Norton, Thomas / Sackville, Thomas · published 1570 · first performed or written 1562 [Jan 18] (Annals) tragedy · before the Court unassigned nearest T18 Rebels, barons and the king's wars at ho · 475 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T18: king, lord, wallace, earl, edward, england, scotland, rebels, bruce, english.
Shall subjects dare with force To work revenge upon their prince's fact? Admit the worst that may, as sure in this The deed was fowl, the queen to slay her son, Shall yet the subject seek to take the sword, Arise against his lord, and slay his king? O wretched state, where those rebellious hearts Are not rend out even from their living breasts, And with the body thrown unto the fowls As carrion food, for terror of the rest. There can no punishment be thought to great For this so grievous cryine: let speed therefore Be used therein for it behoveth so. You all my lords, I see, consent in one And I as one consent with ye in all. I hold it more than need with sharpest law To punish this tinnultuous bloody rage. For nothing more may shake the common state, Than sufferance of uproars without redress, Whereby how some kingdoms of mighty power After great conquests made, and flourishing In fame and wealth, have been to ruin brought, I pray to Ioue that we may rather wail Such hap in them than witness in ourselves. Eke fully with the duke my mind agrees, Though kings forget to govern as they aught, Yet subjects must obey as they are bound. But now my lords, before ye farther wade, Or spend your speech, what sharp revenge shall fall By justice plague on these rebellious wights, Me thinks ye rather should first search the way, By which in time the rage of this uproar Might be repressed, and these great tumults ceased. Even yet the life of Britain land doth hung In traitors balance of unegal weight. Think not my lords the death of Gorboduc, Nor yet Videna's blood will cease their rage: Even our own lives, our wives and children dear, Our country dearest of all, in danger stands, Now to be spoiled, now, now made desolate, And by ourselves a conquest to ensue. For give once sway unto the people's lusts, To rush forth, on, and stay them not in time, And as the stream that rolleth down the hill, So will they headlong run with raging thoughts From blood to blood, from mischief unto woe, To ruin of the realm, themselves and all, So giddy are the common people's minds, So glad of change, more wavering than the sea. You see (my lords) what strength these rebels have, What hugy number is assembled still, For though the traitorous fact, for which they rose Be wrought and done, yet lodge they still in field So that how far their furies yet will stretch Breat cause we have to dread. That we may seek By present battle to repress their power, Speed must we use to levy force therefore. For either they forthwith will mischief work, Or their rebellious roars forthwith will cease.
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)
Shall subiectes dare with force To worke reuenge vpon their princes fact? Admit the worst that may, as sure in this The deede was fowle, the queene to slay her sonne, Shall yet the subiect seeke to take the sworde, Arise agaynst his lord, and slay his king? O wretched state, where those rebellious hartes Are not rent out euen from their liuing breastes, And with the body throwen vnto the foules As carrion foode, for terrour of the rest. There can no punishment be thought to great For this so greuous cryine: let spede therfore Be vsed therin for it behoueth so. Ye all my lordes, I see, consent in one And I as one consent with ye in all. I holde it more than neede with sharpest law To punish this tinnultuous bloudy rage. For nothing more may shake the common state, Than sufferance of vproares without redresse, Wherby how some kingdomes of mightie power After great conquestes made, and florishing In fame and wealth, haue ben to ruine brought, I pray to Ioue that we may rather wayle Such happe in them than witnesse in our selues. Eke fully with the duke my minde agrees, Though kinges forget to gouerne as they ought, Yet subiectes must obey as they are bounde. But now my lordes, before ye farder wade, Or spend your speach, what sharpe reuenge shall fall By iustice plague on these rebellious wightes, Me thinkes ye rather should first search the way, By which in time the rage of this vproare Mought be repressed, and these great tumults ceased. Euen yet the life of Brittayne land doth hang In traitours balaunce of vnegall weight. Thinke not my lordes the death of Gorboduc, Nor yet Videnaes bloud will cease their rage: Euen our owne lyues, our wiues and children deare, Our countrey dearest of all, in daunger standes, Now to be spoiled, now, now made desolate, And by our selues a conquest to ensue. For geue once swey vnto the peoples lustes, To rush forth, on, and stay them not in time, And as the streame that rowleth downe the hyll, So will they headlong ronne with raging thoughtes From bloud to bloud, from mischiefe vnto oe, To ruine of the realme, them selues and all, So giddy are the common peoples mindes, So glad of chaunge, more wauering than the sea. Ye see (my lordes) what strength these rebelles haue, What hugie nombre is assembled still, For though the traiterous fact, for which they rose Be wrought and done, yet lodge they still in field So that how farre their furies yet will stretch Breat cause we haue to dreade. That we may seeke By present battaile to represse their power, Speede must we vse to leuie force therfore. For either they forthwith will mischiefe worke, Or their rebellious roares forthwith will cease.