The True Chronicle of King Leir (King Lear and his Three Daughters) · chunk 40 of 43
Anonymous · published 1605 · first performed or written 1590 [c.1588-1594] (Annals) history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) unassigned nearest T50 Fleets, armies and generals: war by sea · 505 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T50: sea, honour, general, soldiers, men, ship, fight, soldier, king, vittori.
And now to you, my worthy Country men, Ye valiant race of Genovestan Gauls, Surnamed Red-thanks, for your chivalry, Because you fight up to the thanks in blood; Show yourselves now to be right Gauls indeed, And be so bitter on your enemies, That they may say, you are as bitter as Gall. Gall them, brave Shot, with your Artillery: Gall them, brave halberds, with your sharp point Bills, Each in their pointed place, not one, but all, Fight for the credit of yourselves and Gaul. Then what should more persuasion need to those, That rather wish to deal, than hear of blows? Let's to our ships, and it that God permit, In four hours sail, I hope we shall be there. And in five hours more, I make no doubt, But we shall bring our wished desires about. My honest friends, it is your turn tonight, To watch in this place, near about the Beacon. And vigilantly have regard, If any fleet of ships pass hitherward: Which it you do, your office is to fire The beacon presently, and raise the town. ay, ay, ay, fear nothing; we know our charge, I warrant: I have been a watchman about this Beacon this xxx. year, and yet I ne'er see it stir, but stood as quietly as might be. Faith neighbour, and you'll follow my 'vice, instead of watching the Beacon, we'll go to goodman Gennings, & watch a pot of Ale and a rasher of Bacon: and if we do not drink ourselves drunk, then so; I warrant, the Beacon will see us when we come out again. ay, but how if somebody excuse us to the Captain? I is no matter, i'll prove by good reason that we watch the Beacon: as for example. I hope you do not call me ass by craft, neighbour. No, no, but for example: Say here stands the pot of ale, that's the Beacon. ay, ay, 'tis a very good Beacon. Well, say here stands your nose, that's the fire. Indeed I must confess, 'tis somewhat red. I see come marching in a dish, half a score pieces of salt Bacon. I understand your meaning, that's as much to say, half a score ships. True, you construe right; presently, like a faithful watch man, I fire the Beacon; and call up the town. ay, that's as much as to say, you set your nose to the pot, and drink up the drink. You are in the right; come, let's go fire the Beacon. Now march our ensigns on the British earth, And we are near approaching to the town: Then look about you, valiant Countrymen, And we shall finish this exploit with ease. Th'inhabitants of this mistrustful place, Are dead asleep, as men that are secure: Here shall we skirmish but with naked men, Devoid of sense, new waked from a dream, That know not what our coming doth pretend, Till they do feel our meaning on their skins: Therefore assail: God and our right for us.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T13 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
And now to you, my worthy Country men, Ye valiant race of Genouestan Gawles, Surnamed Red-thanks, for your chyualry, Because you fight vp to the thanks in bloud; Shew your selues now to be right Gawles indeed, And be so bitter on your enemies, That they may say, you are as bitter as Gall. Gall them, braue Shot, with your Artillery: Gall them, braue Halberts, with your sharp point Billes, Each in their poynted place, not one, but all, Fight for the credit of your selues and Gawle. Then what should more perswasion need to those, That rather with to deale, then heare of blowes? Let's to our ships, and it that God permit, In foure houressayle, I hope we shall be there. And in fiue houres more, I make no doubt, But we shall bring our wish'd desires about. My honest friends, it is your turne to night, To watch in this place, neere about the Beacon. And vigilantly haue regard, If any fleet of ships paste hitherward: Which it you do, your office is to fire The beacon presently, and raise the towne. I, I, I, feare nothing; we know our charge, I warrant: I haue bin a watchman about this Beacon this xxx. yere, and yet I ne're see it stir, but stood as quietly as might be. Fayth neighbour, and you'l follow my vice, instead of watching the Beacon, wee'l go to goodman Gennings, & watch a pot of Ale and a rasher of Bacon: and if we do not drink our selues drunke, then so; I warrant, the Beacon will see vs when we come out agayne. I, but how if some body excuse vs to the Captayne? I is no matter, ile proue by good reason that we watch the Beacon: asse for example. I hope you do not call me asse by craft, neighbour. No, no, but for example: Say here stands the pot of ale, thats the Beacon. I, I, tis a very good Beacon. Well, say here stands your nose, thats the fire. Indeed I must confesse, tis somewhat red. I see come marching in a dish, halfe a score pieces of salt Bacon. I vnderstand your meaning, thats as much to say, half a score ships. True, you conster right; presently, like a faithfull watch man, I fire the Beacon; and call vp the towne. I, thats as much as to say, you set your nose to the pot, and drink vp the drink. You are in the right; come, let's go fire the Beacon. Now march our ensignes on the Brittish earth, And we are neere approching to the towne: Then looke about you, valiant Countrymen, And we shall finish this exployt with ease. Th'ihabitants of this mistrustfull place, Are dead asleep, as men that are secure: Here shall we skirmish but with naked men, Deuoyd of sence, new waked from a dreame, That know not what our comming doth pretend, Till they do feele our meaning on their skinnes: Therefore assaile: God and our right for vs.