The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 32 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 · 494 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
In his absence you may trust us with your letters. I must perform my charge in such a manner, As I have strict commandment from the King. There is good packing twixt your King and you: You need not hither come to ask for him, You know where he is better than ourselves. Madam, I hope, not far off. Hath the young murderess, your outrageous Queen, No means to colour her detested deeds, In finishing my guiltless father's days, (Because he gave her nothing to her dower) But by the colour of a feigned embassage, To send him letters hither to our Court? Go carry them to them that sent them hither, And bid them keep their scrolls unto themselves: They cannot blind us with such slight excuse, To smother up so monstrous vild abuse. And were it not, it is 'gainst law of Arms, To offer violence to a Messenger, We would inflict such torments on thyself, As should enforce thee to reveal the truth. Madam, your threats no whit appall my mind, I know my conscience guiltless of this act; My King and Queen, I dare be sworn, are free From any thought of such impiety: And therefore, Madam, you have done them wrong, And ill beseeming with a sister's love, Who in mere duty tender him as much, As ever you respected him for dower. The King your husband will not say as much. I will suspend my judgement for a time, Till more appearance give us further light: Yet to be plain, your coming doth enforce A great suspicion to our doubtful mind, And that you do resemble, to be brief, Him that first robs, and then cries, Stop the thief. Pray God some near you have not done the like. Hence, saucy mate, reply no more to us; For law of Arms shall not protect thy tongue. ne'er was I offered such discourtesy; God and my King, I trust, ere it be long, Will find a mean to remedy this wrong, How shall I live, to suffer this disgrace, At every base and vulgar peasant's hands? It ill befitteth my imperial state, To be thus used, and no man take my part. What should I do? infringe the law of Arms, Were to my everlasting obloquy: But I will take revenge upon his master, Which sent him hither, to delude us thus. Nay, if you put up this, be sure, ere long, Now that my father thus is made away. she'll come & claim a third part of your Crown, As due unto her by inheritance. But I will prove her title to be nought But shame, and the reward of Parricide, And make her an example to the world, For afterages to admire her penance. This will I do, as I am Cambria's King, Or lose my life, to prosecute revenge. Come, first let's learn what news is of our father, And then proceed, as best occasion fits.
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)
In his absence you may trust vs with your letters. I must performe my charge in such a maner, As I haue strict commaundement from the King. There is good packing twixt your King and you: You need not hither come to aske for him, You know where he is better then our selues. Madam, I hope, not far off. Hath the young murdresse, your outragious Queene, No meanes to colour her detested deeds, In finishing my guiltlesse fathers dayes, (Because he gaue her nothing to her dowre) But by the colour of a fayn'd Ambassage, To send him letters hither to our Court? Go carry them to them that sent them hither, And bid them keepe their scroules vnto themselues: They cannot blinde vs with such slight excuse, To smother vp so monstrous vild abuse. And were it not, it is 'gainst law of Armes, To offer violence to a Messenger, We would inflict such torments on thy selfe, As should inforce thee to reueale the truth. Madam, your threats no whit apall my mind, I know my conscience guiltlesse of this act; My King and Queene, I dare be sworne, are free From any thought of such impiety: And therefore, Madam, you haue done them wrong, And ill beseeming with a sisters loue, Who in meere duty tender him as much, As euer you respected him for dowre. The King your husband will not say as much. I will suspend my iudgement for a time, Till more apparance giue vs further light: Yet to be playne, your comming doth inforce A great suspicion to our doubtfull mind, And that you do resemble, to be briefe, Him that first robs, and then cries, Stop the theefe. Pray God some neere you haue not done the like. Hence, saucy mate, reply no more to vs; For law of Armes shall not protect thy toung. Ne're was I offred such discourtesy; God and my King, I trust, ere it be long, Will find a meane to remedy this wrong, How shall I liue, to suffer this disgrace, At euery base and vulgar peasants hands? It ill befitteth my imperiall state, To be thus vsde, and no man take my part. What should I do? infringe the law of Armes, Were to my euerlasting obloquy: But I will take reuenge vpon his master, Which sent him hither, to delude vs thus. Nay, if you put vp this, be sure, ere long, Now that my father thus is made away. Sheele come & clayme a third part of your Crowne, As due vnto her by inheritance. But I will proue her title to be nought But shame, and the reward of Parricide, And make her an example to the world, For after-ages to admire her penance. This will I do, as I am Cambriaes King, Or lose my life, to prosecute reuenge. Come, first let's learne what newes is of our father, And then proceed, as best occasion fits.