Anonymous · published 1594 · first performed or written 1592 [Jun 10] (Annals) moral · Derby's (Strange's) Men T53 The crown: kingship claimed, resigned an typicality 0.82 · 535 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T53: crown, king, state, life, lord, lords, live, queen, tullia, prince.
MOst gracious Prince, vouchsafe to hear me speak, In that the law of kindred pricks me on, And though I speak contrary to your mind, Yet do I build on hope you will pardon me. Were I as eloquent as Demosthenes, Or like Isocrates were given to Oratory: Your Grace no doubt will think the time well spent, And I should gain me commendations: But for my note is tuned contrary, I must entreat your Grace to pardon me, if I do jar in my delivery. Why Dunston, thou hast found us gracious still, Nor will we pull our settled love from thee, Until we find thy dealings contrary: But if thy parley be for Ethenwald, That base dissembler with his sovereign. 'twere better leave to speak in his excuse, Than by excusing him game our ill will: For I am minded like the Salamander stone, That fired with anger, will not in haste be quenched: Though wax be soft, & apt to receive any impression. Yet will hard metal take no form, except you melt the same. So mean men's minds may move as they think good, But Kings just dooms are irrevocable. 'tis not enough, where lust doth move the offence. Why, counsellors may not with Kings dispense. A counsellor may speak if he see his prince offend. And for his Counsel rue it in the end. But Dunston, leave, you urge us over far, We pardon what is past, but speak no more May pardon me, for I will speak my mind, Your Grace may call to mind proud Marius' fall, That through his wilful mind, lost life and empire, And Nimrod, that built huge Babylon, And thought to make a tower to check the clouds, Was soon dismayed by unknown languages: For no one knew what any other spoke, Which made him to confess, though 'twere too late, He had made offence in tempting of the Lord. Remember David, Salomon and the rest, Nor had proud Holofernes lost his head, Had he not been a foul Adulterer. Dunston, forbear, and let this answer thee Thou art too presumptuous in reproving me, For I have sworn as truly as I live, That I will never pardon Ethenwald. Did you but see the man, I am assured, You would not choose but pardon Ethenwald. Why Dunston, you have seen as well as I, That Ethenwald hath dissembled with the King, My gracious Lord, first cut that Traitor down. And then will others fear the like amiss. I tell thee perin, were the Earl in place, Thou wouldst eat these words uttered in his disgrace, Veni Asmoroth, & in good time see where he comes. But tell me Dunston, is this Alfrida? It is my gracious Lord, & this is Ethenwald That lays his breast wide open to your Grace, If so it please your Grace to pardon him. Yes, Dunston, I am well content to pardon him, Ethenwald stand up, and rise up Alfrida, For Edgar now gives pardon to you both. Asmoroth away, My gracious Lord, Dunston will not forget This unknown favour shown earl Ethenwald, For which account my Nephew and myself, Do yield both lives and goods at your dispose.
seed 43: T57 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
MOst gratious Prince, vouchsafe to heare me speake, In that the lawe of kindred prickes me on, And though I speake contrarie to your mind, Yet doe I build on hope you will pardon me. Were I as eloquent as Demosthenes, Or lyke Isocrates were giuen to Oratorie: Your Grace no doubt wil think the time well spent, And I should gaine me commendations: But for my note is tuned contrary, I must intreat your Grace to pardon me, if I do iar in my deliuerie. Why Dunston, thou hast found vs gratious still, Nor will we pull our setled loue from thee, Untill we find thy dealings contrarie: But if thy parlie be for Ethenwald, That base dissembler with his soueraigne. Twere better leaue to speake in his excuse, Than by excusing him game our ill will: For I am minded like the Salamander stone, That fir'd with anger, wil not in hast be quencht: Though wax be soft, & apt to receiue any impression. Yet will hard mettell take no forme, except you melt the same. So meane mens minds may moue as they think good, But Kings iust doomes are irreuocable. Tis not ynough, where lust doth moue the offence. Why, Counsellers may not with Kings dispence. A Counseller may speake if he see his prince offend. And for his Counsell rue it in the end. But Dunston, leaue, you vrge vs ouer far, We pardon what is past, but speake no more May pardon me, for I wil speak my mind, Your Grace may call to mind proud Marius fall, That through his wilfull mind, lost lyfe and empire, And Nimrod, that built huge Babylon, And thought to make a toure to check the cloudes, Was soone dismaid by unknowne languages: For no one knew what any other spake, Which made him to confesse, though twere too late, Hee had made offence in temping of the Lord. Remember Dauid, Salomon and the rest, Nor had proud Holofernes lost his head, Had he not bene a foule Adulterer. Dunston, forbeare, and let this answer thee Thou art too presumptuous in reproouing me, For I haue sworne as trulie as I liue, That I will neuer pardon Ethenwald. Did you but see the man, I am assurde, You would not choose but pardon Ethenwald. Why Dunston, you haue seene as wel as I, That Ethenwald hath dissembled with the King, My gratious Lord, first cut that Traitor downe. And then will others feare the lyke amysse. I tell thee perin, were the Earle in place, Thou wouldst eat these words vttred in his disgrace, Veni Asmoroth, & in good time see where he comes. But tel me Dunston, is this Alfrida? It is my gratious rd, & this is Ethēwald That layes his breast wide open to your Grace, If so it please your Grace to pardon him. Yes, Dunston, I am well content to pardon him, Ethenwald stand vp, and rise vp Alfrida, For Edgar now giues pardon to you both. Asmoroth away, My gratious Lord, Dunston wil not forget This vnknowne fauour showne Earle Ethenwald, For which account my Nephew and my self, Do yeeld both lyfes and goods at your dispose.