The Love of King David and Fair Bathsheba · chunk 18 of 30
Peele, George · published 1599 · first performed or written 1594 [1593-1594] (Annals) biblical play; history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) unassigned nearest T53 The crown: kingship claimed, resigned an · 487 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T53: crown, king, state, life, lord, lords, live, queen, tullia, prince.
Now that it be no grief unto the King, Let me for good inform his majesty, That with unkind and graceless Absalon, Achitophel your ancient counsellor, Directs the state of this rebellion. Then doth it aim with danger at my crown, O thou that hold'st his raging bloody bound, Within the circle of the silver moon, That girds earth's centre with his watery scarf, Limit the counsel of Achitophel, No bounds extending to my soul's distress, But turn his wisdom into foolishness. Happiness and honour to my lord the King. What happiness or honour may betide His state that toils in my extremities? O let my gracious sovereign cease these griefs, Unless he wish his servant Cusay's death, Whose life depends upon my Lord's relief, Then let my presence with my sighs, presume The pleasant closet of my sovereign's soul. No Cusay no, thy presence unto me, Will be a burden since I tender thee, And cannot break thy sighs for David's sake: But if thou turn to fair Ierusalem, And say to Absalon, as thou hast been A trusty friend unto his father's seat, So thou wilt be to him, and call him King, Achitophel's counsel may be brought to nought. Then having Sadoc and Abiathar, All three may learn the secrets of my son, Sending the message by Ahimaas, And friendly Ionathan, who both are there, Then rise, referring the success to heaven. Cusay I rise, though with unwieldy bones, I carry arms against my Absalon. Now you that were my father's concubines, liquour to his enchased and lustful fire, Have seen his honour shaken in his house, Which I possess in sight of all the world. I bring ye forth for soils to my renown, And to eclipse the glory of your King, Whose life is with his honour fast enclosed Within the entrails of a jetty cloud, Whose dissolution shall power down in showers The substance of his life and swelling pride: Then shall the stars light earth with rich aspects, And heaven shall burn in love with Absalon, Whose beauty will suffice to chaste all mists, And clothe the sun's sphere with a triple fire, Sooner then his clear eyes should suffer stain, Or be offended with a lowering day. Thy father's honour, graceless Absalon, And ours thus beaten with thy violent arms, Will cry for vengeance to the host of heaven, Whose power is ever armed against the proud, And will dart plagues at thy aspiring head, For doing this disgrace to David's throne. To David's throne, to David's holy throne, Whose sceptre angels guard with swords of fire, And sit as Eagles on his conquering fist, Ready to prey upon his enemies, Then think not thou the captain of his foes, Wert thou much swifter than Azahell was, That could outpace the nimble footed Roe, To scape the fury of their thumping beaks, Or dreadful scope of their commanding wings.
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)
Now that it be no greefe vnto the King, Let me for good enforme his maiestie, That with vnkind and gracelesse Absalon, Achitophel your auncient counsellor, Directs the state of this rebellion. Then doth it aime with danger at my crowne, O thou that holdst his raging bloudy bound, Within the circle of the siluer moone, That girds earths center with his watrie scarfe, Limit the counsell of Achitophel, No bounds extending to my soules distresse, But turne his wisdome into foolishnesse. Happinesse and honour to my lord the King. What happinesse or honor may betide His state that toiles in my extremities? O let my gracious soueraine cease these greefes, Vnlesse he wish his seruaut Cusayes death, Whose life depends vpon my lords releefe, Then let my presence with my sighs, persume The pleasant closet of my soueraignes soule. No Cusay no, thy presence vnto me, Will be a burthen since I tender thee, And cannot breake thy sighs for Dauids sake: But if thou turne to faire Ierusalem, And say to Absalon, as thou hast been A trusty friend vnto his fathers seat, So thou wilt be to him, and call him King, Achitophels counsell may be brought to naught. Then hauing Sadoc and Abiathar, All three may learne the secrets of my sonne, Sending the message by Ahimaas, And friendly Ionathan, who both are there, Then rise, referring the successe to heauen. Cusay I rise, though with vnweldie bones, I carrie armes against my Absalon. Now you that were my fathers concubines, Liquor to his inchast and lustfull fire, Haue seene his honour shaken in his house, Which I possesse in sight of all the world. I bring ye forth for soiles to my renowne, And to eclipse the glorie of your King, Whose life is with his honour fast inclosd Within the entrailes of a Ieatie cloud, Whose dissolution shall powre downe in showers The substance of his life and swelling pride: Then shall the stars light earth with rich aspects, And heauen shall burne in loue with Absalon, Whose beautie will suffice to chast all mists, And cloth the suns spheare with a triple fire, Sooner then his cleare eyes should suffer staine, Or be offended with a lowring day. Thy fathers honour, gracelesse Absalon, And ours thus beaten with thy violent armes, Will crie for vengeance to the host of heauen, Whose power is euer armed against the prowd, And will dart plagues at thy aspiring head, For doing this disgrace to Dauids throne. To Dauids throne, to Dauids holy throne, Whose scepter angels guard with swords of fire, And sit as Eagles on his conquering fist, Ready to prey vpon his enemies, Then thinke not thou the captaine of his foes, Wert thou much swifter then Azahell was, That could out-pace the nimble footed Roe, To scape the furie of their thumping beakes, Or dreadfull scope of their commanding wings.