The Tragedy of Charles Duke of Byron · chunk 7 of 37
Chapman, George · published 1608 · first performed or written 1608 [1607-1608] (Annals) tragedy · Children of the Queen's Revels unassigned nearest T13 Knights, squires and ladies · 497 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T13: knight, raph, lady, knights, george, master, squire, rafe, pray, god.
Compared with hers: ashamed of which disgrace, I took my true shape, Bow, and all my shafts, And lighted all my torches at her eyes, Which (set about her, in a golden ring) I followed Birds again, from Tree to Tree, Killed, and presented, and she kindly took. But when she handled my triumphant Bow, And saw the beauty of my golden shafts, She begged them of me; ay, poor boy replied, I had no other Riches; yet was pleased To hazard all, and stake them 'gainst a kiss, At an old game I used, called Penny-prick. She privy to her own skill in the play, Answered my challenge, so, I lost my arms: And now my Shafts are headed with her looks, One of which Shafts she put into my Bow, And shot at this fair Nymph, with whom before I told your Majesty, she had some jar. The Nymph did instantly repent all parts She played in urging that effeminate war, Loved and submitted; which submission This took so well, that now they both are one: And as for your dear love, their discords grew, So for your love, they did their loves renew. And now to prove them capable of your court, In skill of such conceits, and qualities As here are practised; they will first submit Their grace in dancing to your highness doom, And pray the press to give their measures room, If this suffice, for one Court complement, To make them gracious, and entertained; Behold another parcel of their Courtship, Which is a rare dexterity in riddles, Shown in one instance, which is here inscribed. Here is a Riddle, which if any Knight At first fight can resolve; he shall enjoy This jewel here annexed; which though it show To vulgar eyes, no richer than a Pebble; And that no lapidary, nor great man Will give a sou for it; 'tis worth a kingdom: For 'tis an artificial stone composed, By their great Mistress, Virtue: and will make Him that shall wear it, live with any little, sufficed, and more content than any king. If he that undertakes cannot resolve it; And that these nymphs can have no harbour here; (It being considered, that so many virtues Can never live in Court) he shall resolve To leave the Court, and live with them in Arden, Pronounce the riddle: I will undertake it. 'Tis this sir. What's that a fair Lady, most of all likes, Yet ever makes show she least of all seeks? That's ever embraced and affected by her, Yet never is seen to please or come nigh her: Most served in her Nightweeds: does her good in a corner, But a poor man's thing yet doth richly adorn her: Most cheap, and most dear, above all worldly pelf, That is hard to get in, but comes out of itself. Let me peruse it, Cupid. Here it is. Your Riddle is good Fame. Good fame? how make you that good?
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Comparde with hers: ashamd of which disgrace, I tooke my true shape, Bowe, and all my shafts, And lighted all my torches at her eyes, Which (set about her, in a golden ring) I followd Birds againe, from Tree to Tree, Kild, and presented, and she kindely tooke. But when she handled my triumphant Bowe, And saw the beauty of my golden shafts, She begd them of me; I, poore boy replyed, I had no other Riches; yet was pleasde To hazard all, and stake them gainst a kisse, At an old game I vsde, call'd Penny-prick. She piuie to her owne skill in the play, Answerd my challenge, so, I lost my armes: And now my Shafts are headed with her lookes, One of which Shafts she put into my Bowe▪ And shot at this faire Nimph, with whom before I tolde your Maiestie, she had some iarre. The Nimph did instantly repent all parts She playd in vrging that effeminate warre, Lou'd and submitted; which submission This tooke so well, that now they both are one: And as for your deare loue, their discords grew, So for your loue, they did their loues renew. And now to prooue them capable of your court▪ In skill of such conceipts, and quallities As here are practisde; they will first submit Their grace in dancing to your highnesse doome, And pray the prease to giue their meisures roome, If this suffice, for one Court complement, To make them gratious, and entertainde; Behold another parcell of their Court-ship, Which is a rare dexteritie in riddles, Showne in one instance, which is here inscrib'd. Here is a Riddle, which if any Knight At first fight can resolue; he shall enioy This Iewell here annext; which though it show To vulgar eyes, no richer then a Peble; And that no Lapydarie, nor great man Will giue a Soulz for it; 'tis worth a kingdome: For 'tis an artificiall stone composde, By their great Mistresse, Vertue: and will make Him that shall weare it, liue with any little, Suffizde, and more content then any king. If he that vndertakes cannot resolue it; And that these Nimphs can haue no harbor here; (It being considered, that so many vertues Can neuer liue in Court) he shall resolue To leaue the Court, and liue with them in Arden, Pronounce the riddle: I will vndertake it. 'Tis this sir. What's that a faire Lady, most of all likes, Yet euer makes shew she least of all seekes? That's euer embrac'd and affected by her, Yet neuer is seene to please or come nigh her: Most seru'd in her night-weeds: does her good in a corner, But a poore mans thing▪ yet doth richly adorne her: Most cheape, and most deare, aboue all worldly pelfe, That is hard to get in, but comes out of it selfe. Let me peruse it, Cupid. Here it is. Your Riddle is good Fame. Good fame? how make you that good?