The Love of King David and Fair Bathsheba · chunk 14 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 0.56 · 483 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
Beauteous and bright is he among the Tribes, As when the sun attired in glistering rob, Comes dancing from his oriental gate, And bridegroom-like hurls through the gloomy air His radiant beams, such doth King David show, Crowned with the honour of his enemy's town, Shining in riches like the firmament, The starry vault that overhangs the earth, So looketh David King of Israel. Ioab, why doth not David mount his throne, Whom heaven hath beautified with Hannon's crown, Sound Trumpets, shawms, and Instruments of praise To Iacobs God for David's victory. Why doth the King of Israel rejoice, Why sitteth David crowned with Rabath's rule, Behold there hath great heaviness befallen In Ammon's fields by Absalon's misdeed, And Ammon's shearers, and their feast of mirth Absalon hath overturned with his sword, Nor liveth any of King David's sons, To bring this bitter tidings to the King. Ay me, how soon are David's triumphs dashed, How suddenly declineth David's pride, As doth the daylight settle in the west, So dim is David's glory, and his gite. Die David, for to thee is left no seed, That may revive thy name in Israel. In Israel is left of David's seed. Comfort your lord, you servants of the King, Behold thy sons return in mourning weeds, And only Ammon, Absalon hath slain. Welcome my sons, dearer to me you are Then is this golden crown, or Hannon's spoil. O tell me then, tell me my sons I say, How cometh it to pass, that Absolon Hath slain his brother Ammon with the sword? Thy sons O King went up to Ammon's fields To feast with him, and eat his bread and oil, And Absalon upon his mule doth come, And to his men he sayth, When Ammon's heart Is merry and secure, then strike him dead, Because he forced Thamar shamefully, And hated her, and threw her forth his doors: And this did he, and they with him conspire, And kill thy son in wreak of Thamar's wrong. How long shall Iuda and Ierusalem Complain and water Zion with their tears? How long shall Israel lament in vain, And not a man among the mighty ones Will hear the sorrows of King David's heart? Ammon thy life was pleasing to thy Lord, As to mine ears the Music of my Lute, Or songs that David tuneth to his Harp, And Absalon hath ta'en from me away The gladness of my sad distressed soul. God save King David, King of Israel, And bless the gates of Zion for his sake. Woman, why mournest thou, rise from the earth, Tell me what sorrow hath befallen thy soul. Thy servants soul O King is troubled sore, And grievous is the anguish of her heart, And from Thecoa doth thy handmaid come. Tell me, and say, thou woman of Thecoa, What aileth thee, or what is come to pass.
seed 43: T4 · seed 44: T5 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Beauteous and bright is he among the Tribes, As when the sunne attird in glist'ring robe, Comes dauncing from his orientall gate, And bride groome-like hurles through the gloomy aire His radiant beames, such doth King Dauid shew, Crownd with the honour of his enemies towne, Shining in riches like the firmament, The starrie vault that ouerhangs the earth, So looketh Dauid King of Israel. Ioab, why doth not Dauid mount his throne, Whom heauen hath beautified with Hannons crowne, Sound Trumpets, Shalmes, and Instruments of praise To Iacobs God for Dauids victory. Why doth the King of Israel reioice, Why sitteth Dauid crownd with Rabbaes rule, Behold there hath great heauinesse befalne In Ammons fields by Absolons misdeed, And Ammons shearers, and their feast of mirth Absalon hath ouerturned with his sword, Nor liueth any of King Dauids sonnes, To bring this bitter tidings to the King. Ay me, how soone are Dauids triumphs dasht, How suddenly declineth Dauids pride, As doth the daylight settle in the west, So dim is Dauids glory, and his gite. Die Dauid, for to thee is left no seed, That may reuiue thy name in Israel. In Israel is left of Dauids seed. Comfort your lord, you seruants of the King, Behold thy sonnes returne in mourning weeds, And only Ammon, Absalon hath slaine. Welcome my sonnes, deeret to me you are Then is this golden crowne, or Hannons spoile. O tell me then, tell me my sonnes I say, How commeth it to passe, that Absolon Hath slaine his brother Ammon with the sword? Thy sonnes O King went vp to Ammons fields To feast with him, and eat his bread and oyle, And Absalon vpon his mule doth come, And to his men he sayth, When Ammons heart Is merry and secure, then strike him dead, Because he forced Thamar shamefully, And hated her, and threw her forth his dores: And this did he, and they with him conspire, And kill thy sonne in wreake of Thamars wrong. How long shall Iuda and Ierusalem Complaine and water Syon with their teares? How long shall Israel lament in vaine, And not a man among the mighty ones Will heare the sorrowes of King Dauids heart? Ammon thy life was pleasing to thy Lord, As to mine eares the Musike of my Lute, Or songs that Dauid tuneth to his Harpe, And Absalon hath tane from me away The gladnesse of my sad distressed soule. God saue King Dauid, King of Israel, And blesse the gates of Syon for his sake. Woman, why mournest thou, rise from the earth, Tell me what sorrow hath befalne thy soule. Thy seruants soule O King is troubled sore, And greenous is the anguish of her heart, And from Thecoa doth thy handmaid come. Tell me, and say, thou woman of Thecoa, What aileth thee, or what is come to passe.