The True Tragedy of Richard the Third · chunk 8 of 40
Anonymous · published 1594 · first performed or written 1591 [1588-1594] (Annals) tragedy; history · Queen Elizabeth's Men unassigned nearest T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour · 480 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
My Lord. What hearest thou about the Court? joy my Lord of your Protectorship for the most part, Some murmur, but my Lord they be of the baser sort. A mighty arm will sway the baser sort, authority doth terrify. But what other news hearest thou? This my Lord, they say the young king is coming up to his coronation, attended on by his two uncles, Earl Rivers & Lord Gray, and the rest of the queen's kindred. A perilous bone to ground upon, and a rush stiffly knit, which if I could find a knot, I would give one half to the dogs and set fire on the other. It is reported my Lord, but I know not whether it be true or no, that the Duke of Buckingham is up in the Marches of Wales with a band of men, and as they say, he aims at the Crown. Tush a shadow without a substance, and a fear without a cause: but yet if my neighbour's house be on fire, let me seek to save mine own, in trust is treason, time slipp'th, it is ill jesting with edge tools, or dallying with princes' matters, I'll strike whilst the iron is hot, and I'll trust never a Duke of Buckingham, no never a Duke in the world, further than I see him. And sirrah, so follow me. I see my Lord is fully resolved to climb, but how he climbs i'll leave that to your judgements, but what his fall will be that's hard to say: But I marvel that the Duke of Buckingham and he are now become such great friends, who had wont to love one another so well as the spider doth the fly: but this I have noted, since he hath had the charge of Protector, how many noble men hath fled the realm, first the Lord Marcus' son to the Queen, the Earl of Westmoreland and Northumberland, are secretly fled: how this gear will cotton I know not. But what do I meddling in such matters, that should meddle with the untying of my lords points, faith do even as a great many do beside, meddle with princes' matters so long, till they prove themselves beggars in the end. Therefore I for fear I should be taken nipping with any words, I'll set a lock on my lips, for fear my tongue grow too wide for my mouth. Right loving uncles, and the rest of this company, my mother hath written, and thinks it convenient that we dismiss our train, for fear the town of Northampton is not able to receive us: and again my uncle of Gloster may rather think we come of malice against him and his blood: therefore my Lords, let me hear your opinions, for my words and her letters are all one: and beside I myself give consent.
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)
My Lord. What heareſt thou about the Court? Ioy my Lord of your Protectorſhip for the moſt part, Some murmure, but my Lord they be of the baſer ſort. A mightie arme wil ſway the baſer ſort, authority doth terrifie. But what other newes heareſt thou? This my Lord, they ſay the yong king is comming vp to his coronation, attended on by his two vnkles, Earle Riuers & Lord Gray, and the reſt of the Queenes kindred. A parlous bone to ground vpon, and a ruſh ſtifly knit, which if I could finde a knot, I would giue one halfe to the dogs and ſet fire on the other. It is reported my Lord, but I know not whether it be true or no, that the Duke of Buckingham is vp in the Marches of Wales with a band of men, and as they ſay, hee aimes at the Crowne. Tuſh a ſhadow without a ſubſtance, and a feare without a cauſe: but yet if my neighbours houſe bee on fire, let me ſeeke to ſaue mine owne, in truſt is treaſon, time ſlippth, it is ill ieſting with edge tooles, or dallying with Princes matters, Ile ſtrike whillſt the yron is hote, and Ile truſt neuer a Duke of Buckingham, no neuer a Duke in the world, further then I ſee him. And ſirrha, ſo follow me. I ſee my Lord is fully reſolued to climbe, but how hee climbes ile leaue that to your iudgements, but what his fall will be thats hard to ſay: But I maruell that the Duke of Buckingham and he are now become ſuch great friends, who had wont to loue one another ſo well as the ſpider doth the flie: but this I haue noted, ſince he hath had the charge of Protector, how many noble men hath fled the realme, firſt the Lord Marcus ſonne to the Queene, the Earle of Weſtmorland and Northumberland, are ſecretly fled: how this geare will cotten I know not. But what do I medling in ſuch matters, that ſhould medle with the vntying of my Lordes points, faith do euen as a great many do beſide, medle with Princes matters ſo long, til they proue themſelues beggars in the end. Therfore I for feare I ſhould be taken nipping with any words, Ile ſet a locke on my lips, for feare my tongue grow too wide for my mouth. Right louing vnckles, and the reſt of this company, my mother hath written, and thinks it conuenient that we diſmiſſe our traine, for feare the towne of Northampton is not able to receiue vs: and againe my vnckle of Gloſter may rather thinke we come of malice againſt him and his blood: therefore my Lords, let me here your opinions, for my words and her letters are all one: and beſides I my ſelfe giue conſent.