The Misfortunes of Arthur (Certain Devices and Shows Presented to Her Majesty) · chunk 9 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 0.80 · 457 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
Nought should be rashly vowed against your sire. Whose breast is free from rage may soon b'advised. The best redress for rage is to relent. 'tis better for a King to kill his foes. So that the Subjects also judge them foes. The Subjects must not judge their Kings decrees. The subjects force is great. Greater the Kings. The more you may, the more you ought to fear. He is a fool, that feareth what he may. Not what you may, but what you ought is just, He that amongst so many, so unjust, Seeks to be just, seeks peril to himself. A greater peril comes by breach of laws. The Laws do licence as the Sovereign lists. Lest aught he list, whom laws do licence most. Imperial power abhors to be restrained. As much do meaner rooms to be compelled. The Fates have heaved and raised my force on high. The gentler should you press those, that are low. I would be feared: The cause why Subjects hate. A Kingdom's kept by fear. And lost by hate. He fears as man himself, whom many fear. The timorous Subject dares attempt no change. What dares not desperate dread? What torture threats. O spare, 'twear safer to be loved. As safe To be obeyed. Whiles you command but well. Where Rulers dare command but what is well: power is but prayer, commandment but request. If power be joined with right, men must obey. My will must go for right. If they assent. My sword shall force assent: No Gods forbid. What? shall I stand whiles Arthur sheds my blood? And must I yield my neck unto the Axe? Whom Fates constrain, let him forego his bliss: But he that needless yields unto his bane, When he may shun, doth well deserve to lose The good he cannot use: who would sustain A baser life, that may maintain the best? We cannot part the Crown: A regal Throne Is not for two: The Sceptre fits but one. But whether is the fitter of us two, That must our swords decern: and shortly shall. How much were you to be renowned more, If casting off these ruinous attempts, You would take care how to supply the loss, Which former wars, and foreign broils have wrought. how to deserve the people's hearts with peace, With quiet rest, and deep desired ease. Not to increase the rage that long hath reigned, Nor to destroy the realm, you seek to rule. Your Father reared it up, you pluck it down. You lose your Country whiles you win it thus: To make it yours, you strive to make it none. Where Kings impose too much, the commons grudge: Goodwill withdraws, assent becomes but slow.
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)
Nought shoulde be rashly vowde against your sire. Whose breast is freé from rage may soone b'aduisde. The best redresse for rage is to relent. Tis better for a King to kill his foes. So that the Subiects also iudge them foes. The Subiects must not iudge their Kings decrees. The Subiects force is great. Greater the Kings. The more you may, the more you ought to feare. He is a foole, that feareth what he may. Not what you may, but what you ought is iust, He that amongst so many, so vniust, Seekes to be iust, seekes perill to him selfe. A greater perill comes by breach of lawes. The Lawes doe licence as the Soueraigne lists. Lest ought he list, whom lawes doe licence most. Imperiall power abhorres to be restrainde. As much doe meaner roomes to be compeld. The Fates haue heau'de and raisde my force on high. The gentler shoulde you presse those, that are low. I would be feard: The cause why Subiects hate. A Kingdom's kept by feare. And lost by hate. He feares as man himselfe, whom many feare. The timerous Subiect dares attempt no chaundge. What dares not desperate dread? What torture threats. O spare, tweare saffer to be lou'de. As safe To be obaide. Whiles you command but well. Where Rulers dare commaund but what is well: Powre is but prayer, commaundment but request. If powre be ioynde with right, men must obay. My will must goe for right. If they assent. My sword shall force assent: No Gods forbid. What? shall I stande whiles Arthur sheads my bloode? And must I yeelde my necke vnto the Axe? Whom Fates constrayne, let him forgoe his blisse: But he that neédlesse yeldes vnto his bane, When he may shunne, doth well deserue to loose The good he cannot vse: who woulde sustaine A baser life, that may maintaine the best? We cannot part the Crowne: A regall Throne Is not for two: The Scepter fittes but one. But whether is the fitter of vs two, That must our swordes decerne: and shortly shall. How much were you to be renowmed more, If casting off these ruinous attempts, You woulde take care howe to supplie the losse, Which former warres, and forraine broyles haue wrought. Howe to deserue the peoples heartes with peace, With quiet rest, and deépe desired ease. Not to increase the rage that long hath raignde, Nor to destroy the realme, you seeke to rule. Your Father rearde it vp, you plucke it downe. You loose your Countrey whiles you winne it thus: To make it yours, you striue to make it none. Where Kings impose too much, the commons grudge: Goodwill withdrawes, assent becomes but slowe.