The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 9 of 43
Anonymous · published 1605 · first performed or written 1590 [c.1588-1594] (Annals) history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) unassigned nearest T53 The crown: kingship claimed, resigned an · 483 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T53: crown, king, state, life, lord, lords, live, queen, tullia, prince.
In faith, poor soul, I pity her a little. Would she were less fair, or more fortunate. Well, I think long until I see my Morgan, The gallant Prince of Cambria, here arrive. And so do I, until the Cornwall King Present himself, to consummate my joys. Peace, here cometh my father. Cease, good my Lords, and sue not to reverse Our censure, which is now irrevocable. We have dispatched letters of contract Unto the Kings of Cambria and of Cornwall; Our hand and seal will justify no less: Then do not so dishonour me, my Lords, As to make shipwreck of our kingly word. I am as kind as is the Pelican, That kills itself, to save her young ones lives: And yet as jealous as the princely Eagle, That kills her young ones, if they-do but dazzle Upon the radiant splendour of the Sun. Within this two days I expect their coming. But in good time, they are arrived already. This haste of yours, my Lords, doth testify The fervent love you bear unto my daughters: And think yourselves as welcome to King Leir, As ever Priam's children were to him. My gracious Lord, and father too, I hope, Pardon, for that I made no greater haste: But were my horse as swift as was my will, I long ere this had seen your Majesty. No other 'scuse of absence can I frame, Then what my brother hath informed your Grace: For our undeserved welcome, we do vow, Perpetually to rest at your command. But you, sweet Love, illustrious Gonorill, The Regent, and the Sovereign of my soul, Is Cornwall welcome to your Excellency? As welcome, as Leander was to Hero, Or brave Aeneas to the Carthage Queen: So and more welcome is your Grace to me. O, may my fortune prove no worse than his, Since heavens do know, my fancy is as much. Dear Ragan, say, if welcome unto thee, All welcomes else will little comfort me. As gold is welcome to the covetous eye, As sleep is welcome to the traveler, As is fresh water to sea-beaten men, Or moistened showers unto the parched ground, Or any thing more welcomer than this, So and more welcome lovely Morgan is. What resteth then, but that we consummate, The celebration of these nuptial Rites? My Kingdom I do equally divide. Princes, draw lots, and take your chance as falls. These I resign as freely unto you, As erst by true succession they were mine. And here I do freely dispossess myself, And make you two my true adopted heirs: myself will sojourn with my son of Cornwall, And take me to my prayers and my beads. I know, my daughter Ragan will be sorry, Because I do not spend my days with her: Would I were able to be with both at once; They are the kindest girls in Christendome.
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 faith, poore soule, I pitty her a little. Would she were lesse fayre, or more fortunate. Well, I thinke long vntill I see my Morgan, The gallant Prince of Cambria, here arriue. And so do I, vntill the Cornwall King Present himselfe, to consummate my ioyes. Peace, here commeth my father. Cease, good my Lords, and sue not to reuerse Our censure, which is now irreuocable▪ We haue dispatched letters of contract Vnto the Kings of Cambria and of Cornwall; Our hand and seale will iustify no lesse: Then do not so dishonour me, my Lords, As to make shipwrack of our kingly word. I am as kind as is the Pellican, That kils itselfe, to saue her young ones liues: And yet as ielous as the princely Eagle, That kils her young ones, if they-do but dazell Vpon the radiant splendor of the Sunne. Within this two dayes I expect their comming. But in good time, they are arriu'd already. This haste of yours, my Lords, doth testify The feruent loue you beare vnto my daughters: And think your selues as welcome to King Leir, As euer Pryams children were to him. My gracious Lord, and father too, I hope, Pardon, for that I made no greater haste: But were my horse as swift as was my will, I long ere this had seene your Maiesty. No other scuse of absence can I frame, Then what my brother hath inform'd your Grace: For our vndeserued welcome, we do vowe, Perpetually to rest at your commaund. But you, sweet Loue, illustrious Gonorill, The Regent, and the Soueraigne of my soule, Is Cornwall welcome to your Excellency? As welcome, as Leander was to Hero, Or braue Aeneas to the Carthage Queene: So and more welcome is your Grace to me. O, may my fortune proue no worse then his, Since heauens do know, my fancy is as much. Deare Ragan, say, if welcome vnto thee, All welcomes else will little comfort me. As gold is welcome to the couetous eye, As sleepe is welcome to the Traueller, As is fresh water to sea-beaten men, Or moystned showres vnto the parched ground, Or any thing more welcomer then this, So and more welcome louely Morgan is. What resteth then, but that we consummate, The celebration of these nuptiall Rites? My Kingdome I do equally deuide. Princes, draw lots, and take your chaunce as falles. These I resigne as freely vnto you, As earst by true succession they were mine. And here I do freely dispossesse my selfe, And make you two my true adopted heyres: My selfe will soiorne with my sonne of Cornwall, And take me to my prayers and my beades. I know, my daughter Ragan will be sorry, Because I do not spend my dayes with her: Would I were able to be with both at once; They are the kindest Gytles in Christen dome.