The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 29 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 · 482 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
Ah, now I see thou hast some spark of grace. Beshrew you for it, you have put it in me: The parlousest old men, that ere I heard. Well, to be flat, i'll not meddle with you: Here I found you, and here i'll leave you: If any ask you why the case so stands? Say that your tongues were better than your hands. Farewell. If ever we together me, It shall go hard, but I will thee regreet. Courage, my Lord, the worst is overpast; Let us give thanks to God, and high us hence. Thou art deceived; for I am past the best, And know not whither for to go from hence: Death had been better welcome unto me, Then longer life to add more misery. It were not good to return from whence we came, Unto your daughter Ragan back again. Now let us go to France, unto Cordella, Your youngest daughter, doubtless she will succour you. Oh, how can I persuade myself of that, Since the other two are quite devoid of love; To whom I was so kind, as that my gifts, Might make them love me, if 'twere nothing else? No worldly gifts, but grace from God on high, Doth nourish virtue and true charity. Remember well what words Cordella spoke, What time you asked her, how she loved your Grace. she said, her love unto you was as much, As aught a child to bear unto her father. But she did find, my love was not to her, As should a father bear unto a child. That makes not her love to be any less, If she do love you as a child should do: You have tried two, try one more for my sake, I'll ne'er entreat you further trial make. Remember well the dream you had of late, And think what comfort it foretells to us. Come, truest friend, that ever man possessed, I know thou counselst all things for the best: If this third daughter play a kinder part, It comes of God, and not of my desert. There is of late news come unto the Court, That old Lord Leir remains in Cambria: I'll high me thither presently, to impart My letters and my message unto him. I never was less welcome to a place In all my life time, than I have been hither, Especially unto the stately Queen, Who would not cast one gracious look on me, But still with lowering and suspicious eyes, Would take exceptions at each word I spoke, And fain she would have undermined me, To know what my embassage did import: But she is like to hop without her hope, And in this matter for to want her will, Though (by report) she'll have't in all things else. Well, I will post away for Cambria: Within these few days I hope to be there,
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)
Ah, now I see thou hast some sparke of grace. Beshrew you for it, you haue put it in me: The parlosest old men, that ere I heard. Well, to be flat, ile not meddle with you: Here I found you, and here ile leaue you: If any aske you why the case so stands? Say that your toung as were better then your hands. Farewell. If euer we together mee, It shall go hard, but I will thee regreet. Courage, my Lord, the worst is ouerpast; Let vs giue thanks to God, and hye vs hence. Thou art deceyued; for I am past the best, And know not whither for to go from hence: Death had bin better welcome vnto me, Then lenger life to adde more misery. It were not good to returne from whence we came, Vnto your daughter Ragan back againe. Now let vs go to France, vnto Cordella, Your youngest daughter, doubtlesse she will succour you. Oh, how can I perswade myselfe of that, Since the other two are quite deuoyd of loue; To whom I was so kind, as that my gifts, Might make them loue me, if 'twere nothing else? No worldly gifts, but grace from God on hye, Doth nourish vertue and true charity. Remember well what words Cordella spake, What time you askt her, how she lou'd your Grace. Se sayd, her loue vnto you was as much, As ought a child to beare vnto her father. But she did find, my loue was not to her, As should a father beare vnto a child. That makes not her loue to be any lesse, If she do loue you as a child should do: You haue tryed two, try one more for my sake, Ile ne're intreat you further tryall make. Remember well the dreame you had of late, And thinke what comfort it foretels to vs. Come, truest friend, that euer man possest, I know thou counsailst all things for the best: If this third daughter play a kinder part, It comes of God, and not of my desert. There is of late newes come vnto the Court, That old Lord Leir remaynes in Cambria: Ile hye me thither presently, to impart My letters and my message vnto him. I neuer was lesse welcome to a place In all my life time, then I haue bin hither, Especially vnto the stately Queene, Who would not cast one gracious looke on me, But still with lowring and suspicious eyes, Would take exceptions at each word I spake, And fayne she would haue vndermined me, To know what my Ambassage did import: But she is like to hop without her hope, And in this matter for to want her will, Though (by report) sheele hau't in all things else. Well, I will poste away for Cambria: Within these few dayes I hope to be there,