The Love of King David and Fair Bathsheba · chunk 2 of 30
Peele, George · published 1599 · first performed or written 1594 [1593-1594] (Annals) biblical play; history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) T5 Christian faith, sin and salvation typicality 0.59 · 485 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
What service doth my lord the King command? See Cusay see, the flower of Israel, The fairest daughter that obeys the King, In all the land the lord subdued to me. Fairer than Isaac's lover at the well, Brighter than inside bark of new hewn cedar, Sweeter than flames of fine perfumed myrrh. And comelier than the silver clouds that dance On Zephyr's wings before the king of heaven. Is it not Bethsabe the Hethites wife Urias, now at Rabath siege with Ioab? Go know, and bring her quickly to the King, Tell her, her graces hath found grace with him. I will my lord. Bright Bethsabe shall wash in David's bower, In water mixed with purest Almond flower, And bathe her beauty in the milk of kids, Bright Bethsabe gives earth to my desires, Verdure to earth, and to that verdure flowers, To flowers, sweet Odours, and to Odours wings, That carry pleasures to the hearts of Kings. Fair Bethsabe, the King of Israel From forth his Princely tower hath seen thee bath, And thy sweet graces have found grace with him, Come then and kneel unto him where he stands, The King is gracious, and hath liberal hands. Ah what is Bethsabe to please the King, Or what is David, that he should desire For fickle beauty's sake his servants wife? David (thou knowest fair dame) is wise and just, Elected to the heart of Israel's God, Then do not thou expostulate with him For any action that contents his soul. My lord the King, elect to Gods own heart, Should not his gracious jealousy incense, Whose thoughts are chaste, I hate incontinence. Woman thou wrong'st the King & doubtst his honour, Whose truth maintains the crown of Israel, Making him stay, that bade me bring thee straight. The Kings poor handmaid will obey my lord, Then come and do thy duty to his grace, And do what seemeth favour in his sight. Now comes my lover tripping like the Roe, And brings my longings tangled in her hair, To joy her love I'll build a kingly bower, Seated in hearing of a hundred streams, That for their homage to her sovereign joys, Shall as the serpents sold into their nests, In oblique turnings wind the nimble waves, About the circles of her curious walks, And with their murmur summon easeful sleep, To lay his golden sceptre on her brows, Open the doors, and entertain my love, Open I say, and as you open sing, Welcome fair Bethsabe King David's darling. Welcome fair Bethsabe King David's darling, Thy bones fair covering, erst discovered fair, And all mine eyes with all thy beauties pierced, As heavens bright eye burns most when most he climbs The crooked Zodiac with his fiery sphere, And shineth furthest from this earthly globe: So since thy beauty scorched my conquered soul, I called thee nearer for my nearer cure.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T5 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
What seruice doth my lord the King command? See Cusay see, the flower of Israel, The fairest daughter that obeies the King, In all the land the lord subdued to me. Fairer then Isacs louer at the well, Brighter then inside barke of new hewen Caedar, Sweeter then flames of fine perfumed myrrhe. And comelier then the siluer clouds that dance On Zephires wings before the king of heauen. Is it not Bethsabe the Hethites wife Vrias, now at Rabath siege with Ioab? Goe know, and bring her quickly to the King, Tell her, her graces hath found grace with him. I will my lord. Bright Bethsabe shall wash in Dauids bower, In water mix'd with purest Almond flower, And bath her beautie in the milke of kids, Bright Bethsabe giues earth to my desires, Verdure to earth, and to that verdure flowers, To flowers, sweet Odors, and to Odors wings, That carrie pleasures to the hearts of Kings. Faire Bethsabe, the King of Israell From forth his Princely tower hath seen thee bath, And thy sweet graces haue found grace with him, Come then and kneele vnto him where he stands, The King is gracious, and hath liberall hands. Ah what is Bethsabe to please the King, Or what is Dauid, that he should desire For fickle beuties sake his seruants wife? Dauid (thou knowest faire dame) is wise and iust, Elected to the heart of Israels God, Then doe not thou expostulate with him For any action that contents his soule. My lord the King, elect to Gods owne heart, Should not his gracious ielousie incense, Whose thoughts are chast, I hate incontinence. Woman thou wrongst the King & doubtst his honour, Whose truth mainteines the crowne of Israel, Making him stay, that bad me bring thee strait. The Kings poore handmaid will obey my lord, Then come and doe thy dutie to his grace, And doe what seemeth fauour in his sight. Now comes my louer tripping like the Roe, And brings my longings tangled in her haire, To ioy her loue Ile build a kingly bower, Seated in hearing of a hundred streames, That for their homage to her souereine ioies, Shall as the serpents sold into their nests, In oblique turnings wind the nimble waues, About the circles of her curious walkes, And with their murmure summon easefull sleepe, To lay his golden scepter on her browes, Open the dores, and enterteine my loue, Open I say, and as you open sing, Welcome faire Bethsabe King Dauids darling. Welcome faire Bethsabe King Dauids darling, Thy bones faire couering, erst discouered faire, And all mine eyes with all thy beuties pierst, As heauens bright eye burnes most when most he climes The crooked Zodiake with his fierie sphere, And shineth furthest from this earthly globe: So since thy beautie scorcht my conquerd soule, I cald thee neerer for my neerer cure.