The Misfortunes of Arthur (Certain Devices and Shows Presented to Her Majesty) · chunk 12 of 35
Hughes, Thomas / Fulbecke, William · published 1587 · first performed or written 1588 [Feb 28] (Annals) tragedy · before the Court unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 455 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
The Crown I'll keep myself: ensue what will: Death must be once: how soon, I lest respect. He best provides that can beware in time, Not why, nor when: but whence, and where he falls. What fool, to live a year or twain in rest, Would lose the state, and honour of a Crown? Consider then your Father's grief, and want: Whom you bereave of Kingdom, Realm, and Crown. Trust me: a huge and mighty kingdom 'tis, To bear the want of Kingdom, Realm, and Crown. A common want, which works each worldlings woe, That many have too much, but none enough. It were his praise, could he be so content, Which makes you guilty of the greater wrong. Wherefore think on the doubtful state of wars, Where Mars hath sway, he keeps no certain course. Sometimes he lets the weaker to prevail, Some times the stronger stoops: hope, fear, and rage With eyeless lot rules all, uncertain good, Most certain harms, be his assured haps. No luck can last, now here, now their it lights: No state alike, Chance blindly snatcheth all, And Fortune maketh guilty whom she lists. Since therefore fear, and hope, and hap in wars Be all obscure, till their success be seen: Your speech doth rather drive me on to try, And trust them all, mine only refuge now. And fear you not so strange and uncouth wars? No, were they wars that grew from out the ground. Nor yet your sire so huge, yourself so small? The smallest axe may fell the hugest oak. Nor that in felling him, yourself may fall? He falleth well, that falling fells his foe. Nor common Chance whereto each man is thrall? Small manhood were to turn my back to Chance, Nor that, if Chance afflict, kings brook it not? I bear no breast so unprepared for harms. even that I hold the kingliest point of all, To brook afflictions well: And by how much The more his state and tottering Empire sags, To fix so much the faster foot on ground. No fear but doth forejudge, and many fall Into their Fate, whiles they do fear their Fate. Where courage quails, the fear exceeds the harm, Yea worse than war itself, is fear of war. War seemeth sweet to such as have not tried: But wisdom wills we should forecast the worst. The end allows the act: that plot is wise, That knows his means, and least relies on Chance. Eschew the course where error lurks, their grows But grief, where pain is spent, no hope to speed. Strive not above your strength: for where your force Is over matched with your attempts, it faints, And fruitless leaves, what bootless it began.
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)
The Crowne Ile keepe my selfe: insue what will: Death must be once: how soone, I lest respect. He best prouides that can beware in time, Not why, nor when: but whence, and where he fals. What foole, to liue a yeare or twaine in rest, Woulde loose the state, and honour of a Crowne? Consider then your Fathers griefe, and want: Whom you bereaue of Kingdome, Realme, and Crowne. Trust me: a huge and mightie kingdome tis, To beare the want of Kingdome, Realme, and Crowne. A common want, which woorkes ech worldlings woe, That many haue too much, but none inough. It were his praise, could he be so content▪ Which makes you guiltie of the greater wrong. Wherefore thinke on the doubtfull state of warres, Where Mars hath sway, he keepes no certayne course. Sometimes he lettes the weaker to preuaile, Some times the stronger stoupes: hope, feare, and rage With eylesse lott rules all, vncertayne good, Most certaine harmes, be his assured happes. No lucke can last, nowe here, now their it lights: No state alike, Chaunce blindly snatcheth all, And Fortune maketh guiltie whom she listes. Since therefore feare, and hope, and happe in warres Be all obscure, till their successe be seene: Your speach doth rather driue me on to trie, And trust them all, mine onely refuge now. And feare you not so strange and vncouth warres? No, were they warres that grew from out the ground. Nor yet your sire so huge, your selfe so small? The smallest axe may fell the hugest oake. Nor that in felling him, your selfe may fall? He falleth well, that falling fells his foe. Nor common Chance whereto each man is thrall? Small manhood were to turne my backe to Chance, Nor that, if Chance afflict, kings brooke it not? I beare no breast so vnpreparde for harmes. Euen that I holde the kingliest point of all, To brooke afflictions well: And by how much The more his state and tottering Empire sagges, To fixe so much the faster foote on ground. No feare but doth foreiudge, and many fall Into their Fate, whiles they doe feare their Fate. Where courage quailes, the feare exceeds the harme, Yea worse than warre it selfe, is feare of warre. Warre seemeth sweete to such as haue not tried: But wisedome wils we should forecast the worst. The end allowes the act: that plot is wise, That knowes his meanes, and least relies on Chance. Eschue the course where errour lurkes, their growes But griefe, where paine is spent, no hope to speed. Striue not aboue your strength: for where your force Is ouer matchte with your attempts, it faints, And fruitlesse leaues, what bootlesse it began.