The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 8 of 43
Anonymous · published 1605 · first performed or written 1590 [c.1588-1594] (Annals) history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) unassigned nearest T33 Fathers, daughters and marriage negotiat · 483 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T33: daughter, marriage, father, love, davus, matter, son, chremes, wife, mother.
In faith content, and therefore to be brief; For I am sure my haste's as great as yours: I am sent for, to come unto King Leir, Who by these present letters promiseth His eldest daughter, lovely Gonorill, To me in marriage, and for present dowry, The moiety of half his Regiment. The lady's love I long ago possessed: But until now I never had the father's. You tell me wonders, yet I will relate Strange news, and henceforth we must brothers call; Witness these lines: his honourable age, Being weary of the troubles of his Crown, His princely daughter Ragan will bestow On me in marriage, with half his signiories, Whom I would gladly have accepted of, With the third part, her compliments are such. If I have one half, and you have the other, Then between us we must needs have the whole. The hole! how mean you that? 'zblood, I hope, We shall have two holes between us. Why, the whole Kingdom. ay, that's very true. What then is left for his third daughter's dowry, Lovely Cordella, whom the world admires? 'tis very strange, I know not what to think, Unless they mean to make a Nun of her. 'T were pity such rare beauty should be hid Within the compass of a cloisters wall: But howsoe'er, if Leir's words prove true, It will be good, my Lord, for me and you. Then let s haste, all danger to prevent, For fear delays do alter his intent. Sister, when did you see Cordella last, That pretty piece, that thinks none good enough To speak to her, because (sir-reverence) She hath a little beauty extraordinary? Since time my father warned her from his presence, I never saw her, that I can remember. God giver her joy of her surpassing beauty; I think, her dowry will be small enough. I have incensed my father so against her, As he will never be reclaimed again. I was not much behind to do the like. Faith, sister, what moves you to bear her such good will? In truth, I think, the same that moveth you; Because she doth surpass us both in beauty. Beshrew your fingers, how right you can guess: I tell you true, it cuts me to the heart. But we will keep her low enough, I warrant, And clip her wings for mounting up too high. whoever hath her, shall have a rich marriage of her. She were right fit to make a parson's wife: For they, men say, do love fair women well, And many times do marry them with nothing. With nothing! marry God forbid: why, are there any such? I mean, no money. I cry you mercy, I mistook you much: And she is far too stately for the Church; she'll lay her husband's Benefice on her back, Even in one gown, if she may have her will.
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)
In fayth content, and therefore to be briefe; For I am sure my haste's as great as yours: I am sent for, to come vnto King Leir, Wh by these present letters promiseth His eldest daughter, louely Gonorill, To me in mariage, and for present dowry, The moity of halfe his Regiment. The Ladies loue I long ago possest: But vntill now I neuer had the fathers. You tell me wonders, yet I will relate Strange newes, and henceforth we must brothers call; Witnesse these lynes: his honourable age, Being weary of the troubles of his Crowne, His princely daughter Ragan will bestow On me in mariage, with halfe his Seigniories, Whom I would gladly haue accepted of, With the third part, her complements are such. If I haue one halfe, and you haue the other, Then betweene vs we must needs haue the whole. The hole! how meane you that? Zlood, I hope, We shall haue two holes betweene vs. Why, the whole Kingdome. I, that's very true. What then is left for his third daughters dowry, Louely Cordella, whom the world admires? Tis very strange, I know not what to thinke, Vnlesse they meane to make a Nunne of her. 'T were pity such rare beauty should be hid Within the compasse of a Cloysters wall: But howsoe're, if Leirs words proue true, It will be good, my Lord, for me and you. Then let s haste, all danger to preuent, For feare delayes doe alter his intent. Sister, when did you see Cordella last, That prety piece, that thinks none good ynough To speake to her, because (sir-reuerence) She hath a little beauty extraordinary? Since time my father warnd her from his presence, I neuer saw her, that I can remember. God giuer her ioy of her surpassing beauty; I thinke, her dowry will be small ynough. I haue incenst my father so against her, As he will neuer be reclaymd agayne. I was not much behind to do the like. Faith, sister, what moues you to beare her such good will? In truth, I thinke, the same that moueth you; Because she doth surpasse vs both in beauty. Beshrew your fingers, how right you can gesse: I tell you true, it cuts me to the heart. But we will keepe her low enough, I warrant, And clip her wings for mounting vp too hye. Who euer hath her, shall haue a rich mariage of her. She were right fit to make a Parsons wife: For they, men say, do loue faire women well, And many times doe marry them with nothing. With nothing! marry God forbid: why, are there any such? I meane, no money. I cry you mercy, I mistooke you much: And she is far too stately for the Church; Sheele lay her husbands Benefice on her back, Euen in one gowne, if she may haue her will.