Anonymous · published 1594 · first performed or written 1592 [Jun 10] (Annals) moral · Derby's (Strange's) Men unassigned nearest T5 Christian faith, sin and salvation · 520 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
Dunston, how highly are we bound to praise The Eternal God that still provides for us, And gives us leave to rule in this our land, Like wise Vespasian, Rome's rich Emperor: Suppressing sinew, that daily reigns in us? First, murder we reward with present death, And those that do commit felonious crimes, Our laws of England do award them death: And he that doth despoil a virgins chastity, Must likewise suffer death by laws decree, And that decree is irrevocable. Then as I am God's Vicegerent here on earth, By God's appointment here to reign and rule, So must I seek to cut abuses down, That like to Hydra's heads, daily grows up one in another's place, And therein makes the land infectious, Which if with good regard we look not to, We shall, like Sodom, feel that fiery doom, That God in justice did inflict on them. Your grace's care herein I much commend, And England hath just cause to praise the Lord, That sent so good a King to govern them, Your life may be a Lantern to the state, By perfect sign of humility. how blessed had Sodom been in sight of God, If they had had so kind a Governor, They had then undoubtedly escaped that doom, That God in justice did inflict on them: Then England kneel upon thy hearty knee, And praise that God, that so provides for thee. And virtuous Prince, thou Salomon of our age, Whose years I hope shall double Nestor's reign, And bring a thousand profits to the land: myself (dread Prince) in token of my love, And dutiful obedience to your Grace, Will study daily, as my duty wills, To root sins from the flourishing common wealth. That Fame in every angle of the world, May sound due praise of England's virtuous King. Dunston. live thou, and counsel still the king, To maintain justice, were it on himself, Rather than soothing him in his abuse, To see subversion of his common wealth. I tell thee Dunston, thou hast pleased the King, And proved thyself a virtuous counsellor: Thy counsel is to me as North stars light, That guides the Sailor to his wished port: For by that star he is so comforted, That he sails dangerless on dangerous seas, And in his deepest sadness comforts him: So Dunston's knowledge is that star of joy, That will with help conduct me to my happiness. And yet thou art not happy Edgar, Because that sins, like swarms, remain in thee. Why, 'tis impossible, for I have studied still, To root abuses from the common wealth, That may infect the king or commonalty. Therefore, base Peasant, wilful as thou art, I tell thee troth, thou hast displeased the King. Nay, the King hath displeased himself, In trusting every one that speaks him fair: For through fair words, Kings many times are feign To countenance Knaves by their authority: I will not say your Grace doth so. No sir, you were not best. Why, if I should, I might make good my word, And find a Knave, I fear, before I part.
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)
DVnston, how ighlie are we bound to praise The Eternall God that still prouides for vs, And giues vs leaue to rule in this our land, Lyke wise Vaspasian, Romes rich Emperour: Suppressing sinue, that daylie raignes in vs? First, murther we rewarde with present death, And those that doe commit fellonious crimes, Our lawes of England doe awarde them death: And he that doeth dispoyle a Uirgins chastitie, Must lykewise suffer death by lawes decree, And that decree is trreuocable. Then as I am Gods Uicegerent here on earth, By Gods appointment heere to raigne and rule, So must I seeke to cut abuses downe, That lyke to Hydras heades, daylie growes vp one in anothers place, And therein makes the land infectious, Which if with good regard we looke not to, We shall, lyke Sodom, feele that fierie doome, That God in Iustice did inflict on them. Your Graces care herein I much cummend, And England hath iust cause to praise the Lorde, That sent so good a King to gouerne them, Your lyfe may be a Lanterne to the state, By perfect signe of humilitie. Howe blest had Sodome bene in sight of God, If they had had so kinde a Gouernour, They had then vndoubtedlie ecapt that doome, That God in iustice did inflict on them: Then England kneele vpon thy hartie knee, And praise that God, that so prouides for thee. And vertuous Prince, thou Salomon of our age, Whose yeares I hope shall double Nestors raigne, And bring a thousand profits to the land: My selfe (dread Prince) in token of my loue, And dutifull obedience to your Grace, Will studie daylie, as my dutie willes, To roote sinnes from the flourishing common wealth. That Fame in euery angle of the world, May sound due praise of Englands vetuous King. Dunston. liue thou, and counsell still the king, To maintaine Iustice, were it on himself, Rather than soothing him in his abuse, To see subuersion of his common wealth. I tell thee Dunston, thou hast pleased the King, And prooued thy selfe a vertuous counsellour: Thy counsell is to me as North stars light, That guides the Sayler to his wished port: For by that starre he is so comforted, That he sailes daungerlesse on daungerous seas, And in his deepest sadnes comforts him: So Dunstons knowledge is that starre of ioy, That will with helpe conduct me to my happinesse. And yet thou art not happy Edgar, Because that sinnes, lyke swarmes, remaine in thee. Why, tis impossible, for I haue studied still, To root abuses from the common wealth, That may infect the king or communaltie. Therefore, base Peasant, wilfull as thou art, I tell thee troth, thou hast displeasd the King. Nay, the King hath displeased himselfe, In trusting euery one that speaks him faire: For through faire words, Kings manie tymes are faine To countenance Knaues by their authoritie: I will not say your Grace doeth so. No sir, you were not best. Why, if I should, I might make good my wor, And fynd a Knaue, I feare, before I part.