The Love of King David and Fair Bathsheba · chunk 17 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 0.73 · 479 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
Earth cannot weep enough for David's woes, Then weep you heavens, and all you clouds dissolve, That piteous stars may see our miseries, And drop their golden tears upon the ground, For witness how they weep for David's woes. Now let my sovereign raise his prostrate bones. And mourn not as a faithless man would do, But be assured, that Iacobs righteous God, That promised never to forsake your throne, Will still be just and pure in his vows. Sadoc high priest, preserver of the ark, Whose sacred virtue keeps the chosen crown, I know my God is spotless in his vows, And that these hairs shall greet my grave in peace: But that my son should wrong his tendred soul, And fight against his father's happiness, Turns all my hopes into despair of him, And that despair, feeds all my veins with grief. Think of it David, as a fatal plague, Which grief preserveth, but preventeth not, And turn thy drooping eyes upon the troops That of affection to thy worthiness, Do swarm about the person of the King, Cherish their valours, and their zealous loves, With pleasant looks, and sweet encouragements. methinks the voice of Ithay fills mine ears. Let not the voice of Ithay loath thine ears, Whose heart would balm thy bosom with his tears. But wherefore goest thou to the wars with us, Thou art a stranger here in Israel, And son to Achis mighty king of Gath, Therefore return, and with thy father stay, Thou camest but yesterday, and should I now Let thee partake these troubles here with us? Keep both thyself, and all thy soldiers safe, Let me abide the hazards of these arms, And God requite the friendship thou hast showed. As sure as Israel's God gives David life, What place or peril shall contain the King, The same will Ithay share in life and death. Then gentle Ithay be thou still with us, A joy to David, and a grace to Israel. Go Sadoc now, and bear the ark of God Into the great Ierusalem again, If I find favour in his gracious eyes, Then will he lay his hand upon my heart Yet once again before I visit death, Giving it strength and virtue to mine eyes, To taste the comforts, and behold the form Of his fair ark, and holy tabernacle, But if he say my wonted love is worn, And I have no delight in David now, Here lie I armed with an humble heart, T'embrace the pains that anger shall impose, And kiss the sword my lord shall kill me with, Than Sadoc take Ahimaas thy son, With Ionathan son to Abiathar, And in these fields will I repose myself, Till they return from you some certain news. Thy servants will with joy obey the King, And hope to cheer his heart with happy news.
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)
Earth cannot weepe ynough for Dauids woes, Then weepe you heauens, and all you clouds dissolue, That pittious stars may see our miseries, And drop their golden teares vpon the ground, For witnesse how they weepe for Dauids woes. Now let my soueraigne raise his prostrate bones. And mourne not as a faithlesse man would doe, But be assurd, that Iacobs righteous God, That promist neuer to forsake your throne, Will still be iust and pure in his vowes. Sadoc high priest, preseruer of the arke, Whose sacred vertue keepes the chosen crowne, I know my God is spotlesse in his vowes, And that these haires shall greet my graue in peace: But that my sonne should wrong his tendred soule, And fight against his fathers happinesse, Turnes all my hopes into despaire of him, And that despaire, feeds all my veines with greefe. Thinke of it Dauid, as a fatall plague, Which greefe preserueth, but preuenteth not, And turne thy drooping eyes vpon the troupes That of affection to thy worthinesse, Doe swarme about the person of the King, Cherish their valours, and their zealous loues, With pleasant lookes, and sweet encouragements. Me thinkes the voice of Ithay fils mine eares. Let not the voice of Ithay loth thine eares, Whose heart would baulme thy bosome with his teares. But wherefore goest thou to the wars with vs, Thou art a stranger here in Israel, And sonne to Achis mightie king of Gath, Therefore returne, and with thy father stay, Thou camst but yesterday, and should I now Let thee partake these troubles here with vs? Keepe both thy selfe, and all thy souldiors safe, Let me abide the hazards of these armes, And God requite the friendship thou hast shewd. As sure as Israels God giues Dauid life, What place or perill shall containe the King, The same will Ithay share in life and death. Then gentle Ithay be thou still with vs, A ioy to Dauid, and a grace to Israel. Goe Sadoc now, and beare the arke of God Into the great Ierusalem againe, If I find fauour in his gratious eyes, Then will he lay his hand vpon my heart Yet once againe before I visit death, Giuing it strength and vertue to mine eies, To tast the comforts, and behold the forme Of his faire arke, and holy tabernacle, But if he say my wonted loue is worne, And I haue no delight in Dauid now, Here lie I armed with an humble heart, T imbrace the paines that anger shall impose, And kisse the sword my lord shall kill me with, Then Sadoc take Ahimaas thy sonne, With Ionathan sonne to Abiathar, And in these fields will I repose my selfe, Till they returne from you some certaine newes. Thy seruants will with ioy obey the King, And hope to cheere his heart with happy newes.