Anonymous · published 1600 · first performed or written 1600 [1599-1600] (Annals) pastoral; romance · Children of Paul's (second) T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.82 · 491 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
What made him so repugnant in his deeds? Another love, which this disorder breeds: For even at home within his father's Court The Saint was shrined, whom he did honour most: A lovely dame, a virgin pure and chaste, And worthy of a Prince to be embraced. Had but her birth (which was obscure they said) Answered her beauty, this their opinion stayed. Yet did this wilful youth affect her still, And none but she was mistress of his will. Full often did his father him dissuade, From liking such a mean and low borne maid. The more his father strove to change his mind, The more the son became with fancy blind. Alas, how sped the silly Lovers then? As might even grieve the rude uncivil'st men. When hereupon to wean his fixed heart From such dishonour, to his high desert, The Duke had laboured, but in vain did strive, Thus he began his purpose to contrive: Two of his servants of undoubted troth, He bound by virtue of a solemn oath, To train the silly damsel out of sight, And there in secret to bereave her quite Of what, her life? Yes madam of her life, Which was the cause of all the former strife. And did they kill her? You shall hear anon: The question first must be decided on In your opinion, what's your judgement? say, Who were most cruel: those that did obey, Or he that gave commandment for the fact? In each of them it was a bloody act: Yet they deserve (to speak my mind of both) Most pardon, that were bound thereto by oath. It is enough, we do accept your doom, To pass unblamed, whate'er of you become. To pass unblamed, whate'er become of me? What may the meaning of these speeches be? Eurymine, my trembling tongue doth sail, My conscience irks, my fainting senses quail: My faltering speech bewrays my guilty thought, And stammers at the message we have brought. Ay me, what horror doth invade my breast? Nay then Phylander I will tell the rest. damsel thus fares thy case, demand not why, You must forth with prepare yourself to die. Therefore dispatch, and set your mind at rest. Phylander is it true? or doth he jest? There is no remedy but you must die: By you I framed my tragic history. The Duke my master, is the man I meant, His son, the Prince, the maid of mean descent yourself, on whom Ascanio so doth dote, As for no reason may remove his thought: Your death the Duke determines by us two, To end the love betwixt his son and you: And for that cause we trained you to this wood, Where you must sacrifice your dearest blood. Respect my tears. We must regard our oath. My tender years. They are but trifles both. Mine innocency. That would our promise break, Dispatch forthwith, we may not hear you speak.
seed 43: T0 · seed 44: T0 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
What made him ſo repugnant in his deeds? Another loue, which this diſorder breeds: For euen at home within his fathers Court The Saint was ſhrinde, whom he did honor moſt: A louely dame, a virgin pure and chaſte, And worthy of a Prince to be imbrac'te. Had but her birth (which was obſcure they ſaid) Anſwerd her beautie, this their opinion ſtaid. Yet did this wilful youth affect her ſtill, And none but ſhe was miſtres of his will. Full often did his father him diſſwade, From liking ſuch a mean and low borne mayde. The more his father ſtroue to change his minde, The more the ſonne became with fancy blinde. Alas, how ſped the ſilly Louers then? As might euen grieue the rude vnciuel'ſt men. When herevpon to weane his fixed heart From ſuch diſhonour, to his high deſert, The Duke had labourd, but in vaine did ſtriue, Thus he began his purpoſe to contriue: Two of his ſeruants of vndoubted troth, He bound by vertue of a ſolemne oath, To traine the ſilly damzel out of ſight, And there in ſecret to bereaue her quite Of what, her life? Yes Madame of her life, Which was the cauſe of all the former ſtrife. And did they kill her? You ſhall heare anon: The queſtion firſt muſt be diſcided on In your opinion, whats your iudgement? ſay, Who were moſt cruell: thoſe that did obay, Or he that gaue commandment for the fact? In each of them it was a bloody act: Yet they deſerue (to ſpeake my mind of both) Moſt pardon, that were bound thereto by oath. It is enough, we do accept your doome, To paſſe vnblam'd, what ere of you become. To paſſe vnblamde, what ere become of me? What may the meaning of theſe ſpeeches be? Eurymine, my trembling tongue doth ſaile, My conſcience yrkes, my fainting ſences quaile: My faltring ſpeech bewraies my guiltie thought, And ſtammers at the meſſage we haue brought. Ay me, what horror doth inuade my breſt? Nay then Phylander I will tell the reſt. Damzell thus fares thy caſe, demand not why, You muſt forth with prepare your ſelfe to dye. Therefore diſpatch, and ſet your mind at reſt. Phylander is it true? or doth he ieſt? There is no remedie but you muſt dye: By you I framde my tragicke hiſtory. The Duke my maiſter, is the man I meant, His ſonne, the Prince, the mayd of meane diſcent Your ſelfe, on whom Aſcanio ſo doth doate, As for no reaſon may remoue his thought: Your death the Duke determines by vs two, To end the loue betwixt his ſonne and you: And for that cauſe we trainde you to this wood, Where you muſt ſacrifice your deareſt blood. Reſpect my teares. We muſt regard our oath. My tender yeares. They are but trifles both. Mine innocency. That would our promiſe breake, Diſpatch forthwith, we may not heare you ſpeake.