The Love of King David and Fair Bathsheba · chunk 22 of 30
Peele, George · published 1599 · first performed or written 1594 [1593-1594] (Annals) biblical play; history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) unassigned nearest T51 Parents and children: blessing, birthrig · 501 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
Why should the sons of Zervia seek to check His spirit which the Lord hath thus inspired: Behold my son which issued from my flesh, With equal fury seeks to take my life. How much more than the son of jemini, Chiefly since he doth nought but God's command, It may be he will look on me this day With gracious eyes, and for his cursing bless, The heart of David in his bitterness. What dost thou fret my soul with sufferance? O that the souls of Isboseth and Abner, Which thou sent'st swimming to their graves in blood, With wounds fresh bleeding, gasping for revenge, Were here to execute my burning hate: But I will hunt thy font with curses still, Hence Monster, Murderer, Mirror of Contempt. Long life to David, to his enemy's death. Welcome Ahimaas and Ionathan, What news sends Cusay to thy lord the King. Cusay would wish my lord the King, To pass the river Jordan presently, lest he and all his people perish here. For wise Achitophel hath counselled Absalon To take advantage of your weary arms, And come this night upon you in the fields. But yet the Lord hath made his counsel scorn, And Cusay's policy with praise preferred, Which was to number every Israelite, And so assault you in their pride of strength. Abiathar besides entreats the King To send his men of war against his son, And hazard not his person in the field. Thanks to Abiathar, and to you both, And to my Cusay, whom the Lord requite, But ten times treble thanks to his soft hand, Whose pleasant touch hath made my heart to dance, And play him praises in my zealous breast, That turned the counsel of Achitophel After the prayers of his servants lips. Now will we pass the river all this night, And in the morning sound the voice of war, The voice of bloody and unkindly war. Then tell us how thou wilt divide thy men, And who shall have the special charge herein. Ioab, thyself shall for thy charge conduct, The first third part of all my valiant men, The second shall Abisay's valour lead, The third fair Ithay, which I most should grace, For comfort he hath done to David's woes, And I myself will follow in the midst. That let not David, for though we should fly, ten thousand of us were not half so much Esteemed with David's enemies, as himself, Thy people loving thee, deny thee this. What seems them best, then that will David do, But now my lords and captains hear his voice That never yet pierced piteous heaven in vain, Then let it not slip lightly through your ears, For my sake spare the young man Absalon. Ioab thyself didst once use friendly words To reconcile my heart incensed to him, If then thy love be to thy kinsman sound, And thou wilt prove a perfect Israelite, Friend him with deeds, and touch no hair of him,
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)
Why should the sons of Zeruia seeke to checke His spirit which the Lord hath thus inspir'd: Behold my sonne which issued from my flesh, With equall furie seekes to take my life. How much more then the sonne of Iemini, Cheefely since he doth nought but Gods command, It may be he will looke on me this day With gracious eyes, and for his cursing blesse, The heart of Dauid in his bitternesse. What doest thou fret my soule with sufferance▪ O that the soules of Isboseth and Abner, Which thou sentst swimming to their graues in bloud, With wounds fresh bleeding, gasping for reuenge, Were here to execute my burning hate: But I will hunt thy font with curses still, Hence Monster, Murtherer, Mirror of Contempt. Long life to Dauid, to his enemies death. Welcome Ahimaas and Ionathan, What newes sends Cusay to thy lord the King. Cusay would wish my lord the King, To passe the riuer Iordane presently, Least he and all his people perish here. For wise Achitophel hath counseld Absalon To take aduantage of your wearie armes, And come this night vpon you in the fields. But yet the Lord hath made his counsell skorne, And Cusaies pollicie with praise preferd, Which was to number euery Israelite, And so assault you in their pride of strength. Abiathar besides intreats the King To send his men of warre against his sonne, And hazard not his person in the field. Thankes to Abiathar, and to you both, And to my Cusay, whom the Lord requite, But tenne times treble thankes to his soft hand, Whose pleasant touch hath made my heart to dance, And play him praises in my zealous breast, That turnd the counsell of Achitophel After the praiers of his seruants lips. Now will we passe the riuer all this night, And in the morning sound the voice of warre, The voice of bloudie and vnkindly warre. Then tell vs how thou wilt deuide thy men, And who shall haue the speciall charge herein. Ioab, thy selfe shall for thy charge conduct, The first third part of all my valiant men, The second shall Abisaies valour lead, The third faire Ithay, which I most should grace, For comfort he hath done to Dauids woes, And I my selfe will follow in the midst. That let not Dauid, for though we should flie, Tenne thousand of vs were not halfe so much Esteemd with Dauids enemies, as himselfe, Thy people louing thee, denie thee this. What seewes them best, then that will Dauid doe, But now my lords and captaines heare his voice That neuer yet pierst pittious heauen in vaine, Then let it not slip lightly through your eares, For my sake spare the young man Absalon. Ioab thy selfe didst once vse friendly words To reconcile my heart incenst to him, If then thy loue be to thy kinsman sound, And thou wilt proue a perfit Israelite, Friend him with deeds, and touch no haire of him,