The Misfortunes of Arthur (Certain Devices and Shows Presented to Her Majesty) · chunk 15 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 0.82 · 444 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
Ye Princely Peers extolled to seats of State, Seek not the fair, that soon will turn to foul: Oft is the fall of high and hovering Fate, And rare the room, which time doth not control. The safest seat is not on highest hill, Where winds, and storms, and thunders thump their ill. Far safer were to follow sound advise, Then for such pride to pay so dear a price. The mounting mind that climbs the haughty cliffs, And soaring seeks the tip of lofty type, intoxicates the brain with giddy drifts, Then rolls, and reels, and falls at length plum ripe. Lo: heaving high is of so small forecast, To totter first, and tumble down at last. Yet Pegasus still rears himself on high, And coltishly doth kick the clouds in Sky. Who saw the grief engraven in a Crown, Or knew the bad and bane whereto it's bound: Would never stick to throw and fling it down, Nor once vouchsafe to heave it from the ground. Such is the sweet of this ambitious power, No sooner had, then turned eftsoons to sour: Achieved with envy, exercised with hate, Guarded with fear, supported with debate. O restless race of high aspiring head, O worthless rule both pitied and envied: How many Millions to their loss you lead: With love and lure of kingdoms bliss untried? So things untasted cause a quenchless thirst, Which, were they known, would be refused first, Yea, oft we see, yet seeing cannot shun The fact, we find as fondly dared, as done. IS this the welcome that my Realm prepares? Be these the thanks I win for all my wars? Thus to forbid me land? to slay my friends? To make their blood distain my Country shores? My son (belike) lest that our force should faint For want of wars, prepared us wars himself. He thought (perhaps) it mought impair our fame, If none rebelled, whose subtle might praise our power. Is this the fruit of Mordreds forward youth, And tender age discreet beyond his years? O false and guileful life, O crafty world: How cunningly conveyest thou fraud unseen? th'ambitious seemeth meek, the wanton chaste, Disguised vice for virtue vaunts itself. Thus (Arthur) thus hath Fortune played her part, Blind for thy weal, clear sighted for thy woe. Thy kingdom's gone, thy fere affords no faith, Thy son rebels, of all thy wonted pomp No jot is left, and Fortune hides her face. No place is left for prosperous plight, mishaps Have room and ways to run and walk at will. Lo (Cador) both our states, your daughter's trust, My son's respect, our hopes reposed in both.
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)
Ye Princely Peéres extold to seates of State, Seéke not the faire, that soone will turne to fowle: Oft is the fall of high and houering Fate, And rare the roome, which time doth not controwle. The safest seate is not on highest hill, Where windes, and stormes, and thunders thumpe their ill. Farre safer were to follow sound aduise, Then for such pride to pay so deare a price. The mounting minde that climes the hauty cliftes, And soaring seékes the tip of lofty type, Intoxicats the braine with guiddy drifts, Then rowles, and reéles, and falles at length plum ripe. Loe: heauing hie is of so small forecast, To totter first, and tumble downe at last. Yet Paegasus still reares himselfe on hie, And coltishly doth kicke the cloudes in Skie. Who sawe the griefe engrauen in a Crowne, Or knew the bad and bane whereto it's bound: Would neuer sticke to throwe and fling it downe, Nor once vouchsafe to heaue it from the ground. Such is the sweéte of this ambitious powre, No sooner had, then turnde eftsoones to sowre: Atchieu'd with enuie, exercisde with hate, Garded with feare, supported with debate. O restlesse race of high aspyring head, O worthlesse rule both pittyed and inuied: How many Millions to their losse you lead: With loue and lure of Kingdomes blisse vntryed? So things vntasted cause a quenchlesse thirst, Which, were they knowne, would be refused first, Yea, oft we seé, yet seéing cannot shonne The fact, we finde as fondly dar'd, as donne. IS this the welcome that my Realme prepares? Be these the thankes I winne for all my warres? Thus to forbid me land? to slaie my friends? To make their bloud distaine my Countrie shoares? My sonne (belike) least that our force should faint For want of warres, preparde vs warres himselfe. He thought (perhaps) it mought empaire our fame, If none rebeld, whose fotle might praise our power. Is this the fruit of Mordreds forward youth, And tender age discreet beyond his yeres? O false and guilfull life, O craftie world: How cunningly conuaiest thou fraude vnseene? Thambicious seemeth meeke, the wanton chast, Disguised vice for vertue vants it selfe. Thus (Art) thus hath Fortune plaid her part, Blinde for thy weale, cleare sighted for thy woe. Thy kingdome's gone, thy phere affordes no faith, Thy sonne rebels, of all thy wonted pompe No ot is left, and Fortune hides her face. No place is left for prosperous plight, mishaps Haue roome and waies to runne and walke at will. Lo (Cador) both our states, your daughter's trust, My sonn's respect, our hopes reposde in both.