The Conspiracy of Charles Duke of Byron · chunk 7 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 0.78 · 467 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
O 'tis a dangerous, and a dreadful thing To steal prey from a Lion; or to hide A head distrustful, in his opened jaws; To trust our blood in others veins; and hang Twixt heaven and earth, in vapours of their breaths: To leave a sure pace on continuate earth, And force a gate in jumps, from tower to tower, As they do that aspire, from height to height; The bounds of loyalty are made of glass, Soon broke, but can in no date be repaired; And as the Duke D'Aumall, (now here in Court) Flying his countrey; had his Statue tome piece-meal with horses; all his goods confiscate, His Arms of honour, kicked about the streets, His goodly house at Annet razed to th'earth. And (for a strange reproach of his foul treason) His trees about it, cut off by their wastes; So, when men fly the natural clime of truth, And turn themselves loose, out of all the bounds Of justice, and the straightway to their ends; Forsaking all the sure force in themselves To seek, without them, that which is not theirs, The forms of all their comforts are distracted; The riches of their freedoms forfeited; Their humane noblesse shamed; the Mansions Of their cold spirits, eaten down with Cares; And all their ornaments, of wit, and valour, Learning, and judgement, cut from all their fruits. O, here were now the richest prize in Europe, Were he but taken in affection, Would we might grow together, and be twins Of either's fortune; or that, still embraced I were, but Ring to such a precious stone: Your highness honours, and high bounty shown me, Have won from me, my voluntary power; And I must now move by your eminent will; To what particular objects; if I know By this man's intercession, he shall bring: My uttermost answer, and perform betwixt us, Reciprocal and full intelligence. even for your own deserved royal good, 'tis joyfully accepted, use the loves And worthy admirations of your friends, That beget vows of all things you can wish, And be what I wish: danger says, no more. Your highness makes the light of this Court stoop, With your so near departure, I was forced To tender to your excellence, in brief, This private wish in taking of my leave; That in some army Royal, old Cont Mansfield, Might be commanded by your matchless valour, To the supremest point of victory: Who vows for that renown all prayer, and service: No more lest I may wrong you. Thank your Lordship. All majesty be added to your highness, Of which, I would not wish your breast to bear More modest apprehension: then may tread, The high gate of your spirit; and be known To be a fit Bound for your Boundless valour;
seed 43: T0 · seed 44: T0 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
O 'tis a dangerous, and a dreadfull thing To steale prey from a Lyon; or to hide A head distrustfull, in his opened iawes; To trust our bloud in others veines; and hang Twixt heauen and earth, in vapors of their breaths: To leaue a sure pace on continuate earth, And force a gate in iumps, from towre to towre, As they doe that aspire, from height to height; The bounds of loyaltie are made of glasse, Soone broke, but can in no date be repaird; And as the Duke D'Aumall, (now here in Court) Flying his countrey; had his Statue tome Peece-meale with horses; all his goods confiscate, His Armes of honor, kickt about the streetes, His goodly house at Annet rac'd to th'earth. And (for a strange reproche of his foule treason) His trees about it, cut off by their wastes; So, when men flie the naturall clime of truth, And turne them-selues loose, out of all the bounds Of Iustice, and the straight-way to their ends; Forsaking all the sure force in themselues To seeke, without them, that which is not theirs, The formes of all their comforts are distracted; The riches of their freedomes forfaited; Their humaine noblesse shamd; the Mansions Of their colde spirits, eaten downe with Cares; And all their ornaments, of wit, and valure, Learning, and iudgement, cut from all their fruites. O, here were now the richest prize in Europe, Were he but taken in affection, Would we might growe together, and be twins Of eithers fortune; or that, still embrac't I were, but Ring to such a pretious stone: Your highnesse honors, and high bountie showne me, Haue wonne from me, my voluntary powre; And I must now mooue by your eminent will; To what particular obiects; if I know By this mans intercession, he shall bring: My vttermost answere, and performe betwixt vs, Reciprocall and full intelligence. Euen for your owne deserued roiall good, Tis ioyfully accepted, vse the loues And worthy admirations of your friends, That beget vowes of all things you can wish, And be what I wish: danger saies, no more. Your highnesse makes the light of this Court stoope, With your so neere departure, I was forc't To tender to your excellence, in briefe, This priuate wish in taking of my leaue; That in some army Roiall, old Cont Mansfield, Might be commanded by your matchles valor, To the supreamest point of vctorie: Who vowes for that renowne all praier, and seruice: No more least I may wrong you. Thanke your Lordship. All maiestie be added to your highnesse, Of which, I would not wish your brest to beare More modest apprehension: then may tread, The high gate of your spirit; and be knowne To be a fit Bound for your Boundlesse valor;