Anonymous · published 1592 · first performed or written 1592 [c.1589-1592] (Annals) tragedy · Unknown unassigned nearest T13 Knights, squires and ladies · 521 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T13: knight, raph, lady, knights, george, master, squire, rafe, pray, god.
These praises Brusor touch me to the heart, And makes me wish that I had been at Rhodes, Under the habit of some errant knight, Both to have seen and tried his valour. You should have seen him foil and overthrow, All the Knights that there encountered him. whate'er he be, even for his virtues sake, I wish that fortune of our holy wars, Would yield him prisoner unto Soliman: We may ourselves be famed for virtues. But let him pass, and Brusor tell me now, How did the Christians use our Knights? As if that we and they had been on sect, What thinkst thou of their valour and demeanour? Brave men at arms, and friendly out of arms, Courteous in peace, in battle dangerous, Kind to their foes, and liberal to their friends, And all in all, their deeds heroical. Then tell me Brusor, how is Rhodes fenced, For either Rhodes shall be brave Soliman's, Or cost me more brave Soldiers than all that I'll will bear. Their fleet is weak: Their horse, I deem them fifty thousand strong, Their footmen more, well exercised in war, And as it seems, they want no needful victual. however Rhodes be fenced by sea or land, It either shall be mine, or bury me: What's he that thus boldly enters in? His habit argues him a Christian, I worthy Lord a forlorn Christian. Tell me man, what madness brought thee hither? Thy virtuous fame, and mine own misery. What misery? speak, for though you Christians, Account our Turkish race but barbarous, Yet have we ears to hear a just complaint, And justice to defend the innocent, And pity, to such as are in poverty, And liberal hands to such as merit bounty, My gracious Sovereign, as this Knight, Seems by grief tied to silence, So his deserts binds me to speak for him. This is Erastus the Rhodian worthy, The flower of chivalry and courtesy, Is this the man that thou hast so described? Stand up fair knight, that what my heart desires, Mine eyes may view with pleasure and delight, This face of thine should harbour no deceit. Erastus i'll not yet urge to know the cause, That brought thee hither, lest with the discourse, thou shouldst afflict thyself, And cross the fullness of my joyful passion, But that we are assured, Heavens brought thee hither for our benefit, Know thou that Rhodes, nor all that Rhodes contains, Shall win thee from the side of Soliman, If we but find thee well inclined to us. If any ignoble or dishonourable thoughts, Should dare attempt, or but creep near my heart: Honour should force disdain to root it out, As air bred Eagles, if they once perceive, That any of their brood but close their sight, When they should gaze against the glorious Sun, They straight way seize upon him with their talents, That on the earth it may untimely die, For looking but askew at heavens bright eye. Erastus, to make thee well assured, How well thy speech and presents liketh us, Ask what thou wilt, it shall be granted thee.
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)
These praises Brusor touch me to the heart, And makes me wish that I had beene at Rhodes, Vnder the habit of some errant knight, Both to haue seene and tride his valour. You should haue seene him foile and ouerthrow, All the Knights that there incountred him. What ere he be, euen for his vertues sake, I wish that fortune of our holy wars, Would yeeld him prisoner vnto Soliman: We may our selues be famd for vertues. But let him passe, and Brusor tell me now, How did the Christians vse onr Knights? As if that we and they had beene on sect, What thinkst thou of their valour and demeanor? Braue men at armes, and friendly out of armes, Courteous in peace, in battell dangerous, Kinde to their foes, and liberall to their friends, And all in all, their deedes heroicall. Then tell me Brusor, how is Rhodes fenst, For eyther Rhodes shall be braue Solymans, Or cost me more braue Souldiers Then all that Ile will beare. Their fleete is weake: Their horsse, I deeme them fiftie thousand strong, Their footemen more, well exercised in war, And as it seemes, they want no needfull vittaile. How euer Rhodes be fencd by sea or land, It eyther shall be mine, or burie me: Whats he that thus bouldly enters in? His habite argues him a Christian, I worthie Lord a forlorne Christian. Tell me man, what madnes brought thee hether? Thy vertuous fame, and mine owne miserie. What miserie? speake, for though you Christians, Account our Turkish race but barbarous, Yet haue we eares to heare a iust complaint, And iustice to defend the innocent, And pitie, to such as are in pouertie, And liberall hands to such as merit bountie, My gratious Soueraigne, as this Knight, Seemes by greefe tyed to silence, So his deserts binds me to speake for him. This is Erastus the Rhodian worthie, The flower of chiualrie and curtesie, Is this the man that thou hast so describde? Stand vp faire knight, that what my heart desires, Mine eyes may view with pleasure and delight, This face of thine should harbour no deceit. Erastus ile not yet vrge to know the cause, That brought thee hether, Least with the discourse, thou shouldst afflict thy selfe, And crosse the fulnes of my ioyfull passion, But that we are assurde, Heauens brought thee hether for our benefit, Know thou that Rhodes, nor all that Rhodes containes, Shall win thee from the side of Soliman, If we but finde thee well inclind to vs. If any ignoble or dishonourable thoughts, Should dare attempt, or but creepe neere my heart: Honour should force disdaine to roote it out, As ayre bred Eagles, if they once perceiue, That any of their broode but close their sight, When they should gase against the glorious Sunne, They straight way sease vpon him with their talents, That on the earth it may vntimely die, For looking but a scue at heauens bright eye. Erastus, to make thee well assurde, How well thy speach and presents liketh vs, Aske what thou wilt, it shall be graunted thee.