The Love of King David and Fair Bathsheba · chunk 26 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 0.70 · 519 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
soldiers of Israel, and ye sons of Iuda, That have contended in these irksome broils, And ripped old Israel's bowels with your swords: The godless general of your stubborn arms Is brought by Israel's helper to the grave: A grave of shame, and scorn of all the Tribes, Now then to save your honours from the dust, And keep your bloods in temper by your bones, Let Ioabs ensign shroud your manly heads, Direct your eyes, your weapons, and your hearts To guard the life of David from his foes. Error hath masked your much too forward minds, And you have sinned against the chosen state, Against his life, for whom your lives are blessed, And followed an usurper to the field, In whose just death your deaths are threatened, But Ioab pities your disordered souls, And therefore offers pardon, peace, and love, To all that will be friendly reconciled To Israel's weal, to David, and to heaven. Amasa, thou art leader of the host, That under Absalon have raised their arms: Then be a captain wise and politic, Careful and loving for thy soldiers lives, And lead them to this honourable league. I will, at least I'll do my best, And for the gracious offer thou hast made, I give thee thanks as much as for my head. Then you deceived poor souls of Israel, Since now ye see the errors you incurred, With thanks and due submission be appeased, And as ye see your captains precedent Here cast me then our swords at Ioabs feet, Submitting with all zeal and residence Our goods and bodies to his gracious hands. Stand up and take ye all your swords again, David and Ioab shall be blessed herein. Now let me go inform my lord the King, How God hath freed him from his enemies. Another time Ahimaas, not now, But Cusay go thyself, and tell the King The happy message of our good success. I will my lord, and thank thee for thy grace. What if thy servant should go to my lord? What news hast thou to bring since he is gone? Yet do Ahimaas so much content, That he may run about so sweet a charge. Run if thou wilt, and peace be with thy steps, Now follow, that you may salute the King With humble hearts and reconciled souls. We follow Ioab to our gracious King, And him our swords shall honour to our deaths. What means my lord, the lamp of Israel, From whose bright eyes all eyes receive their light, To dim the glory of his sweet aspects, And paint his countenance with his heart's distress? Why should his thoughts retain a sad conceit, When every pleasure kneels before his throne, And sues for sweet acceptance with his grace, Take but your Lute, and make the mountains dance, Retrieve the suns sphere, and restrain the clouds, Give ears to trees, make savage lions tame, Impose still silence to the loudest winds, And fill the fairest day with foulest storms, Then why should passions of much meaner power, Bear head against the heart of Israel.
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)
Souldiers of Israel, and ye sonnes of Iuda, That haue contended in these irkesome broiles, And ript old Israels bowels with your swords: The godlesse generall of your stubborne armes Is brought by Israels helper to the graue: A graue of shame, and skorne of all the Tribes, Now then to saue your honours from the dust, And keepe your blouds in temper by your bones, Let Ioabs ensigne shroud your manly heads, Direct your eies, your weapons, and your hearts To guard the life of Dauid from his foes. Error hath maskt your much too forward minds, And you haue sind against the chosen state, Against his life, for whom your liues are blest, And followed an vsurper to the field, In whose iust death your deaths are threatened, But Ioab pitties your disordered soules, And therefore offers pardon, peace, and loue, To all that will be friendly reconcil'de To Israels weale, to Dauid, and to heauen. Amasa, thou art leader of the host, That vnder Absalon haue raisde their armes▪ Then be a captaine wise and polliticke, Carefull and louing for thy souldiers liues, And lead them to this honourable league. I will, at least Ile doe my best, And for the gracious offer thou hast made, I giue thee thankes as much as for my head. Then you deceiu'd poore soules of Israel, Since now ye see the errors you incurd, With thankes and due submission be appeasde, And as ye see your captaines president Here cast me then our swords at Ioabs feet, Submitting with all zeale and residence Our goods and bodies to his gracious hands. Stand vp and take ye all your swords againe, Dauid and Ioab shall be blest herein. Now let me goe enforme my lord the King, How God hath freed him from his enemies. Another time Ahimaas, not now, But Cusay goe thy selfe, and tell the King The happie message of our good successe. I will my lord, and thanke thee for thy grace. What if thy seruant should goe to my lord? What newes hast thou to bring since he is gone? Yet doe Ahimaas so much content, That he may run about so sweet a charge. Run if thou wilt, and peace be with thy steps, Now follow, that you may salute the King With humble hearts and reconciled soules. We follow Ioab to our gracious King, And him our swords shall honour to our deaths. What meanes my lord, the lampe of Israel, From whose bright eyes all eyes receiue their light, To dim the glory of his sweet aspects, And paint his countenance with his hearts distresse? Why should his thoughts retaine a sad conceit, When euery pleasure kneeles before his throne, And sues for sweet acceptance with his grace, Take but your Lute, and make the mountaines dance, Retriue the sunnes sphere, and restraine the clouds, Giue eares to trees, make sauage Lyons tame, Impose still silence to the loudest winds, And fill the fairest day with foulest stormes, Then why should passions of much meaner power, Beare head against the heart of Israel.