by, Nor after any claimes, but chiefe and first.