The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 36 of 43
Anonymous · published 1605 · first performed or written 1590 [c.1588-1594] (Annals) history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) T51 Parents and children: blessing, birthrig typicality 0.83 · 489 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
O, let kind pity mollify their hearts, That they may help us in our great extremes. God save you, friends; & if this blessed banquet Affordeth any food or sustenance, Even for his sake that saved us all from death, Vouchsafe to save us from the gripe of famine. Here father, sit and eat, here, sit & drink: And would it were far better for your sakes. I'll give you thanks anon: my friend doth faint, And needeth present comfort. I warrant, he ne'er stays to say grace: O, there's no sauce to a good stomach. The blessed God of heaven hath thought upon us. The thanks be his, and these kind courteous folk, By whose humanity we are preserved. And may that draft be unto him, as was That which old Aeson drank, which did renew His withered age, and made him young again. And may that meat be unto him, as was That which Elias ate, in strength whereof He walked forty days, and never fainted. Shall I conceal me longer from my father? Or shall I manifest myself to him? Forbear a while, until his strength return, Lest being overjoyed with seeing thee, His poor weak senses should forsake their office, And so our cause of joy be turned to sorrow. What cheer, my Lord? how do you feel yourself? methinks, I never ate such savoury meat: It is as pleasant as the blessed Manna, That rained from heaven amongst the Israelites: It hath recalled my spirits home again, And made me fresh, as erst I was before. But how shall we congratulate their kindness? in faith, I know no how sufficiently; But the best mean that I can think on, is this: I'll offer them my doublet in requital; For we have nothing else to spare. Nay, stay, Perillus, for they shall have mine. Pardon, my Lord, I swear they shall have mine. Ah, who would think such kindness should remain Among such strange and unacquainted men: And that such hate should harbour in the breast Of those, which have occasion to be best? Ah, good old father, tell to me thy grief, I'll sorrow with thee, if not add relief. Ah, good young daughter, I may call thee so; For thou art like a daughter I did owe. Do you not owe her still? what, is she dead? No, God forbid: but all my interest's gone, By showing myself too much unnatural: So have I lost the title of a father, and me be called a stranger to her rather. Your title's good still; for 'tis always known, A man may do as him list with his own. But have you but one daughter then in all? Yes, I have more by two, than would I had. O, say not so, but rather see the end: They that are bad, may have the grace to mend: But how have they offended you so much?
seed 43: T48 · seed 44: T49 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
O, let kind pity mollify their hearts, That they may helpe vs in our great extreames. God saue you, friends; & if this blessed banquet Affordeth any food or sustenance, Euen for his sake that saued vs all from death, Vouchsafe to saue vs from the gripe of famine. Here father, sit and eat, here, sit & drink: And would it were far better for your sakes. Ile giue you thanks anon: my friend doth faynt, And needeth present comfort. I warrant, he ne're stayes to say grace: O, theres no sauce to a good stomake. The blessed God of heauen hath thought vpon vs. The thanks be his, and these kind courteous folke, By whose humanity we are preserued. And may that draught be vnto him, as was That which old Eson dranke, which did renue His withered age, and made him young againe. And may that meat be vnto him, as was That which Elias ate, in strength whereof He walked fourty dayes, and neuer faynted. Shall I coneale me longer from my father? Or shall I manifest my selfe to him? Forbeare a while, vntill his strength returne, Lest being ouer-ioyed with seeing thee, His poore weake sences should forsake their office, And so our cause of ioy be turnd to sorrow. What chere, my Lord? how do you feele your selfe? Me thinks, I neuer ate such sauory meat: It is as pleasant as the blessed Manna, That raynd from heauen amongst the Israelites: It hath recall'd my spirits home agayne, And made me fresh, as earst I was before. But how shall we congratulate their kindnesse? Infayth, I know no how sufficiently; But the best meane that I can think on, is this: Ile offer them my dublet in requitall; For we haue nothing else to spare. Nay, stay, Perillus, for they shall haue mine. Pardon, my Lord, I sweare they shall haue mine. Ah, who would think such kindnes should remayne Among such strange and vnacquainted men: And that such hate should harbour in the brest Of those, which haue occasion to be best? Ah, good old father, tell to me thy griefe, Ile sorrow with thee, if not adde reliefe. Ah, good young daughter, I may call thee so; For thou art like a daughter I did owe. Do you not owe her still? what, is she dead? No, God forbid: but all my interest's gone, By shewing my selfe too much vnnaturall: So haue I lost the title of a father, and me be call'd a stranger to her rather. Your title's good still; for tis alwayes knowne, A man may do as him list with his owne. But haue you but one daughter then in all? Yes, I haue more by two, then would I had. O, say not so, but rather see the end: They that are bad, may haue the grace to mend: But how haue they offended you so much?