The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 5 of 43
Anonymous · published 1605 · first performed or written 1590 [c.1588-1594] (Annals) history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) T51 Parents and children: blessing, birthrig typicality 0.86 · 463 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
O, that my simple utterance could suffice, To tell the true intention of my heart, Which burns in zeal of duty to your grace, And never can be quenched, but by desire To show the same in outward forwardness. Oh, that there were some other maid that durst But make a challenge of her love with me I'd make her soon confess she never loved Her father half so well as I do you. ay then, my deeds should prove in plainer case. How much my zeal aboundeth to your grace: But for them all, let this one mean suffice, To ratify my love before your eyes: I have right noble Suitors to my love, No worse than Kings, and happily I love one: Yet, would you have me make my choice anew, I'd bridle fancy, and be ruled by you. Did never Philomel sing so sweet a note. Did never flatterer tell so false a tale. Speak now, Cordella, make my joys at full, And drop down Nectar from thy honey lips. I cannot paint my duty forth in words, I hope my deeds shall make report for me: But look what love the child doth owe the father, The same to you I bear, my gracious Lord. Here is an answer answerless indeed: Were you my daughter, I should scarcely brook it. Dost thou not blush, proud Peacock as thou art, To make our father such a slight reply? Why how now, Minion, are you grown so proud; Doth our dear love make you thus peremptory: What, is your love become so small to us, As that you scorn to tell us what it is: Do you love us, as every child doth love Their father? True indeed, as some, Who by disobedience short their father's days, And so would you; some are so father-sick, That they make means to rid them from the world; And so would you: some are indifferent, Whether their aged parents live or die; And so are you. But didst thou know, proud girl, What care I had to foster thee to this, Ah, then thou wouldst say as thy sisters do: Our life is less, than love we owe to you. Dear father, do not so mistake my words, Nor my plain meaning be misconstrued; My tongue was never used to flattery. You were not best say I flatter: if you do, My deeds shall show, I flatter not with you. I love my father better than thou canst. The praise were great, spoke from another's mouth: But it should seem your neighbours dwell far off. Nay, here is one, that will confirm as much As she hath said, both for myself and her. I say, thou dost not wish my father's good. Dear father.—
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)
O, that my simple vtterance could suffice, To tell the true intention of my heart, Which burnes in zeale of duty to your grace, And neuer can be quench'd, but by desire To shew the same in outward for wardnesse. Oh, that there were some other mayd that durst But make a challenge of her loue with me Ide make her soone confesse she neuer loued Her father halfe so well as I doe you. I then, my deeds should proue in playner case. How much my zeale aboundeth to your grace: But for them all, let this one meane suffice, To ratify my loue before your eyes: I haue right noble Suters to my loue, No worse then Kings, and happely I loue one: Yet, would you haue me make my choyce anew, Ide bridle fancy, and be rulde by you. Did neuer Philomel sing so sweet a note. Did neuer flatterer tell so false a tale. Speak now, Cordalla, make my ioyes at full, And drop downe Nectar from thy hony lips. I cannot paynt my duty forth in words, I hope my deeds shall make report for me: But looke what loue the child doth owe the father, The same to you I beare, my gracious Lord. Here is an answere answerlesse indeed: Were you my daughter, I should scarcely brooke it. Dost thou not blush, proud Peacock as thou art, To make our father such a slight reply? Why how now, Minion, are you growne so proud; Doth our deare loue make you thus peremptory: What, is your loue become so small to vs, As that you scorne to tell vs what it is: Do you loue vs, as euery child doth loue Their father? True indeed, as some, Who by disobedience short their fathers dayes, And so would you; some are so father-sick, That they make meanes to rid them from the world; And so would you: some are indifferent, Whether their aged parents liue or dye; And so are you. But didst thou know, proud gyrle, What care I had to foster thee to this, Ah, then thou wouldst say as thy sisters do: Our life is lesse, then loue we owe to you. Deare father, do not so mistake my words, Nor my playne meaning be misconstrued; My toung was neuer vsde to flattery. You were not best say I flatter: if you do, My deeds shall shew, I flatter not with you. I loue my father better then thou canst. The prayse were great, spoke from anothers mouth: But it should seeme your neighbours dwell far off. Nay, here is one, that will confirme as much As she hath sayd, both for my selfe and her. I say, thou dost not wish my fathers good. Deare father.—