The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 37 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 · 501 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
If from the first I should relate the cause, 'T would make a heart of Adamant to weep; And thou, poor soul, kind-hearted as thou art, Dost weep already, ere I do begin. For God's love tell it, and when you have done, I'll tell the reason why I weep so soon. The know this first, I am a Britain borne, and had three daughters by one loving wife: And though I say it, of beauty they were sped; Especially the youngest of the three, For her perfections hardly matched could be: On these I doted with a jealous love, And thought to try which of them loved me best, By asking them, which would do most for me? The first and second flattered me with words, And vowed they loved me better than their lives: The youngest said, she loved me as a child Might do: her answer I esteemed most vild, And presently in an outrageous mood, I turned her from me to go sink or swim: And all I had, even to the very clothes, I gave in dowry with the other two: And she that best deserved the greatest share, I gave her nothing, but disgrace and care. Now mark the sequel: When I had done thus, I sojourned in my eldest daughter's house, Where for a time I was entreated well, And lived in state sufficing my content: But every day her kindness did grow cold, Which I with patience put up well enough, And seemed not to see the things I saw: But at the last she grew so far incensed With moody fury, and with causeless hate, That in most vild and contumelious terms, She bade me pack, and harbour somewhere else. Then was I fain for refuge to repair Unto my other daughter for relief, Who gave me pleasing and most courteous words; But in her actions showed herself so sore, As never any daughter did before: She prayed me in a morning out betime, To go to a thicket two miles from the Court, Pointing that there she would come talk with me: There she had set a shag-haired murdering wretch, To massacre my honest friend and me. Then judge yourself, although my tale be brief, If ever man had greater cause of grief. Nor never like impiety was done, Since the creation of the world begun. And now I am constrained to seek relief Of her, to whom I have been so unkind; Whose censure, if it do award me death, I must confess she pays me but my due: But if she show a loving daughter's part, It comes of God and her, not my desert. No doubt she will, I dare be sworn she will. How know you that, not knowing what she is? myself a father have a great way hence, Used me as ill as ever you did her; Yet, that his reverend age I once might see, I'd creep along, to meet him on my knee.
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)
If from the first I should relate the cause, 'T would make a heart of Adamant to weepe; And thou, poore soule, kind-hearted as thou art, Dost weepe already, ere I do begin. For Gods loue tell it, and when you haue done, Ile tell the reason why I weepe so soone. The know this first, I am a Brittayne borne, and had three daughters by one louing wife: And though I say it, of beauty they were sped; Especially the youngest of the three, For her perfections hardly matcht could be: On these I doted with a ielous loue, And thought to try which of them lou'd me best, By asking them, which would do most for me? The first and second flattred me with words, And vowd they lou'd me better then their liues: The youngest sayd, she loued me as a child Might dō: her answere I esteem'd most vild, And presently in an outragious mood, I turnd her from me to go sinke or swym: And all I had, euen to the very clothes, I gaue in dowry with the other two: And she that best deseru'd the greatest share, I gaue her nothing, but disgrace and care. Now mark the sequell: When I had done thus, I soiourned in my eldest daughters house, Where for a time I was intreated well, And liu'd in state sufficing my content: But euery day her kindnesse did grow cold, Which I with patience put vp well ynough, And seemed not to see the things I saw: But at the last she grew so far incenst With moody fury, and with causlesse hate, That in most vild and contumelious termes, She bade me pack, and harbour some where else. Then was I fayne for refuge to repayre Vnto my other daughter for reliefe, Who gaue me pleasing and most courteous words; But in her actions shewed her selfe so sore, As neuer any daughter did before: She prayd me in a morning out betime, To go to a thicket two miles from the Court, Poynting that there she would come talke with me: There she had set a shaghayrd murdring wretch, To massacre my honest friend and me. Then iudge your selfe, although my tale be briefe, If euer man had greater cause of griefe. Nor neuer like impiety was done, Since the creation of the world begun. And now I am constraind to seeke reliefe Of her, to whom I haue bin so vnkind; Whose censure, if it do award me death, I must confesse she payes me but my due: But if the shew a louing daughters part, It comes of God and her, not my desert. No doubt she will, I dare be sworne she will. How know you that, not knowing what she is? My selfe a father haue a great way hence, Vsde me as ill as euer you did her; Yet, that his reuerend age I once might see, Ide creepe along, to meet him on my knee.