The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 27 of 43
Anonymous · published 1605 · first performed or written 1590 [c.1588-1594] (Annals) history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) unassigned nearest T1 Death, grief and revenge · 485 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
That to be true, in sight of heaven I swear. Swear not by heaven, for fear of punishment: The heavens are guiltless of such heinous acts. I swear by earth, the mother of us all. Swear not by earth; for she abhors to bear Such bastards, as are murderers of her sons. Why then, by hell, and all the devils I swear. Swear not by hell; for that stands gaping wide, To swallow thee, and if thou do this deed. I would that word were in his belly again, It hath frighted me even to the very heart: This old man is some strong Magician: His words have turned my mind from this exploit. Then neither heaven, earth, nor hell be witness; But let this paper witness for them all. Shall I relent, or shall I prosecute? Shall I resolve, or were I best recant? I will not crack my credit with two Queens, To whom I have already passed my word. Oh, but my conscience for this act doth tell, I get heavens hate, earth's scorn, and pains of hell. Oh just Iehoua, whose almighty power Doth govern all things in this spacious world, How canst thou suffer such outrageous acts To be committed without just revenge? O viperous generation and accursed, To seek his blood, whose blood did make them first! Ah, my true friend in all extremity, Let us submit us to the will of God: Things past all sense, let us not seek to know; It is God's will, and therefore must be so. My friend, I am prepared for the stroke: Strike when thou wilt, and I forgive thee here, Even from the very bottom of my heart. But I am not prepared for to strike. Farewell, Perillus, even the truest friend, That ever lived in adversity: The latest kindness i'll request of thee, Is that thou go unto my daughter Cordella, And carry her her father's latest blessing: Withal desire her, that she will forgive me; For I have wronged her without any cause. Now, Lord, receive me, for I come to thee, And die, I hope, in perfect charity. Dispatch, I pray thee, I have lived too long. ay, but you are unwise, to send an errand By him that never meaneth to deliver it: Why, he must go along with you to heaven: It were not good you should go all alone. No doubt, he shall, when by the course of nature, He must surrender up his due to death: But that time shall not come, till God permit. Nay, presently, to bear you company. I have a Passport for him in my pocket, Already sealed, and he must needs ride Post. The letter which I read, imports not so, It only toucheth me, no word of him. ay, but the Queen commands it must be so, And I am paid for him, as well as you.
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)
That to be true, in sight of heauen I sweare. Sweare not by heauen, for feare of punishmēt: The heauens are guiltlesse of such haynous acts. I sweare by earth, the mother of vs all. Sweare not by earth; for she abhors to beare Such bastards, as are murtherers of her sonnes. Why then, by hell, and all the deuils I sweare. Sweare not by hell; for that stands gaping wide, To swallow thee, and if thou do this deed. I would that word were in his belly agayne, It hath frighted me euen to the very heart: This old man is some strong Magician: His words haue turnd my mind from this exployt. Then neyther heauen, earth, nor hell be witnesse; But let this paper witnesse for them all. Shall I relent, or shall I prosecute? Shall I resolue, or were I best recant? I will not crack my credit with two Queenes, To whom I haue already past my word. Oh, but my conscience for this act doth tell, I get heauens hate, earths scorne, and paynes of hell. Oh iust Iehoua, whose almighty power Doth gouerne all things in this spacious world, How canst thou suffer such outragious acts To be committed without iust reuenge? O viperous generation and accurst, To seeke his blood, whose blood did make them first! Ah, my true friend in all extremity, Let vs submit vs to the will of God: Things past all sence, let vs not seeke to know; It is Gods will, and therefore must be so. My friend, I am prepared for the stroke: Strike when thou wilt, and I forgiue thee here, Euen from the very bottome of my heart. But I am not prepared for to strike. Farewell, Perillus, euen the truest friend, That euer liued in aduersity: The latest kindnesse ile request of thee, Is that thou go vnto my daughter Cordella, And carry her her fathers latest blessing: Withall desire her, that she will forgiue me; For I haue wrongd her without any cause. Now, Lord, receyue me, for I come to thee, And dye, I hope, in perfit charity. Dispatch, I pray thee, I haue liued too long. I, but you are vnwise, to send an errand By him that neuer meaneth to deliuer it: Why, he must go along with you to heauen: It were not good you should go all alone. No doubt, he shal, when by the course of nature, He must surrender vp his due to death: But that time shall not come, till God permit. Nay, presently, to beare you company. I haue a Pasport for him in my pocket, Already seald, and he must needs ride Poste. The letter which I read, imports not so, It only toucheth me, no word of him. I, but the Queene commaunds it must be so, And I am payd for him, as well as you.