Markham, Gervase / Machin, Lewis · published 1608 · first performed or written 1608 [1607-1608] (Annals) tragicomedy · Children of the King's Revels unassigned nearest T14 Royal love, favour and dynastic relation · 465 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T14: prince, princess, love, king, lord, queen, madam, grace, lady, life.
Enter and pro sper as your cause deserves. Princes, lay your hands on these swords points Here you shall swear by hope, by heaven, by love; And by the right you challenge in true fame, That here you stand not armed with any guile, Malignant hate, or usurpation Of philtre charms, of nightspells characters, Or other black infernal vantages, But even with thoughts as pure As your pure vallures, or the suns pure beams, T'approve the right of pure affection; And howsoe'er your fortunes rise or fall, To break no faith in your conditions, So help you Jove. We swear. How often doth my maiden thoughts correct And chide my froward will, for this extreme Pursuit of blood! Believe me, feign I would Recall mine oaths vow, did not my shame Hold fast my cruelty, by which is taught Those gems are prized best, are dearest bought, Sleep my loves softness then, waken my flame, Which guards a vestal sanctity; Princes behold, Upon those weapons sits my God of love, And in their powers my loves severity. If them you conquer, we are all your slaves, If they triumph, we'll mourn upon your graves. Now by my maiden modesty I wish Good fortune to that Philocles, my mind Presages virtue, in his eagletss eyes. 'Sfoot he looks like a sparrow hawk, or a wanton fire A flash of lightning, or a glimpse of day, His eye steals to my heart, and lets it see More than it would, peace, blab no secrecy, He must have blows. Sound cornets, Princes respect your guards. I crave the Queen's conditions, or this blow Sends this afflicted soul to heaven or hell. Speak madame, will you yield or shall he die? Neither bold Prince, if thou but touch a hair, The King's breath shall redeem it: madame your love Is safe in angels guarding, let no fear Shake hands with doubtfulness, you are as safe As in a tower of Diamonds. O 'tis but glass, And cannot bear this axe's massiness. Duke, thy brave words that second thy brave deeds, Fills me with emulation, only we two Stand equal victors; then if thou hast that tie And bond of well knit valour, which unites Virtue and same together, let us restore Our captives unto freedom, and we two, In single combat try out the mastery. Where whoso falls each other, shall subscribe To every clause in each condition. Thou art the index of mine ample thought, And I am pleased with thine election. Speak madame, if ever I deserved grace, Grace me with your consent. 'tis all my will. Thy noble hand erect and perfect me. What says his majesty? My stars are writ in heaven, nor death nor fate Are slaves to fear, to hope or human state.
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)
Enter and pro sper as your cause deserues. Princes, lay your hands on these swords points Here you shall sweare by hope, by heauen, by loue; And by the right you challenge in true fame, That here you stand not arm'd with any guile, Malignant hate, or vsurpation Of philters charmes, of nightspels characters, Or other blacke infernall vantages, But euen with thoughts as pure As your pure vallures, or the sunnes pure beames, T'approue the right of pure affection; And howsoe're your fortunes rise or fall, To breake no faith in your conditions, So help you Ioue. We sweare. How often doth my maiden thoughts correct And chide my froward will, for this extreame Pursuit of bloud! beleeue me, faine I would Recall mine oathes vow, did not my shame Hold fast my cruelty, by which is taught Those gems are prized best, are deerest bought, Sleep my loues softnes then, waken my flame, Which guards a vestall sanctity; Princes behold, Vpon those weapons sits my God of loue, And in their powers my loues seuerity. If them you conquere, we are all your slaues, If they triumph, weele mourne vpon your graues. Now by my maiden modesty I wish Good fortune to that Philocles, my minde Presages vertue, in his eaglets eies. S'foot he lookes like a sparrow hauke, or a wanton fire A flash of lightning, or a glimpse of day, His eie steales to my heart, and lets it see More then it would, peace, blab no secresie, He must haue blowes. Sound cornets, Princes respect your guards. I craue the Queenes conditions, or this blow Sends this afflicted soule to heauen or hell. Speake madame, will you yeeld or shall he die? Neither bould Prince, if thou but touch a haire, The kings breath shall redeeme it: madame your loue Is safe in angels guarding, let no feare Shake hands with doubtfulnesse, you are as safe As in a tower of Diamonds. O t'is but glasse, And cannot beare this axes massinesse. Duke, thy braue words that second thy braue deedes, Fils me with emulation, onely we two Stand equall victors; then if thou hast that tie And bond of well knit valure, which vnites Vertue and same together, let vs restore Our captiues vnto freedome, and we two, In single combate trie out the mastery. Where whoso falles each other, shall subscribe To euery clause in each condition. Thou art the index of mine ample thought, And I am pleas'd with thine election. Speake madame, if euer I deserued grace, Grace me with your consent. T'is all my will. Thy noble hand erect and perfit me. What saies his maiesty? My starres are writ in heauen, nor death nor fate Are slaues to feare, to hope or human state.