Anonymous · published 1594 · first performed or written 1592 [Jun 10] (Annals) moral · Derby's (Strange's) Men unassigned nearest T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi · 495 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
If it please your Grace to think it good, Dunston will say as once Hephestion did, When Alexander won rich Macedon, That whatsoe'er the King himself thought meet, He would in dutiful obedience yield unto: And so saith Dunston to your Majesty. For many times such simple men bring that to pass, That wiser heads cannot attain unto, For doubtless he hath some device in hand, Whereby to find such subtle knavery. Well, Dunston, then as thou hast counselled me, I will for once make proof of Honesty: sirrah, come hither, In hope you will, as your profession is, In honest sort to find deceivers out: And finding them, to give us notice straight, That we may punish them for their amiss: We give thee lean to work what means thou mayst, So it be not prejudice to the state nor us. My gracious Lord, if Honesty offend, In any thing that he hath promised, And do not as your Grace hath given in charge, Stifle such Caterpillars as corrupt the state. Let Honesty receive such punishment, As he deserves that leazes to the king. Honesty it is enough, but tell me now what moved thee first, To undertake this task to visit us, speak truth, dissemble not: If I should tell your Grace 'twould make you laugh To hear how Honesty was entertained, Poor, lame and blind when I came once ashore, Lord, how they came in flocks to visit me, The shepherd with his hook, and Thrasher with his flail, The very peddler with his dog, and the tinker with his male. Then comes a soldier counterfeit, & with him was his jug, And Will the whipper of the dogs had got a bouncing trug: And cogging Dick was in the crew, that swore he came from France He swore that in the king's defence, he lost his arm by chance, And yet in conscience, if I were put to swear, I would be bound to lay a pound, the knave was never there, And happening 'mongst this company by chance one day, I had no sooner named my name, but they ran all away, But now I will to my task, and leave your Grace, And so I take my congee of your Majesty. Honesty, farewell, and look unto your charge. My gracious Lord, if I might not offend, I would entreat a favour at your hand, 'tis so, I heard of late, my gracious Lord, That my kind father lay at point of death, And if (my Lord) I should not visit him, The world (I fear) would find great fault with me. Nay, Perin, if your business be of weight, We are content to give you leave to go: Provided this, that you return again, When you have seen your Father and your friends. My gracious Lord, I will not stay there long. Only but see my father and return again. Till when my gracious Lord, I take my leave.
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)
If it please your Grace to thinke it good, Dunston will say as once Hefestion did, When Alexander wan rich Macedone, That what so ere the King himselfe thought meete, He would in dutifull obedience yeeld vnto: And so saith Dunston to your Maiestie. For many times such simple men bring that to passe▪ That wiser heads cannot attaine vnto, For doubtlesse he hath some deuice in hand, Whereby to fynde such subtle knauerie. Well, Dunston, then as thou hast counseld me, I will for once make proofe of Honesty: sirra, come hither, In hope you wil, as your profession is, In honest sort to fynde deceiuers out: And fynding them, to giue vs notice straight, That we may punish them for their amisse: We giue thee leane to work what means thou maist, So it be not preiudice to the state nor vs. My gratious Lord, if Honestie offend, In anie thing that he hath promised, And doe not as your Grace hath giuen in charge, Stifle such Caterpillers as corrupt the state. Let Honestie receiue such punishment, As he deserues that leazes to the king. Honesty it is ynough, but tel me now what moued thee first, To vndertake this taske to visit vs, speak truth, desemble not: If I shuld tel your Grace twold make you laugh To heare how Honesty was entertainde, Poore, lame and blinde when I came once ashore, Lord, how they came in flocks to visit me, The shepheard with his hooke, and Thrasher with his flaile, The very pedler with his dog, and the tinker with his male. Then comes a souldier counterfeit, & with him was his Iug, And Wil the whipper of the dogs had got a bounsing trug: And coging Dick was in the crue, that swore he cam srō Frāce He swore that in the Kings defence, he lost his arm by chance, And yet in conscience, if I were put to sweare, I would be bound to lay a pouud, the knaue was neuer there, And hapning mongst this companie by chance one day, I had no sooner namde my name, but they ran all away, But now I will to my taske, and leaue your Grace, And so I take my conge of your Maiestie. Honestie, farewel, and looke vnto your charge. My gratious Lord, if I might not offend, I would intreat a fauour at your hand, Tis so, I heard of late, my gratious Lord, That my kinde father lay at poynt of death, And if (my Lord) I should not visite him, The world (I feare) would fynd great fault with me. Nay, Perin, if your businesse bee of waight, We are content to giue you leaue to goe: Prouided this, that you returne againe, When you haue seene your Father and your friends. My gratious Lord, I will not stay there long. Only but see my father and returne againe. Till when my grations Lord, I take my leaue.