Shakespeare, William · published 1623 · first performed or written 1592 [1591-1592] (Annals) tragedy; history · Derby's (Strange's) Men (?) T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.75 · 491 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
Not to kill him, having a Warrant, But to be damned for killing him, from the which No Warrant can defend me. I thought thou hadst been resolute. So I am, to let him live. I'll back to the Duke of Glouster, and tell him so. Nay, I prithee stay a little: I hope this passionate humour of mine, will change, It was wont to hold me but while one tells twenty. How dost thou feel thyself now? Some certain dregges of conscience are yet within me. Remember our Reward, when the deed's done. Come, he dies: I had forgot the Reward. Where's thy conscience now. O, in the Duke of Glousters purse. When he opens his purse to give us our Reward, thy Conscience flies out. 'Tis no matter, let it go: There's few or none will entertain it. What if it come to thee again? I'll not meddle with it, it makes a man a Coward: A man cannot steal, but it accuseth him: A man cannot Swear, but it Cheques him: A man cannot lie with his Neighbour's Wife, but it detects him. 'Tis a blushing shamefaced spirit, that mutinies in a man's bosom: It fills a man full of Obstacles. It made me once restore a Purse of Gold that (by chance) I found: It beggar's any man that keeps it: It is turned out of Towns and Cities for a dangerous thing, and every man that means to live well, endeavours to trust to himself, and live without it. 'Tis even now at my elbow, persuading me not to kill the Duke. Take the devil in thy mind, and believe him not: He would insinuate with thee but to make thee sigh. I am strong framed, he cannot prevail with me. Spoke like a tall man, that respects thy reputation. Come, shall we fall to work? Take him on the Costard, with the hilts of thy Sword, and then throw him into the Malmesey-Butte in the next room. O excellent device; and make a sop of him. Soft, he wakes. Strike. No, we'll reason with him. Where art thou Keeper? Give me a cup of wine. You shall have Wine enough my Lord anon. In God's name, what art thou? A man, as you are. But not as I am Royal. Nor you as we are, loyal. Thy voice is Thunder, but thy looks are humble. My voice is now the Kings, my looks mine own. How darkly, and how deadly dost thou speak? Your eyes do menace me: why look you pale? Who sent you hither? Wherefore do you come? To, to, to— To murder me? I, I You scarcely have the hearts to tell me so, And therefore cannot have the hearts to do it. Wherein my Friends have I offended you? Offended us you have not, but the King. I shall be reconciled to him again. Never my Lord, therefore prepare to dye.
seed 43: T0 · seed 44: T0 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Not to kill him, hauing a Warrant, But to be damn'd for killing him, from the which No Warrant can defend me. I thought thou had'ſt bin reſolute. So I am, to let him liue. Ile backe to the Duke of Glouſter, and tell him ſo. Nay, I prythee ſtay a little: I hope this paſſionate humor of mine, will change, It was wont to hold me but while one tels twenty. How do'ſt thou feele thy ſelfe now? Some certaine dregges of conſcience are yet within mee. Remember our Reward, when the deed's done. Come, he dies: I had forgot the Reward. Where's thy conſcience now. O, in the Duke of Glouſters purſe. When hee opens his purſe to giue vs our Reward, thy Conſcience flyes out. 'Tis no matter, let it goe: There's few or none will entertaine it. What if it come to thee againe? Ile not meddle with it, it makes a man a Coward: A man cannot ſteale, but it accuſeth him: A man cannot Sweare, but it Checkes him: A man cannot lye with his Neighbours Wife, but it detects him. 'Tis a bluſhing ſhamefac'd ſpirit, that mutinies in a mans boſome: It filles a man full of Obſtacles. It made me once reſtore a Purſſe of Gold that (by chance) I found: It beggars any man that keepes it: It is turn'd out of Townes and Citties for a dangerous thing, and euery man that means to liue well, endeuours to truſt to himſelfe, and liue vvithout it. 'Tis euen now at my elbow, perſwading me not to kill the Dkue. Take the diuell in thy minde, and beleeue him not: He would inſinuate with thee but to make thee ſigh. I am ſtrong fram'd, he cannot preuaile with me. Spoke like a tall man, that reſpects thy reputation. Come, ſhall we fall to worke? Take him on the Coſtard, with the hiltes of thy Sword, and then throw him into the Malmeſey-Butte in the next roome. O excellent deuice; and make a ſop of him. Soft, he wakes. Strike. No, wee'l reaſon with him. Where art thou Keeper? Giue me a cup of wine. You ſhall haue Wine enough my Lord anon. In Gods name, what art thou? A man, as you are. But not as I am Royall. Nor you as we are, Loyall. Thy voice is Thunder, but thy looks are humble. My voice is now the Kings, my lookes mine owne. How darkly, and how deadly doſt thou ſpeake? Your eyes do menace me: why looke you pale? Who ſent you hither? Wherefore do you come? To, to, to— To murther me? I, I. You ſcarſely haue the hearts to tell me ſo, And therefore cannot haue the hearts to do it. Wherein my Friends haue I offended you? Offended vs you haue not, but the King. I ſhall be reconcil'd to him againe. Neuer my Lord, therefore prepare to dye.