Dekker, Thomas · published 1607 · first performed or written 1606 [c.1606-1607] (Annals) history; allegory · Prince Henry's Men T55 Fairies, fairy queens and enchanted desi typicality 0.80 · 484 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T55: fairy, fairies, oberon, mopsus, queen, land, grace, babylon, mab, thestylis.
Truth be my witness (whom we have employed, To purge our Air that has with plagues destroyed Great numbers, shutting them in darksome shades) I seek no fall of hers, my Spirit wades, In Clearer streams; her blood I would not shed, to gain that triple wreath that binds her head, though mine she would let forth, I know not why, Only through rank lust after Sovereignty. Enough it is for me, if with a hand, (Unstained and un-ambitious) fairy Land I Crown with Olive-branches: all those wounds, Whose gory mouths but lately stained our Rounds, Bleed yet in me: for when great a Elfiline (Our grandsire) filled this throne, your bowers did shine With fire-red steel, and not with Fairies eyes, You heard no music then, but shrieks and cries, Then armed Urchins, and stern household Elves, Their fatal pointed swords turned on themselves. But when the royal Elfiline sat crowned, These civil woes in their own depth lay drowned. He to immortal shades being gone, (Fame's minion) great King b Oberon Titaniaes' royal father, lively springs, Whose Court was like a camp of none but Kings. From this great conquering Monarchs glorious stem, Three (in direct line) wore his Diadem: A King first, than a pair of d Queens, of whom, She that was held a downcast, by Fates doom, Sits now above their hopes: her maiden hand, Shall with a silken thread guide Fairy land. And may she guide it, Even till stooping time Cut for her (down) long years that she may climb (With ease) the highest hill old age goes o'er, Or till her Fairy subjects (that adore Her birthday as their being) shall complain, They are weary of a peaceful, golden reign. Which, that they never shall, your stately towers Shall keep their ancient beauty: and your bowers (Which late) like profaned Temples empty stood, The tops defaced by fire, the sloores by blood,) Shall be filled full of Choristers to sing Sweet heavenly songs, like birds before the Spring: The flowers we set, and the fruits by us sown, Shall cheer as well the stranger as our own. We may to strange shores once ourselves be driven, For who can tell under what point of heaven His grave shall open? neither shall our oaks, Trophies of reverend Age, fall by our strokes, Nor shall the brier, or hawthorn (growing under) Fear them, but fly to them, to get from thunder, And to be safe from foreign wildfire balls, we'll build about our waters wooden walls. On which we'll spend for you our latest lives. Fairy's I thank you all, Stay who comes here? Parthenophil, a Fairy Peer. Parthenophil. Bright Empress, Queen of maids To us your Lords, amidst your Fairy shades: Three Princes (so themselves they style) are come, From whence, they'll us not learn, and do entreat Fair, and a free access. What is their business?
seed 43: T50 · seed 44: T47 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Truth be my witnes (whome we haue imployde, To purge our Aire that has with plagues destroyed Great numbers, shutting them in darksome shades) I seeke no fall of hirs, my Spirit wades, In Clearer streames; her bloud I would not shed, to gaine that triple wreath that binds her head, Tho mine shee would let forth, I know not why, Only through rancke lust after Souereigntie. Enough it is for me, if with a hand, (Vnstaind and vn-ambitious) fairy Land I Crowne with Oliue-branches: all those wounds, Whose goary mouthes but lately staind our ounds, Bleed yet in me: for when great Elfiline (Our grandsire) fild this throne, your bowers did shine With fire-red steele, and not with Fairies eies, You heard no musicke then, but shriekes and cries, Then armed Vrchins, and stearne houshold Elues, Their fatall pointed swords turnd on themselues. But when the royall Elfiline sat crowned, These ciuill woes in their own depth lay drowned. He to immortall shades beeing gone, (Fames minion) great King Oberon Titaniaes royall father, liuely springs, Whose Court was like a campe of none but Kings. From this great conquering Monarchs glorious stemme, Three (in direct line) wore his Diadem: A King first, then a paire of Queenes, of whom, Shee that was held a downe-cast, by Fates doome, Sits now aboue their hopes: her maiden hand, Shall with a silken thred guide Fairie land. And may shee guide it, Euen till stooping time Cut for her (downe) long yeeres that shee may climbe (With ease) the highest hill old age goes o're, Or till her Fairie subiects (that adore Her birth-day as their beeing) shall complaine, They are weary of a peacefull, golden raigne. Which, that they neuer shall, your stately towers Shall keepe their ancient beauty: and your bowers (Which late) like prophan'd Temples empty stood, The tops defac'd by fire, the sloores by blood,) Shall be fill'd full of Choristers to sing Sweet heauenly songs, like birds before the Spring: The flowers we set, and the fruits by vs sowne, Shall cheere as well the stranger as our owne. We may to strange shores once our selues be driuen, For who can tell vnder what point of heauen His graue shall open? neither shall our oakes, Trophies of reuerend Age, fall by our stroaks, Nor shall the brier, or haw thorne (growing vnder) Feare them, but flie to them, to get from thunder, And to be safe from forraine wild-fire balles, Weele build about our waters wooden walles. On which weele spend for you our latest liues. Fairies I thank you all, Stay who comes here? Parthenophill, a Fairie Peere. Parthenophill. Bright Empresse, Queene of maides To vs your Lords, amidst your Fairie shades: Three Princes (so themselues they style) are come, From whence, they'l vs not learne, and doe intreat Faire, and a free accesse. What is their businesse?