Norton, Thomas / Sackville, Thomas · published 1570 · first performed or written 1562 [Jan 18] (Annals) tragedy · before the Court unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 500 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
Upon his life, that gaineth by your loss, Who now to shame of you, and grief of us, In your own kingdom triumphs over you. Show now your courage meet for kingly state, That they which have avowed to spend their goods, Their lands, their lives and honours in your cause, May be the bolder to maintain your part, When they do see that coward fear in you, Shall not betray ne fail their faithful hearts. If once the death of Porrex end the strife, And pay the price of his usurped reign, Your mother shall persuade the angry king, The Lords your friends eke shall appease his rage. For they be wise, and well they can foresee, That ere longe time your aged father's death Will bring a time when you shall well requited Their friendly favour, or their hateful spite, Yea, or their slackness to advance your cause. Wise men do not so hung on passing state Of present Princes, chiefly in their age, But they will further cast their reaching eye, To view and weigh the times and reigns to come. Ne is it likely, though the king be wroth, That he yet will, or that the realm will bear, Extreme revenge upon his only son. Or if he would, what one is he that dare Be minister to such an enterprise? And here you be now placed in your own, Amid your Friends, your vassals and your strength. We shall defend and keep your person safe, Till either counsel turn his tender mind, Or age, or sorrow end his weary days. But if the fear of Gods, and secret grudge Of nature's law, repining at the fact, Withhold your courage from so great attempt: Know ye, that lust of kingdoms hath no law. The Gods do bear and well allow in kings, The things they abhor in rascal routs. When kings on slender quarrels run to wars, And then in cruel and unkindly wise, Command thefts, rapes, murders of innocentes, The spoil of towns, ruins of mighty realms: Think you such princes do suppose themselves Subject to laws of kind, and fear of Gods? Murders and violent thefts in private men, Are heinous crimes and full of foul reproach, Yet none offence, but decked with glorious name Of noble conquests, in the hands of kings. But if you like not yet so hot device, Ne list to take such vantage of the time, But though with peril of your own estate, You will not be the first that shall invade: Assemble yet your force for your defence, And for your safety stand upon your guard. O heaven was there ever heard or known, So wicked counsel to a noble prince? Let me (my Lord) disclose unto your grace This heinous tale, what mischief it contains, Your father's death, your brothers and your own, Your present murder and eternal shame. Hear me (O King) and suffer not to sink So high a treason in your princely breast.
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)
Upon his life, that gayneth by your losse, Who nowe to shame of you, and griefe of vs, In your owne kingdome triumphes ouer you. Shew now your courage meete for kingly state, That they which haue auowed to spend theyr goods, Their landes, their liues and honours in your cause▪ May be the bolder to mainteyne your parte, When they do see that cowarde feare in you, Shall not betray ne faile their faithfull hartes. If once the death of Porrex ende the strife, And pay the price of his vsurped reigne, Your mother shall perswade the angry kyng, The Lords your frends eke shall appease his rage. For they be wise, and well they can forsee, That ere longe time your aged fathers death Will bryng a time when you shall well requite Their frendlie fauour, or their hatefull spite, Yea, or their slackenesse to auaunce your cause. " Wise men do not so hang on passing sta " Of present Princes, chiefely in their age, " But they will further cast their reaching eye, " To viewe and weye the times and reignes to come. Ne is it likely, though the kyng be wrothe, That he yet will, or that the realme will beare, Extreme reuenge vpon his onely sonne. Or if he woulde, what one is he that dare Be minister to such an enterprise? And here you be now placed in your owne, Amyd your Frendes, your vassalles and your strength. We shall defende and kepe your person safe, Till either counsell turne his tender minde, Or age, or sorrow end his werie dayes. But if the feare of Goddes, and secrete grudge Of natures law, repining at the fact, Withholde your courage from so great attempt: Know ye, that lust of kingdomes hath no law. The Goddes do beare and well allow in kinges, The thinges they abhorre in rascall routes. " When kinges on slender quarrells runne to warres, " And then in cruell and vnkindely wise, " Commaund theftes, rapes, murders of innocentes, " The spoile of townes, ruines of mighty realmes: " Thinke you such princes do suppose them selues " Subiect to lawes of kinde, and feare of Gods? Murders and violent theftes in priuate men, Are hainous crimes and full of foule reproch, Yet none offence, but deckt with glorious name Of noble conquestes, in the handes of kinges. But if you like not yet so hoe deuise, Ne list to take such vauntage of the time, But though with perill of your owne estate, You will not be the first that shall inuade: Assemble yet your force for your defence, And for your safetie stand vpon your garde. O heauen was there euer heard or knowen, So wicked counsell to a noble prince? Let me (my Lorde) disclose vnto your grace This hainous tale, what mischiefe it containes, Your fathers death, your brothers and your owne, Your present murder and eternall shame. Heare me (O King) and suffer not to sinke So high a treason in your princely brest.