The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 22 of 43
Anonymous · published 1605 · first performed or written 1590 [c.1588-1594] (Annals) history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) unassigned nearest T11 Siblings, kin and confidants · 496 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T11: sister, brother, love, friend, heart, father, mother, woman, lord, hear.
I long to hear it, it might have been dispatched, If you had told me of it yesternight. It is a thing of right strange consequence, And well I cannot utter it in words. It is more strange, that I am not by this Beside myself, with longing for to hear it. Were it to meet the Devil in his den, And try a bout with him for a scratched face, I'd undertake it, if you would but bid me. Ah, good my friend, that I should have thee do, Is such a thing, as I do shame to speak; Yet it must needs be done. I'll speak it for thee, Queen: shall I kill thy father? I know 'tis that, and if it be so, say. ay. Why, that's enough. And yet that is not all. What else? Thou must kill that old man that came with him. Here are two hands, for each of them is one And for each hand here is a recompense Oh, that I had ten hands by miracle, I could tear ten in pieces with my teeth, So in my mouth you'd put a purse of gold. But in what manner must it be effected? Tomorrow morning ere the break of day, I by a wile will send them to the thicket, That is about some two miles from the Court, And promise them to meet them there myself, Because I must have private conference, About some news I have received from Cornwall. This is enough, I know, they will not fail, And then be ready for to play thy part: Which done, thou mayst right easily escape, And no man once mistrust thee for the fact: But yet, before thou prosecute the act, Show him the letter, which my sister sent, There let him read his own indictment first, And then proceed to execution: But see thou faint not; for they will speak fair. Could he speak words as pleasing as the pipe Of Mercury, which charmed the hundred eyes Of watchful Argos, and enforced him sleep: Yet here are words so pleasing to my thoughts, As quite shall take away the sound of his. About it then, and when thou hast dispatched, I'll find a means to send thee after him. I wonder that the Messenger doth stay, Whom we dispatched for Cambria so long since▪ If that his answer do not please us well, And be do show good reason for delay, I'll teach him how to dally with his King, And to detain us in such long suspense. My Lord, I think the reason may be this: My father means to come along with him▪ And therefore 'tis his pleasure he shall stay, For to attend upon him on the way. It may be so, and therefore till I know The truth thereof, I will suspend my judgement. an't like your Grace, there is an Ambassador Arrived from Gallia, and craves admittance to your Majesty.
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)
I long to heare it, it might haue bin dispatcht, If you had told me of it yesternight. It is a thing of right strange consequence, And well I cannot vtter it in words. It is more strange, that I am not by this Beside my selfe, with longing for to heare it. Were it to meet the Deuill in his denne, And try a bout with him for a scratcht face, Ide vndertake it, if you would but bid me. Ah, good my friend, that I should haue thee do, Is such a thing, as I do shame to speake; Yet it must needs be done. Ile speak it for thee, Queene: shall I kill thy father? I know tis that, and if it be so, say. I. Why, thats ynough. And yet that is not all. What else? Thou must kill that old man that came with him. Here are two hands, for eche of them is one And for eche hand here is a recompence Oh, that I had ten hands by myracle, I could teare ten in pieces with my teeth, So in my mouth yould put a purse of gold. But in what maner must it be effected? To morrow morning ere the breake of day, I by a wyle will send them to the thicket, That is about some two myles from the Court, And promise them to meet them there my selfe, Because I must haue priuate conference, About some newes I haue receyu'd from Cornwall. This is ynough, I know, they will not fayle, And then be ready for to play thy part: Which done, thou mayst right easily escape, And no man once mistrust thee for the fact: But yet, before thou prosecute the act, Shew him the letter, which my sister sent, There let him read his owne inditement first, And then proceed to exertion: But see thou faynt not; for they will speake fayre. Could he speak words as pleasing as the pipe Of Mercury, which charm'd the hundred eyes Of watchfull Argos, and inforc'd him sleepe: Yet here are words so pleasing to my thoughts, As quite shall take away the sound of his. About it then, and when thou hast dispatcht, Ile find a meanes to send thee after him. I wonder that the Messenger doth stay, Whom we dispatcht for Cambria so long since▪ If that his answere do not please vs well, And be do shew good reason for delay, Ile teach him how to dally with his King, And to detayne vs in such long suspence. My Lord, I thinke the reason may be this: My father meanes to come along with him▪ And therefore tis his pleasure he shall stay, For to attend vpon him on the way. It may be so, and therfore till I know The truth thereof, I will suspend my iudgement. And't like your Grace, there is an Ambassador Arriued from Gallia, and craues admittance to your Maiesty.