The Conspiracy of Charles Duke of Byron · chunk 4 of 33
Chapman, George · published 1608 · first performed or written 1608 [1607-1608] (Annals) history · Children of the Queen's Revels T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.81 · 454 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
But you tempt me, To what, thou Sun be judge, and make him see. Now by my dearest Marquisate of Salusses, Your Majesty hath with the greatest life Described a wicked man; or rather thrust Your arm down through him to his very feet, And plucked his inside out, that ever yet, Mine ears did witness; or turned ears to Eyes; And those strange Characters, writ in his face, which' at first sight, were hard for me to read, The Doctrine of your speech, hath made so plain, That I run through them like my natural language: Nor do I like that man's Aspect, methinks, Of all looks where the Beams of Stars have carved Their powerful influences; And (O rare) What an heroic, more than royal Spirit Bewrayed you in your first speech, that defies Protection of vile drones, that eat the honey Sweat from laborious virtue, and denies To give those of Navarre, though bred with you, The benefits and dignities of France. When little Rivers by their greedy currants, (Far far extended from their mother springs) Drink up the foreign brooks still as they run, And force their greatness, when they come to Sea, And justle with the Ocean for a room, O how he roars, and takes them in his mouth, Digesting them so to his proper streams, That they are no more seen, he nothing raised Above his usual bounds, yet they devoured, That of themselves were pleasant, goodly floods. I would do best for both, yet shall not be secure, Till in some absolute heirs my Crown be settled, There is so little now betwixt Aspirers And their great object in my only self, That all the strength they gather under me, Tempts combat with mine own: I therefore make Means for some issue by my marriage, Which with the great Duke's niece is now concluded, And she is coming; I have trust in heaven I am not yet so old, but I may spring, And then I hope all traitorous hopes will fade. Else may their whole estates fly, rooted up To Ignominy and Oblivion: And (being your neighbour servant, and poor kinsman) I wish your mighty Race might multiply, Even to the Period of all Empery. Thanks to my princely cousin, this your love And honour shown me in your personal presence, I wish to welcome to your full content: The peace I now make with your brother Archduke, By Duke Byron our Lord Ambassador, I wish may happily extend to you, And that at his return we may conclude it. It shall be to my heart the happiest day Of all my life, and that life all employed, To celebrate the honour of that day.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T0 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
But you tempt me, To what, thou Sunne be iudge, and make him see. Now by my dearest Marquisate of Salusses, Your Maiestie hath with the greatest life Describ'd a wicked man; or rather thrust Your arme downe through him to his very feete, And pluckt his inside out, that euer yet, Mine eares did witnesse; or turnd eares to Eies; And those strange Characters, writ in his face, which' at first sight, were hard for me to reade, The Doctrine of your speech, hath made so plaine, That I run through them like my naturall language: Nor do I like that mans Aspect, me thinkes, Of all lookes where the Beames of Starres haue caru'd Their powrefull influences; And (O rare) What an heroicke, more than royall Spirite Bewraide you in your first speech, that defies Protection of vile droanes, that eate the honny Swette from laborious vertue, and denies To giue those of Nauarre, though bred with you, The benefites and dignities of Fraunce. When little Riuers by their greedy currants, (Farre farre extended from their mother springs) Drinke vp the forraine brookes still as they runne, And force their greatnesse, when they come to Sea, And iustle with the Ocean for a roome, O how he roares, and takes them in his mouth, Digesting them so to his proper streames, That they are no more seene, hee nothing raisde Aboue his vsuall bounds, yet they deuour'd, That of themselues were pleasant, goodly flouds. I would doe best for both, yet shall not be secure, Till in some absolute heires my Crowne be setled, There is so little now betwixt Aspirers And their great obiect in my onely selfe, That all the strength they gather vnder me, Tempts combate with mine owne: I therefore make Meanes for some issue by my marriage, Which with the great Dukes neece is now concluded, And she is comming; I haue trust in heauen I am not yet so olde, but I may spring, And then I hope all traitrous hopes will fade. Else may their whole estates flie, rooted vp To Ignominie and Obliuion: And (being your neighbor seruant, and poore kinsman) I wish your mighty Race might multiply, Euen to the Period of all Emperie. Thankes to my princely coozen, this your loue And honour hewne me in your personall presence, I wish to welcome to your full content: The peace I now make with your brother Archduke, By Duke Byron our Lord Ambassadour, I wish may happily extend to you, And that at his returne we may conclude it. It shall be to my heart the happiest day Of all my life, and that life all employd, To celebrate the honour of that day.