1 The Troublesome Reign of King John · chunk 16 of 29
Anonymous · published 1611 · first performed or written 1591 (Annals) history · Queen Elizabeth's Men unassigned nearest T10 England and France: war, embassy and pea · 490 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T10: france, french, england, king, lord, english, edward, talbot, peace, lords.
This is the day, the long-desired day, Wherein the Realms of England and of France Stand highly blessed in a lasting peace. Thrice happy is the Bridegroom and the Bride, From whose sweet Bridal such a concord springs, To make of mortal foes immortal friends. ungodly peace made by another's war. Unhappy peace, that ties thee from revenge, Rouse thee Plantagenet, live not to see The butcher of the great Plantagenet. Kings, Princes, and ye Peers of either realms, Pardon my rashness, and forgive the zeal That carries me in fury to a deed Of high desert, of honour, and of arms. A boon (O Kings) a boon doth Philip beg Prostrate upon his knee: which knee shall cleave Unto the superficies of the earth, Till France and England grant this glorious boon. Speak Philip, England grants thee thy request. And France confirms what ere is in his power. Then Duke sit fast, I level at thy head, Too base a ransom for my father's life. Princes, I crave the combat with the Duke That braves it in dishonour of my sire. Your words are past, nor can you now reverse The Princely promise that revives my soul, Whereat me thinks I see his sinews shake: This is the boon (dread Lords) which granted once Or life or death are pleasant to my soul; Since I shall live and die in Richard's right. Base bastard, misbegotten of a King, To interrupt these holy nuptial rites With brawls and tumults to a Duke's disgrace; Let it suffice, I scorn to join in fight, With one so far unequal to myself. A fine excuse, Kings if you will be Kings, Then keep your words, and let us combat it. Philip, we cannot force the Duke to fight, Being a subject unto neither Realm: But tell me Austria, if an English Duke Should dare thee thus, wouldst thou accept the challenge? Else let the world account the Austrich Duke The greatest coward living on the earth. Then cheer thee Philip, Iohn will keep his word, Kneel down, in sight of Philip King of France, And all these Princely Lords assembled here, I gird thee with the sword of Normandy, And of that Land I do invest thee Duke: So shalt thou be in living and in land Nothing inferior unto Austria. K. Iohn, I tell thee flatly to thy face, Thou wrong'st mine honour: and that thou may'st see How much I scorn thy new made Duke and thee, I flatly say, I will not be compelled: And so farewell sir Duke of low degree, I'll find a time to match you for this gear. Stay Philip, let him go, the honours thine. I cannot live unless his life be mine. Thy forwardness this day hath joyed my soul, And made me think my Richard lives in thee. Lordings let's in, and spend the wedding day In masks and triumphs, letting quarrels cease.
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)
This is the day, the long-deſired day, Wherein the Realmes of England and of France Stand highly bleſſed in a laſting peace. Thrice happie is the Bridegroome and the Bride, From whoſe ſweet Bridall ſuch a concord ſprings, To make of mortall foes immortall friends. Vngodly peace made by anothers warre. Vnhappie peace, that tyes thee from reuenge, Rouze thee Plantaginet, liue not to ſee The butcher of the great Plantaginet. Kings, Princes, and ye Peeres of either realmes, Pardon my raſhnes, and forgiue the zeale That carries me in furie to a deede Of high deſert, of honour, and of armes. A boone (O Kings) a boone doth Philip begge Proſtrate vpon his knee: which knee ſhall cleaue Vnto the ſuperficies of the earth, Till France and England grant this glorious boone. Speake Philip, England grants thee thy requeſt. And France confirmes what ere is in his power. Then Duke ſit faſt, I leuell at thy head, Too baſe a ranſome for my fathers life. Princes, I craue the combate with the Duke That braues it in diſhonour of my ſire. Your words are paſt, nor can you now reuerſe The Princely promiſe that reuiues my ſoule, Whereat me thinkes I ſee his ſinewes ſhake: This is the boone (dread Lords) which granted once Or life or death are pleaſant to my ſoule; Since I ſhall liue and die in Richards right. Baſe baſtard, misbegotten of a King, To interrupt theſe holy nuptiall rites With brawles and tumults to a Dukes diſgrace; Let it ſuffice, I ſcorne to ioyne in fight, With one ſo farre vnequall to my ſelfe. A fine excuſe, Kings if you will be Kings, Then keepe your words, and let vs combate it. Philip, we cannot force the Duke to fight, Beeing a ſubiect vnto neither Realme: But tell me Austria, if an Engliſh Duke Should dare thee thus, wouldſt thou accept the challenge? Elſe let the world account the Auſtrich Duke The greateſt coward liuing on the earth. Then cheere thee Philip, Iohn wil keep his word, Kneele downe, in ſight of Philip King of France, And all theſe Princely Lords aſſembled here, I gird thee with the ſword of Normandie, And of that Land I doe inueſt thee Duke: So ſhalt thou be in liuing and in land Nothing inferiour vnto Auſtria. K. Iohn, I tell thee flatly to thy face, Thou wrong'ſt mine honour: and that thou mai'ſt ſee How much I ſcorne thy new made Duke and thee, I flatly ſay, I will not be compeld: And ſo farewell ſir Duke of lowe degree, Ile finde a time to match you for this geare. Stay Philip, let him goe, the honours thine. I cannot liue vnleſſe his life be mine. Thy forwardnes this day hath ioy'd my ſoule, And made me thinke my Richard liues in thee. Lordings let's in, and ſpend the wedding day In maskes and triumphs, letting quarrels ceaſe.