The Blind Beggar of Alexandria (Irus) · chunk 1 of 26
Chapman, George · published 1598 · first performed or written 1596 [Feb 12] (Annals) comedy · Admiral's (Nottingham'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.
Leave me a while my Lords and wait for me, At the black fountain, by Osiris' grove, I'll walk alone to holy Irus' cave, Talking a little while with him and then return. Ianthe begone. Now Irus Let thy minds eternal eye, Extend the virtue of it past the Sun. Ah my Cleanthes where art thou become, But since I saved thy guiltless life from death, And turned it only into banishment, Forgive me love, me pity comfort me. Master. Pego. Wipe your eyes and you had them. Why Pego. The Queen is here to see your blindness. Her Majesty is well come, Heavens preserve, And send her highness an immortal rain. Thanks reverent Irus for thy gentle prayer, Dismiss thy man a while and I will lead thee, For I have weighty secrets to impart. Would I were blind that she might lead me. Irus thy skill to tell the drifts of fate, Our fortunes and things hid from sensual eyes, Hath sent me to thee for advertisement. Where Duke Cleanthes lives that was exiled, This kingdom for attempting me with love, And offering stain to Egypt's royal bed. I hope your majesty will pardon me, I Conscience make me vtter what I thinke, Of that high love affairs twixt him and you. I will sweet Iris being well assured, That whatsoever thy sharp wisdoms sees, In my sad frailty thou wilt have regard, To my estate and name and keep it close— Of that your highness may be well assured, Than I am bound madam to tell you this, That you yourself did seek Cleanthes love, And to aspire it, made away his Duchess, Which he well knowing and affecting her, Dear as his life denied to satisfy, That kindness offered twixt your self and him. Therefore did you in rage inform the Duke, He sought your love, and so he banished him. too true it is grave Irus thou hast told, But for my loves sake which not Gods can rule, Strike me no more of that wound yet too green, But only tell me where Cleanthes is, That I may follow him in some disguise, And make him recompense for all his wrong. Cleanthes is about this City off, With whom your majesty shall meet ere long: And speak with him, if you will use such means, As you may use for his discovery. What shall I use then what is in my power, I will not use for his discovery, I'll bind the wings of love unto mine arms, And like a Eagle prying for her prey, Will overlook the earths round face for him, Were this sufficient. Or I will moorlike learn to swim and dive. Into the bottom of the Sea for him. Least being the son of Egypt and now set, Thetis in rage with love would ravish him. Were this sufficient.
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)
LEaue e a while my Lordes and waite for me, At the blacke fountayne, by Osis groue, le walke alone to holy Irus caue, Talking a little while with him and then returne. Ianthe begone. Now Irus Let thy mindes eternall eye, Extend the vertue of it past the Sunne. Ah my Cleanthes where art thou become, But since I saued thy guiltlesse life from death, And turnd it onelyinto banishment, Forgiue me loue, mee pittie comfort mee. Maister. Pego. VVipe your eyes and you had them. VVhy Pego. The Queene is here to see your blindnes. Her Maiestie is wel come, Heauens preserue, And send her highnes an immortall rayne. Thankes reuerent Irus for thy gentle prayer, Dismisse thy man a while and I will lead thee, For I haue waightie secretes to impart. Would I were blind that she might lead mee. Irus thy skill to tell the driftes of fate, Our fortunes and thinges hid from sensuall eyes, Hath sent mee to thee for aduertisment. VVhere Duke Clenthes liues that was exilde, This kingdome for attempting mee with loue, And offering stayne to Aeipts royall bed. I hope your maiestie will pardon mee, I Conscience make me vtter what I thinke, Of that hye loue affayres twixt him and you. I will sweete Jrus being well assurd, That whatsoeuer thy sharpe wisdomes sees, In my sad frailtie thou wllt hue regard, To my estate and name and keepe clo ▪ Of that your highnes may be well assurde, Then I am bound madam to tell you this, That you your selfe did seeke Clnthes loue, And to aspire it, made away his Dutches, VVhich he well knowing and affecting her, Deare as his life denyed to satisfie, That kindenesse offered twixt our selfe and him. Therefore did ou in rage informe the Duke, He sought our loue, and so he him. To true it is graue Irus hou hat tould, But for my loues sake which not Gods can rule, Strike me no more of that wound yet too greene, But onely tell me where Cleanthes is, That I may follow him in some disguise, And make him recompence for all his wrong. Cleanthes is about this Cittie off, VVith whom yor maiestie shall meete ere long: And speake with him, if you will vs such meanes, As you may vse for his discouery. VVhat shall I vse then what is in my power, I will not vse for his discouery, Ile bind the winges of loue vnto myne armes, And like a Eagle prying for her pray, VVill ouerlooke the earthes round face for him, VVere this sufficient. Or I will Moorelike learne to swimme and diue. Into the bottome of the Sea for him. Least beeing the sonne of Aegyp and now set, Thetis in rage with loue would rauish him. VVere this sufficient.