The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 28 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 · 492 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
ay, who have borne you company in life, Most willingly will bear a share in death. It skilleth not for me, my friend, a whit, Nor for a hundred such as thou and I. Mary, but it doth, sir, by your leave; your good days are past: though it be no matter for you, 'tis a matter for me, proper men are not so rife. Oh, but beware, how thou dost lay thy hand Upon the high anointed of the Lords O, be advised ere thou dost begin: Dispatch me straight, but meddle not with him. Friend, thy commission is to deal with me, And I am he that hath deserved all: The plot was laid to take away my life: And here it is, I do entreat thee take it: Yet for my sake, and as thou art a man, Spare this my friend, that hither with me came? I brought him forth, whereas he had not been, But for good will to bear me company. He left his friends, his country and his goods, And came with me in most extremity. Oh, if he should miscarry here and die, Who is the cause of it, but only I? Why that am I, let that ne'er trouble thee. O no, 'tis I. O, had I now to give thee The monarchy of all the spacious world To save his life, I would bestow it on thee: But I have nothing but these tears and prayer, And the submission of a bended knee. O, if all this to mercy move they mind, Spare him, in heaven thou shalt like mercy find. I am as hard to be moved as another, and yet methinks the strength of their persuasions stirs me a little. My friend, if fear of the almighty power Have power to move thee, we have said enough: But if thy mind be movable with gold, We have not presently to give it thee: Yet to thyself thou mayst do greater good, To keep thy hands still undefiled from blood: For do but well consider with thyself, When thou hast finished this outrageous act, What horror still will haunt thee for the deed: Think this again, that they which would incense Thee for to be the Butcher of their father, When it is done, for fear it should be known, Would make a means to rid thee from the world: Oh, then art thou for ever tied in chains Of everlasting torments to endure, Even in the hottest hole of grisly hell, Such pains, as never mortal tongue can tell. O, heavens be thanked, he will spare my friend, Now when thou wilt come make an end of me. Oh, happy sight. He means to save my Lord. The King of heaven continue this good mind. Why stay'st thou to do execution? I am as wilful as you for your life: I will not do it, now you do entreat me.
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, who haue borne you company in life, Most willingly will beare a share in death. It skilleth not for me, my friend, a whit, Nor for a hundred such as thou and I. Mary, but it doth, sir, by your leaue; your good dayes are past: though it bee no matter for you, tis a matter for me, proper men are not so rife. Oh, but beware, how thou dost lay thy hand Vpon the high anoynted of the Lords O, be aduised ere thou dost begin: Dispatch me straight, but meddle not with him. Friend, thy commission is to deale with me, And I am he that hath deserued all: The plot was layd to take away my life: And here it is, I do intreat thee take it: Yet for my sake, and as thou art a man, Spare this my friend, that hither with me came? I brought him forth, whereas he had not bin, But for good will to beare me company. He left his friends, his country and his goods, And came with me in most extremity. Oh, if he should miscarry here and dye, Who is the cause of it, but only I? Why that am I, let that ne're trouble thee. O no, tis I. O, had I now to giue thee The monarchy of all the spacious world To saue his life, I would bestow it on thee: But I haue nothing but these tears and prayer, And the submission of a bended knee. O, if all this to mercy moue they mind, Spare him, in heauen thou shalt like mercy find. I am as hard to be moued as another, and yet me thinks the strength of their perswasions stirres me a little. My friend, if feare of the almighty power Haue power to moue thee, we haue sayd ynough: But if thy mind be moueable with gold, We haue not presently to giue it thee: Yet to thy selfe thou mayst do greater good, To keepe thy hands still vndefilde from blood: For do but well consider with thy selfe, When thou hast finisht this outragious act, What horrour still will haunt thee for the deed: Think this agayne, that they which would incense Thee for to be the Butcher of their father, When it is done, for feare it should be knowne, Would make a meanes to rid thee from the world: Oh, then art thou for euer tyed in chaynes Of euerlasting torments to indure, Euen in the hotest hole of grisly hell, Such paynes, as neuer mortall toung can tell. O, heauens be thanked, he wil spare my friend, Now when thou wilt come make an end of me. Oh, happy sight. He meanes to saue my Lord. The King of heauen continue this good mind. Why stayst thou to do execution? I am as wilfull as you for your life: I will not do it, now you do intreat me.