The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 16 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 · 494 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
How may I bless the hour of my nativity, Which bodeth unto me such happy Stars! How may I thank kind fortune, that vouchsafes To all my actions, such desired event! I rule the King of Cambria as I please: The States are all obedient to my will; And look whate'er I say, it shall be so; Not any one, that dareth answer no. My eldest sister lives in royal state, And wanteth nothing fitting her degree Yet hath she such a cooling card withal, As that her honey savoureth much of gall, My father with her is quartermaster still, And many times restrains her of her will: But if he were with me, and served me so, I'd send him packing somewhere else to go, I'd entertain him with such slender cost, That he should quickly wish to change his host. Ah, Gonorill, what dire unhappy chance Hath sequestered thy father from our presence, That no report can yet be heard of him: Some great unkindness hath been offered him, Exceeding far the bounds of patience: Else all the world shall never me persuade, He would forsake us without notice made. Alas, my Lord, whom doth it touch so near, Or who hath interest in this grief, but I, Whom sorrow had brought to her longest home, But that I know his qualities so well? I know, he is but stolen upon my sister At unawares, to see her how she fares, And spend a little time with her, to note How all things go, and how she likes her choice: And when occasion serves, he'll steal from her, And unawares return to us again. Therefore, my Lord, be frolic, and resolve To see my father here again ere long. I hope so too; but yet to be more sure, I'll send a Post immediately to know Whether he be arrived there or no. But I will intercept the Messenger, And temper him before he doth depart, With sweet persuasions, and with sound rewards, That his report shall ratify my speech, And make my Lord cease further to inquire. If he be not gone to my sister's Court, As sure my mind presageth that he is, He happily may, by traveling unknown ways, Fall sick, and as a common passenger, Be dead and buried: would God it were so well; For then there were no more to do, but this, He went away, and none knows where he is, But say he be in Cambria with the King, And there exclaim against me, as he will: I know he is as welcome to my sister, As water is into a broken ship. Well, after him I'll send such thunderclaps Of slander, scandal, and invented tales, That all the blame shall be removed from me, And unperceived rebound upon himself. Thus with one nail another I'll expel, And make the world judge, that I used him well. My honest friend, whither away so fast?
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)
How may I blesse the howre of my natiuity, Which bodeth vnto me such happy Starres! How may I thank kind fortune, that vouchsafes To all my actions, such desir'd euent! I rule the King of Cambria as I please: The States are all obedient to my will; And looke what ere I say, it shall be so; Not any one, that dareth answere no. My eldest sister liues in royall state, And wanteth nothing fitting her degreet Yet hath she such a cooling card withall, As that her hony sauoureth much of gall, My father with her is quarter-master still, And many times restraynes her of her will: But if he were with me, and seru'd me so, Ide send him packing some where else to go, Ide entertayne him wi such slender cost, That he should quickly wish to change his host. Ah, Gonorill, what dire vnhappy chaunce Hath sequestred thy father from our presence, That no report can yet be heard of him: Some great vnkindnesse hath bin offred him, Exceeding far the bounds of patience: Else all the world shall neuer me perswade, He would forsake vs without notice made. Alas, my Lord, whom doth it touch so neere, Or who hath interest in this griefe, but I, Whom sorrow had brought to her longest home, But that I know his qualities so well? I know, he is but stolne vpon my sister At vnawares, to see her how she fares, And spend a little time with her, to note How all things goe, and how she likes her choyce: And when occasion serues, heele steale from her, And vnawares returne to vs agayne. Therefore, my Lord, be frolick, and resolue To see my father here agayne e're long. I hope so too; but yet to be more sure, Ile send a Poste immediately to know Whether he be arriued there or no. But I will intercept the Messenger, And temper him before he doth depart, With sweet perswasions, and with sound rewards, That his report shall ratify my speech, And make my Lord cease further to inquire. If he be not gone to my sisters Court, As sure my mind presageth that he is, He happely may, by trauelling vnknowne wayes, Fall sicke, and as a common passenger, Be dead and buried: would God it were so well; For then there were no more to do, but this, He went away, and none knowes where he is, But say he be in Cambria with the King, And there exclayme against me, as he will: I know he is as welcome to my sister, As water is into a broken ship. Well, after him Ile send such thunderclaps Of slaunder, scandall, and inuentedtales, That all the blame shall be remou'd from me, And vnperceiu'd rebound vpon himselfe. Thus with one nayle another Ile expell, And make the world iudge, that I vsde him well. My honest friend, whither away so fast?