The Love of King David and Fair Bathsheba · chunk 20 of 30
Peele, George · published 1599 · first performed or written 1594 [1593-1594] (Annals) biblical play; history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) unassigned nearest T17 Eastern conquest: Persians, Turks and so · 505 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
Though wise Achitophel be much more meet To purchase hearing with my lord the King, For all his former counsels, than myself, Yet not offending Absolon or him, This time it is not good, nor worth pursuit: For well thou knowest thy father's men are strong, Chafing as she bears robbed of their whelps. Besides the King himself a valiant man, Trained up in feats and stratagems of war, And will not for prevention of the worst Lodge with the common soldiers in the field: But now I know his wonted policies Have taught him lurk within some secret cave, Guarded with all his stoutest soldiers, Which if the forefront of his battle faint, Will yet give out that Absalon doth fly, And so thy soldiers be discouraged. David himself withal, whose angry heart Is as a lions, letted of his walk, Will fight himself, and all his men to one, Before a few shall vanquish him by fear. My counsel therefore, is with Trumpets sound To gather men from Dan to Bersabe, That they may march in number like sea sands, That nestle close in another's neck: So shall we come upon him in our strength, Like to the dew that falls in showers from heaven, And leave him not a man to march withal. Besides if any city succour him, The numbers of our men shall fetch us ropes, And we will pull it down the rivers stream, That not a stone be left to keep us out. What says my lord to Cusay's counsel now? I fancy Cusay's counsel better far Than that is given us from Achitophel, And so I think doth every soldier here. Cusay's counsel is better than Achitophel's. Then march we after Cusay's counsel all, Sound trumpets through the bounds of Israel, And muster all the men will serve the King, That Absalon may glut his longing soul With sole fruition of his father's crown. Ill shall they fare that follow thy attempts, That scorns the counsel of Achitophel. Thus hath the power of Iacobs jealous God Fulfilled his servant David's drifts by me, And brought Achitophel's advise to scorn. God save lord Cusay, and direct his zeal To purchase David's conquest 'gainst his son. What secrets hast thou gleaned from Absalon. These sacred priests that bear the ark of God, Achitophel advised him in the night To let him choose twelve thousand fighting men, And he would come on David at unwares, While he was weary with his violent toil: But I advised to get a greater host, And gather men from Dan to Bersabe, To come upon him strongly in the fields, Then send Ahimaas and Ionathan To signify these secrets to the King, And will him not to stay this night abroad, But get him over Jordan presently, lest he and all his people kiss the sword. Then go Ahimaas and Ionathan, And straight convey this message to the King. Father we will, if Absalon's chief spies Prevent not this device, and stay us here.
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)
Though wise Achitophel be much more meet To purchase hearing with my lord the King, For all his former counsels, then my selfe, Yet not offending Absolon or him, This time it is not good, nor worth pursute: For well thou knowest thy fathers men are strong, Chafing as shee beares robbed of their whelpes. Besides the King himselfe a valiant man, Traind vp in feats and stratagems of warre, And will not for preuention of the worst Lodge with the common souldiers in the field: But now I know his wonted policies Haue taught him lurke within some secret caue, Guarded with all his stoutest souldiers, Which if the forefront of his battell faint, Will yet giue out that Absalon doth flie, And so thy souldiers be discouraged. Dauid himselfe withall, whose angry heart Is as a Lyons, letted of his walke, Will fight himselfe, and all his men to one, Before a few shall vanquish him by feare. My counsell therefore, is with Trumpets sound To gather men from Dan to Bersabe, That they may march in number like sea sands, That nestle close in anothers necke: So shall we come vpon him in our strength, Like to the dew that fals in showers from heauen, And leaue him not a man to march withall. Besides if any citie succour him, The nnmbers of our men shall fetch vs ropes, And we will pull it downe the riuers streame, That not a stone be left to keepe vs out. What saies my lord to Cusaies counsell now? I fancie Cusaies counsell better farre Then that is giuen vs from Achitophel, And so I thinke doth euery souldier here. Cusaies counsell is better then Achitophels. Then march we after Cusaies counsell all, Sound trumpets through the bounds of Israel, And muster all the men will serue the King, That Absalon may glut his longing soule With sole fruition of his fathers crowne. Ill shall they fare that follow thy attempts, That skornes the counsell of Achitophel. Thus hath the power of Iacobs iealous God Fulfild his seruant Dauids drifts by me, And brought Achitophels aduise to scorne. God saue lord Cusay, and direct his zeale To purchase Dauids conquest gainst his sonne. What secrets hast thou gleande from Absalon. These sacred priests that beare the arke of God, Achitophel aduisd him in the night To let him chuse twelue thousand fighting men, And he would come on Dauid at vnwares, While he was wearie with his violent toile: But I aduisd to get a greater host, And gather men from Dan to Bersabe, To come vpon him strongly in the fields, Then send Ahimaas and Ionathan To signifie these secrets to the King, And will him not to stay this night abroad, But get him ouer Iordane presently, Least he and all his people kisse the sword. Then goe Ahimaas and Ionathan, And straight conuey this message to the King. Father we will▪ if Absalons cheefe spies Preuent not this deuise, and stay vs here.