Fair Em, the Miller's Daughter of Manchester · chunk 1 of 23
Anonymous · published 1591 · first performed or written 1590 [c.1589-1591] (Annals) comedy · Derby's (Strange's) Men unassigned nearest T14 Royal love, favour and dynastic relation · 472 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T14: prince, princess, love, king, lord, queen, madam, grace, lady, life.
WHat means fair Britain's mighty Conqueror So suddenly to cast away his staff? And all in passion, to forsake the tilt. My Lord, this triumph we solemnize here, Is for mere love to your increasing joys: Only expecting cheerful looks for all. What sudden pangs then moves your majesty, To dim the brightness of the day with frowns? Ah: good my Lords, misconstrue not the cause: At least, suspect not my displeased brows I amorously do bear to your intent: For thanks and all that you can wish I yield. But that which makes me blush and shame to tell, Is cause why thus I turn my conquering eyes To cowards looks and beaten fantasies. Since we are guiltless, we the less dismay To see this sudden change possess your cheer: For if it issue from your own conceits, Bred by suggestion of some envious thoughts: Your highness wisdom may suppress it straight. Yet tell us (good my Lord) what thought it is, That thus bereaves you of your late content, That in advise we may assist your grace, Or bend our forces to revive your spirits. Ah marquess Lubeck, in thy power it lies To rid my bosom of these thralled dumps: And therefore, good my Lords forbear awhile, That we may parley of these private cares, Whose strength subdues me more than all the world. We go and wish thee private conference, Public affects in this accustomed peace. Now marquess must a Conqueror at arms disclose himself thralled to unarmed thoughts, And threatened of a shadow, yield to lust: No sooner had my sparkling eyes beheld The flames of beauty blazing on this piece, But suddenly a sense of miracle Imagined on thy lovely mistress' face, Made me abandon bodily regard, And cast all pleasures on my wounded soul: Then gentle marquess tell me what she is, That thus thou honour'st on thy warlike shield. And if thy love and interest be such, As justly may give place to mine, That if it be: my soul with honours wings May fly into the bosom of my dear. If not, close them and stoop into my grave. If this be all renowned Conqueror: Advance your drooping spirits, and revive The wonted courage of your Conquering mind, For this fair picture painted on my shield Is the true counterfeit of lovely Blaunch Princesses and daughter to the King of Danes: Whose beauty and excess of ornaments Deserves another manner of defence Pomp and high person to attend her state, Than marquess Lubeck any way presents. Therefore her virtues I resign to thee, Already shrined in thy religious breast, To be advanced and honoured to the full. Nor bear I this an argument of love: But to renown fair Blaunch my sovereign's child, In every place where I by arms may do it.
seed 43: T14 · seed 44: T9 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
WHat meanes faire Britaines mighty Conqueror So suddenly to cast away his staffe? And all in passion, to forsake the tylt. My Lord, this triumph we solemnise here, Is for meere loue to your increasing ioyes: Only expecting cheerefull lookes for all. What sudden pangs than moues your maiestie, To dimme the brightnes of the day with frownes? Ah: good my Lords, misconster not the cause: At least, suspect not my displeased browes I amorously do beare to your intent: For thanks and all that you can wish I yeeld. But that which makes me blush and shame to tell, Is cause why thus I turne my conquering eyes To cowardes lookes and beaten fantasies. Since wee are giltlesse, wee the lesse dismay To see this sudden change possesse cheere: For if it issue from your owne conceits, Bred by suggestion of some enuious thoughts: Your highnes wisdome may suppresse it straight. Yet tell vs (good my Lord) what thought it is, That thus bereaues you of your late content, That in aduise we may assist your grace, Or bend our forces to reuiue your spirits. Ah Marques Lubeck, in thy power it lyes To rid my bosome of these thraled dumps: And therefore, good my Lords forbeare awhile, That we may parley of these priuate cares, Whose strength subdues me more than all the world. We goe and wishe thee priuate conference, Publicke affectes in this accustomed peace. Now Marques must a Conquerer at armes disclose himselfe thrald to vnarmed thoughts, And threatned of a shaddowe, yeeld to lust: No sooner had my sparkeling eyes beheld The flames of beautie blasing on this peece, But sodenly a sence of myracle Imagined on thy louely Maistres face, Made me abandon bodily regarde, And cast all pleasures on my woonded soule: Then gentle Marques tell me what she is, That thus thou honourest on thy warlike shield. And if thy loue and interest be such, As iustly may giue place to myne, That if it be: my soule with honors wings May fly into the bosome of my deere. Yf not, close them and stoope into my graue. Yf this be all renowned Conquerer: Aduance your drooping spirites, and reuiue The wonted courage of your Conquering minde, For this faire picture painted on my shield Is the true counterfeit of lo Blaunch Princes and daughter to the King of Danes: Whose beautie and excesse of ornamentes Deserues another manner of defence Pompe and high person to attend her state, Then Marques Lubeck any way presents. Therefore her vertues I resigne to thee, Alreadie shrinde in thy religious brest, To be aduaunced and honoured to the full. Nor beare I this an argument of loue: But to renowne faire Blaunch my Soueraignes child, In euerie place where I by armes may do it.