Anonymous · published 1606 · first performed or written 1605 [1603-1606] (Annals) history; satire · Queen Anne's Men T53 The crown: kingship claimed, resigned an typicality 0.90 · 516 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T53: crown, king, state, life, lord, lords, live, queen, tullia, prince.
What seek ye Lords? What mean these loud Alarms, in the still silence of this hunnied night? King we seek thee. And more we seek thy Crown. Why Princely brothers is it not our own, That 'tis ours we plead the law of kings, The gift of heaven, and the antiquity on earth, Election from them both. We plead our powers & strength, we two must reign. We were borne to rule, and homage we disdain. Do not resign, good King. How saucy Lord? I'll keep still thy Crown. I say that word shall cost old Cornwall's life. Tush this for care. tyrant's good subjects kills and traitors spare. Wilt thou submit thy Crown? Dread sovereign, no. He hates his own life that adviseth so. I hate all traitors, and had rather die, Then see such wrong done to his sovereignty. Give up thy state to these two princely youths, and thy resignment shall preserve thy life. Wilt thou so much wrong both thyself and wife? Hast lived a king, and canst thou die a slave, A royal seat, doth ask a royal grave, Though thousand swords thy present safety ring, Thou that hast been a Monarch, die a king. Whether he live or die, thou sure shalt be no longer Queen, but vassal unto me, I'll make ye now my drudge. How minion, thine? Thart no more Queen, thy husband must resign. Resign, to whom? I am one. And I another. Canst be so base to see a younger brother, Nay two young Boys placed in thy throne of state, And thou their sudden in their trains to wait, I'll die before I endure it. So shall all, that do not prostrate to our homage fall. Shall they not brother king? They shall by heaven. Come kill me first. Nay make the number even, And kill me to, for I am pleased to die, Rather than this endure. The third am I. Nay strike her first. Rage give my fury way. Strike valiant brother king. Yet he are me, stay. Be brief for God's sake then, O heaven, that men so much should covet care, Sceptres are golden baits, the outsides fair: But he that swallows this sweet sugared pill, 'twill make him sick with troubles that grow still: Alas you seek to ease me being wearied And lay my burden on your able loins, My unambitious thoughts have been long tired, With this great charge, and now they rest desired, And see the kind youths coveting my peace, Bring me of all these turmoils free release. Here take my Crown. Wilt thou be made a stale, Shall this proud Woman, and these boys prevail? Shall I for them be made a public scorn, Oh hadst thou buried been, assoon as borne, How happy had I been. Patience sweet wife, Thinkst thou I praise my Crown above thy life, No take it Lords, it hath my trouble been, And for this Crown, oh give me back my Queen. Nay she's bestowed on me. Then what you please, Here take my trouble, and resign your ease.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T6 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
What seeke ye Lords? What meane these loud Alarums, in the still silence of this hunnied night? King we seeke thee. And more we seeke thy Crowne. Why Princely brothers is it not our owne, That tis ours we plead the law of kings, The guift of heauen, and the antiquety on earth, Election from them both. We plead our powers & strength, we two must raign. We were borne to rule, and homage we disdaine. Doe not resigne, good King. How saucy Lord? Ile keepe still thy Crowne. I say that word shall cost old Cornwels life. Tush this for care. Tyrants good subiects kills and traitors spare. Wilt thou submit thy Crowne? Dread soueraigne, no. He hates his owne life that aduiseth so. I hate all traitors, and had rather die, Then see such wrong done to his soueraignty. Giue vp thy state to these two princely youthes, and thy resigment shal preserue thy life. Wilt thou so much wrong both thy selfe and wife? Hast liued a king, and canst thou die a slaue, A royal seat, doth aske a royall graue, Though thousand swords thy present safety ring, Thou that hast bin a Monarche, dye a king. Whether he liue or dye, thou sure shalt be no longer Queene, but Vassayle vnto me, Ile make ye now my drudge. How mynion, thine? Thart no more Queen, thy husband must resigne. Resigne, to whom? I am one. And I another. Canst be so base to see a younger brother, Nay two young Boyes plast in thy throne of state, And thou their sodaine in their traines to waite, Ile dye before I endure it. So shall all, that doe not prostrate to our homage fall. Shall they not brother king? They shall by heauen. Come kill me first. Nay make the number euen, And kill me to, for I am pleasd to dye, Rather then this indure. The third am I. Nay strike her first. Rage giue my fury way. Strike valiant brother king. Yet he are me, stay. Be briefe for Gods sake then, O heauen, that men so much should couet care, Septers are golden baites, the outsides faire: But he that swallowes this sweete sugred pill, Twill make him sicke with troubles that grow stil: Alasse you seeke to ease me being wearied And lay my burthen on your able loines, My vnambitious thoughts haue bin long tird, With this great charge, and now they rest desird, And see the kinde youths coueting my peace, Bring me of all these turmoiles free release. Heere take my Crown. Wilt thou be made a stale, Shall this proud Woman, and these boyes preuaile? Shal I for them be made a publike scorne, Oh hadst thou buried bin, assoone as borne, How happy had I bin. Patienc sweete wife, Thinkst thou I praise my Crowne aboue thy life, No take it Lords, it hath my trouble bin, And for this Crowne, oh giue me backe my Queene. Nay shes bestowed on me. Then what you please, Heere take my trouble, and resigne your ease.