The Blind Beggar of Alexandria (Irus) · chunk 21 of 26
Chapman, George · published 1598 · first performed or written 1596 [Feb 12] (Annals) comedy · Admiral's (Nottingham's) Men unassigned nearest T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla · 499 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
I and it were a good deed to be a little nigher too, you make a Count ass of me indeed, as if I were too little for you, but bigness is my fault unless I were a little better used at your hands. Why thou wilt be to perfect if I should use thee much for use makes perfitness. ay but I cannot be too perfect and therefore I'll spoil her perfections that helps to spoil mine I warrant her. Why may not I lie with her as well as thou layest with her husband. I defy you and all the world that can say black is mine eye. I think so indeed, for thine eye is grey, but thou didst lie with him by that same token he gave thee a carcanet, and thou toldst me that thy mother sent it thee, thou didst promise to banquet him when I was next abroad, thou didst say he could not be so old as he made himself to be, thou didst say 'twas pity of his nose, for he would have been a fine man else, and that God did well to make him a rich man, for a was a good man too, and these tokens I think are sufficient, for these a told me with his own mouth. He lied like an old knave as he was and that he shall know the next time these lips open in faith, oh wicked perjured man would a disclose my secrets I faith what woman would trust any man alive with her honesty. Ha ha ha, I haue snt her in a pelting chfe, But I'll follow her and make her mad with anger. Thus have we trod the sandy vales of Egypt, Adjoining to the plains of Alexandria, Where proud king' Ptolemy keeps his residence, Securely trusting to his prophecies, Which hath foretold him many years ago, That if the young Arcadian Doricles, Should link in marriage with his lovely daughter. He then should conquer all our bordering lands, And make us subject to his tyranny. Trusting to his fond fantastic dreams, He hath exiled the warlike Duke Cleanthes. Whose name was terror to our valiant troops. Cleanthes exiled gives us easy way, To our attempts where had he stayed, Aud beene afreind to him, yet should he not Escape subjection. We will divide his kingdom twixt us four, And reave from him his four chief ornaments, And for to grieve his aged mind the more, He shall be kept in lasting servitude. So to fulfil what fates to him assigned, Come let us march and brave him at the walls, If Porus live to wield his martial sword, His City walls shall not preserve him safe, But he shall die by Porus and his friends. Sweet madam grant me once a cheerful look To glad my dying heart with sorrow killed, Your father hath resigned his free consent. You bound by duty to obey his will,
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)
I and it were a good deede to be a little nier too, you make a Count asse of me indeede, as if I were too little for you, but bignesse is my fault vnlesse I were a little better vsd at your handes. VVhy thou wilt be to perfit if I should vse thee much for vse makes perfitnesse. I but I cannot be too perfit and thefore Ile spoyle her perfections that helpes to spoyle mine I warrant her. VVhy may not I lie with her aswell as thou layest with her husband. I defie you and all the world that can say blacke is mine eye. I thinke so indeede, for thine eye is gray, but thou didst lye with him by that same token he gaue thee a carknet, and thou toldst me that thy mother sent it thee, thou didst promise to banquet him when I was next abroade, thou didst say he could not be so old as he made himselfe to be, thou ddst say twas pittie of his nose, for he would haue bene a fine man els, and that God did well to make him a rich man, for a was a good man too, and these tokens I thinke are sufficient, or these a told me with his owne mouth. He lyed like an old knaue as he was and that he shall knowe the next time these lippes open in fayth, oh wicked periurd man would a dsclose my secretes I fayth what woman would trust any man a liue with her honestie. Ha ha ha, I haue snt her in a pelting chfe, But Ile follow her and make her madde with anger. Thus haue we trode the sandy vales of Aegypt, Adioyning to the plaines of Alexanria, VVhere proud king ` keepes his refidence, Securely trusting to his prophesies, VVhich hath foretold him many yeares agoe, That if the young Archadian Doricles, Should linke in marriage with his louely daughter. He then should conquere all our bordering , And make vs subiect to his tirrannie. Trusting to his fond fantasticke dreames, He hath exild the warlicke Duke Cleanthes. VVhose name was terror to our valiant troopes. Cleanthes exild giues vs easy way, To our attemptes where had he stayed, Aud beene afreind to him, yet should he not Escape subiection. VVe will deuide his kingdome twixt vs foure, And reaue from him his foure cheife ornamentes, And for to greeue his aged mind the more, He shall b kept in lasting seruitude. So to fulfill what fates to him assignde, Come let vs march and braue him at the walles, If Porus liue to weild his martiall sworde, His Citty walles shall not preserue him safe, But he shall dye by Porus and his freindes. Sweet madam grant me once a chearful looke To glad my dying hart with sorow kild, Your father hath resignd his free consent. You bound by dutie to obey his will,