Tancred and Gismund (Gismond of Salerne) · chunk 23 of 29
Wilmot, Robert / Hatton, Christopher / Noel, HenryAl., G.Stafford, Roderick · published 1591 · first performed or written 1567 [1567-1568; revised 1591] (Annals) tragedy · before the Court T18 Rebels, barons and the king's wars at ho typicality 0.76 · 504 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T18: king, lord, wallace, earl, edward, england, scotland, rebels, bruce, english.
Did once amate: my heart abhorred then To give consent unto so foul a deed, That wretched death should reave so worthy a man On false fortune I cried with loud complaint, That in such sort overwhelms nobility. But he whom never grief ne fear could taint, With smiling cheer himself oft willeth me, To leave to plain his case, or sorrow make, For him, for he was far more glad apaid Death to embrace thus for his Lady's sake, Than life, or all the joys of life he said. For loss of life (quoth he) grieves me no more, Then ioss of that which I least, My Lady's grief, lest she should rue therefore, Is all the cause of grief within my breast. He prayed therefore that we would make report To her of those his last words he would say: That though he never could in any sort Her gentleness requite, nor never lay Within his power to serve her as he would, Yet she possessed his heart with hand and might, To do her all the honour that he could. This was to him of all the joys that might Revive his heart, the chiefest joy of all, That, to declare the faithful heart which he Did bear to her, fortune so well did fall, That in her love he should both live and die. After these words he stayed, and spoke no more, But joyfully beholding us each one, His words and cheer amazed us so sore That still we stood: when forthwith thereupon But why slack you (quoth he) to do the thing For which you come? make speed and stay no more Perform your master's will: now tell the king He hath his life for which he longed so sore: And with those words himself with his own hand Fastened the bands about his neck. The rest Wondering at his stout heart, astonished stand To see him offer thus himself to death. What stony breast, or what hard heart of flint Would not relent to see this dreary sight? So goodly a man, whom death nor fortune's dint Could once disarm, murdered with such despite. And in such sort bereft amidst the flowers Of his fresh years, that ruthful was to seen: " For violent is death, when he devours Young men, or virgins, while their years be green. Lo now our servants seeing him take the bands And on his neck himself to make them fast: Without delay set to their cruel hands, And sought to work their fierce intent with haste, They stretch the bloody bands, and when the breath Began to fail his breast, they slacked again. Thrice did they pull, and thrice they loosed him, So did their hands repine against their hearts: And oft times losed to his greater pain. " But date of death that fixed is so fast, Beyond his course there may no wight extend, For strangled is this noble Earl at last, Bereft of life, unworthy such an end.
seed 43: T22 · seed 44: T13 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Did once amate: my heart abhorred then To geue consent vnto so foul a deede, That wretched death should reaue so worthy a man On false fortune I cride with lowd complaint, That in such sort ouerwhelmes nobilitie. But he whom neuer griefe ne feare could taint, With smiling cheare himselfe oft willeth me, To leaue to plaine his case, or sorrow make, For him, for he was far more glad apaide Death to imbrace thus for his Ladies sake, Then life, or all the ioyes of life he said. For losse of life (quoth he) greeues me no more, Then ioss of that which I least, My Ladies griefe, least she should rue therefore, Is all the cause of griefe within my brest. He praid therfore that we would make report To her of those his last words he would say: That though he neuer could in any sort Her gentlenes requite, nor neuer lay Within his power to serue her as he would, Yet she possest his heart with hand and might, To doe her all the honor that he could. This was to him of all the ioyes that might Reuiue his heart, the chiefest ioy of al, That, to declare the faithfull heart which he Did beare to her, fortune so wel did fall, That in her loue he should both liue and die. After these words he staid, and spake no more, But ioyfully beholding vs eachone, His words and cheare amazed vs so sore That stil we stoode: when forthwith thereupon But why slack you (quoth he) to do the thing For which you come? make speed and stay no more Performe your masters will: now tel the king He hath his life for which he long'd so sore: And with those words himselfe with his own hand Fastned the bands about his neck. The rest Wondring at his stout heart, astonied stand To see him offer thus himselfe to death. What stony brest, or what hard heart of flint Would not relent to see this dreery sight? So goodly a man, whom death nor fortunes dint Could once disarme, murdred with such despite. And in such sort bereft amidst the flowers Of his fresh yeares, that ruthfull was to seene: "For violent is death, when he deuoures "Yong men, or virgins, while their yeares be green. Lo now our seruants seeing him take the bands And on his neck himselfe to make them fast: Without delay set to their cruel hands, And sought to worke their fierce intent with hast, They stretch the bloudy bands, and when the breth Began to faile his brest, they slackt againe. Thrise did they pull, and thrise they losed him, So did their hands repine against their hearts: And oft times losed to his greater paine. "But date of death that fixed is so fast, "Beyond his course there may no wight extend, For strangled is this noble Earle at last, Bereft of life, vnworthy such an end.