The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 13 of 43
Anonymous · published 1605 · first performed or written 1590 [c.1588-1594] (Annals) history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) unassigned nearest T51 Parents and children: blessing, birthrig · 480 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
The King hath dispossessed himself of all, Those to advance, which scarce will give him thanks: His youngest daughter he hath turned away, And no man knows what is become of her. He sojourns now in Cornwall with the eldest, Who flattered him, until she did obtain That at his hands, which now she doth possesses And now she sees he hath no more to give, It grieves her heart to see her father live. Oh, whom should man trust in this wicked age, When children thus against their parents rage? But he, the mirror of mild patience, Puts up all wrongs, and never gives reply: Yet shames she not in most opprobrious sort, To call him fool and dotard to his face, And sets her Parasites of purpose oft, In scoffing wise to offer him disgrace. Oh iron age! O times! O monstrous, wild, When parents are contemned of the child! His pension she hath half restrained from him, And will, ere long, the other half, I fear: For she thinks nothing is bestowed in vain, But that which doth her father's life maintain. Trust not alliance; but trust strangers rather, Since daughters prove disloyal to the father. Well, I will counsel him the best I can: Would I were able to redress his wrong. Yet what I can, unto my utmost power, He shall be sure of to the latest hour. I prithee, Scaliger, tell me what thou thinkst: Could any woman of our dignity Endure such quips and peremptory taunts, As I do daily from my doting father? Doth't not suffice that I him keep of alms, Who is not able for to keep himself? But as if he were our better, he should think To check and snap me up at every word. I cannot make me a new fashioned gown, And set it forth with more than common cost; But his old doting doltish withered wit, Is sure to give a senseless check for it. I cannot make a banquet extraordinary, To grace myself, and spread my name abroad, But he, old fool, is captious by and by, And sayth, the cost would well suffice for twice. Judge then, I pray, what reason be't, that I Should stand alone charged with his vain expense, And that my sister Ragan should go free, To whom he gave as much, as unto me? I prithee, Scaliger, tell me, if thou know, By any means to rid me of this woe. Your many favours still bestowed on me, Bind me in duty to advise your Grace, How you may soonest remedy this ill. The large allowance which he hath from you, Is that which makes him so forget himself: Therefore abridge it half, and you shall see, That having less, he will more thankful be: For why, abundance maketh us forget The fountains whence the benefits do spring.
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 King hath dispossest himselfe of all, Those to aduaunce, which scarce will giue him thanks: His youngest daughter he hath turnd away, And no man knowes what is become of her. He soiournes now in Cornwall with the eldest, Who flattred him, vntill she did obtayne That at his hands, which now she doth possesses And now she sees hee hath no more to giue, It grieues her heart to see her father liue. Oh, whom should man trust in this wicked age, When children thus against their parents rage? But he, the myrrour of mild patience, Puts vp all wrongs, and neuer giues reply: Yet shames she not in most opprobrious sort, To call him foole and doterd to his face, And sets her Parasites of purpose oft, In scoffing wise to offer him disgrace. Oh yron age! O times! O monstrous, vilde, When parents are contemned of the child! His pension she hath halfe restrain'd from him, And will, e're long, the other halfe, I feare: For she thinks nothing is bestowde in vayne, But that which doth her fathers life maintayne. Trust not alliance; but trust strangers rather, Since daughters proue disloyall to the father. Well, I will counsell him the best I can: Would I were able to redresse his wrong. Yet what I can, vnto my vtmost power, He shall be sure of to the latest houre. I prithy, Skalliger, tell me what thou thinkst: Could any woman of our dignity Endure such quips and peremptory taunts, As I do daily from my doting father? Doth't not suffice that I him keepe of almes, Who is not able for to keepe himselfe? But as if he were our better, he should thinke To check and snap me vp at euery word. I cannot make me a new fashioned gowne, And set it forth with more then common cost; But his old doting doltish withered wit, Is sure to giue a sence lesse check for it. I cannot make a banquet extraordinary, To grace my selfe, and spread my name abroad, But he, old foole, is captious by and by, And sayth, the cost would well suffice for twice. Iudge then, I pray, what reason ist, that I Should stand alone charg'd with his vaine expence, And that my sister Ragan should go free, To whom he gaue as much, as vnto me? I prithy, Skalliger, tell me, if thou know, By any meanes to rid me of this woe. Your many fauours still bestowde on me, Binde me in duty to aduise your Grace, How you may soonest remedy this ill. The large allowance which he hath from you, Is that which makes him so forget himselfe: Therefore abbridge it halfe, and you shall see, That hauing lesse, he will more thankfull be: For why, abundance maketh vs forget The fountaynes whence the benefits do spring.