The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 12 of 43
Anonymous · published 1605 · first performed or written 1590 [c.1588-1594] (Annals) history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) unassigned nearest T14 Royal love, favour and dynastic relation · 517 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T14: prince, princess, love, king, lord, queen, madam, grace, lady, life.
The like to thee did ne'er these eyes behold; Oh live to add new torments to my grief: Why didst thou thus entrap me unawares? Ah Palmer, my estate doth not befit A kingly marriage, as the case now stands. Whilom whenas I lived in honour's height, A Prince perhaps might postulate my love: Now misery, dishonour and disgrace, Hath light on me, and quite reversed the case. Thy King will hold thee wise, if thou surcease The suit, whereas no dowry will ensue. Then be advised, Palmer, what to do: Cease for thy King, seek for thyself to woo. Your birth's too high for any, but a King. My mind is low enough to love a Palmer, Rather than any King upon the earth. O, but you never can endure their life, Which is so straight and full of penury. O yes, I can, and happy if I might: I'll hold thy Palmer's staff within my hand, And think it is the Sceptre of a Queen. Sometime i'll set thy Bonnet on my head, And think I wear a rich imperial Crown. Sometime i'll help thee in thy holy prayers, And think I am with thee in Paradise. Thus i'll mock fortune, as she mocketh me, And never will my lovely choice repent: For having thee, I shall have all content. 'Twere sin to hold her longer in suspense, Since that my soul hath vowed she shall be mine. Ah, dear Cordella, cordial to my heart, I am no Palmer, as I seem to be, But hither come in this unknown disguise, To view th'admired beauty of those eyes. I am the King of Gallia, gentle maid, (Although thus slenderly accompanied) And yet thy vassal by imperious Love, And sworn to serve thee everlastingly. whate'er you be, of high or low descent, All's one to me, I do request but this: That as I am, you will accept of me, And I will have you whatsoe'er you be: Yet well I know, you come of royal race, I see such sparks of honour in your face: Have Palmer's weeds such power to win fair Ladies? Faith, then I hope the next that falls is mine: Upon condition I no worse might speed, I would for ever wear a Palmer's weed. I like an honest and plain dealing wench, That swears (without exceptions) I will have you. These foppets, that know not whether to love a man or no, except they first go ask their mother's leave, by this hand, I hate them ten times worse than poison. What resteth then our happiness to procure? Faith, go to Church, to make the matter sure. It shall be so, because the world shall say, King Leir's three daughters were wedded in one day: The celebration of this happy chance, We will defer, until we come to France. I like the wooing, that's not long a doing. Well, for her sake, I know what I know: I'll never marry whilst I live, Except I have one of these British Ladies, My humour is alienated from the maids of France.
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)
The like to thee did ne're these eyes behold; Oh liue to adde new torments to my griefe: Why didst thou thus intrap me vnawares? Ah Palmer, my estate doth not befit A kingly mariage, as the case now stands. Whilome when as I liu'd in honours height, A Prince perhaps might postulate my loue: Now misery, dishonour and disgrace, Hath light on me, and quite reuerst the case. Thy King will hold thee wise, if thou surcease The sute, whereas no dowry will insue. Then be aduised, Palmer, what to do: Cease for thy King, seeke for thy selfe to woo. Your birth's too high for any, but a King. My mind is low ynough to loue a Palmer, Rather then any King vpon the earth. O, but you neuer can indure their life, Which is so straight and full of penury. O yes, I can, and happy if I might: Ile hold thy Palmers staffe within my hand, And thinke it is the Scepter of a Queene. Sometime ile set thy Bonnet on my head, And thinke I weare a rich imperiall Crowne. Sometime ile helpe thee in thy holy prayers, And thinke I am with thee in Paradise. Thus ile mock fortune, as she mocketh me, And neuer will my louely choyce repent: For hauing thee, I shall haue all content. 'Twere sin to hold her longer in suspence, Since that my soule hath vow'd she shall be mine. Ah, deare Cordella, cordiall to my heart, I am no Palmer, as I seeme to be, But hither come in this vnknowne disguise, To view th'admired beauty of those eyes. I am the King of Gallia, gentle mayd, (Although thus slenderly accompanied) And yet thy vassayle by imperious Loue, And sworne to serue thee euerlastingly. What e're you be, of high or low discent, All's one to me, I do request but this: That as I am, you will accept of me, And I will haue you whatloe're you be: Yet well I know, you come of royall race, I see such sparks of honour in your face: Haue Paliners weeds such power to win fayre Ladies? Fayth, then I hope the next that falles is myne: Vpon condition I no worse might speed, I would for euer weare a Palmers weed. I like an honest and playne dealing wench, That sweares (without exceptions) I will haue you. These foppets, that know not whether to loue a man or no, except they first go aske their mothers leaue, by this hand, I hate them ten tymes worse then poyson. What resteth then our happinesse to procure? Fayth, go to Church, to make the matter sure. It shall be so, because the world shall say, King Leirs three daughters were wedded in one day: The celebration of this happy chaunce, We will deferre, vntill we come to Fraunce. I like the wooing, that's not long a doing. Well, for her sake, I know what I know: Ile neuer marry whilest I liue, Except I haue one of these Brittish Ladyes, My humour is alienated from the mayds of Fraunce.