Chapman, George · published 1613 · first performed or written 1610 [c.1610-1611] (Annals) tragedy · Children of the Queen's Revels · Whitefriars T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi typicality 0.76 · 522 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
TO what will this declining Kingdom turn, swingeing in every licence, as in this Stupid permission of brave D' Ambois Murder? Murder made parallel with Law? Murder used To serve the Kingdom, given by suit to men For their advancement? suffered scarecrow-like To fright adultery? what will policy At length bring under his capacity? All things: for as when the high births of king's Deliverances, and Coronations, We celebrate with all the City's Bells (jangling together in untuned confusion:) All ordered Clocks are tied up: so when Glory, Flattery, and smooth applauses of things ill, Uphold th'inordinate swinge of downright power, justice, and truth, that tell the bounded use, Virtuous, and well distinguished forms of Time, Are gagged and tongue-tied, but we have observed Rule in more regular motion: things most lawful Were once most royal, Kings sought common good Men's manly liberties, though ne'er so mean, And had their own swinge so: more free, and more, But when pride entered them, and Rule by power, All brows that smiled beneath them, frowned; hearts grieved, By imitation; virtue quite was vanished, And all men studied self-love, fraud, and vice, Then no man could be good but he was punished: Tyrants being still more fearful of the good Then of the bad; their subjects virtues ever Managed with curbs, and dangers, and esteemed As shadows, and detractions to their own. Now all is peace, no danger: now what follows? Idleness rusts us; since no virtuous labour Ends aught rewarded: Ease, Security Now all the Palm wears, we made war before So to prevent war, men with giving gifts More than receiving, made our Country strong; Our matchless race of Soldiers then would spend In public wars, not private brawls, their spirits; In daring Enemies, armed with meanest arms; Not courting strumpets, and consuming birthrights In Apishness, and envy of attire. No labour then was harsh, no way so deep, No rock so steep, but if a Bird could scale it, Up would our youth fly to. A Foe in arms Stirred up a much more lust of his encounter, Then of a Mistress never so bepainted: Ambition then, was only scaling walls; And overtopping turrets: Fame was wealth; Best parts, best deeds, were best Nobility; Honour with worth; and wealth well got or none. Countries we won with as few men as Countries. Virtue subdued all. Just: and then our Nobles Loved virtue so, they praised and used it to; Had rather do, then say; their own deeds hearing By others glorified, then be so barren, That their parts only stood in praising others. Who could not do, yet praised, and envied not; Civil behaviour flourished; Bounty flowed, Avarice to upland Boors, slaves hangmen banished. 'tis now quite otherwise; but to note the cause Of all these foul digressions, and revolts From our first natures, this 'tis in a word: Since good Arts fail, crafts and deceits are used: Men ignorant are idle; idle men Most practise what they most may do with ease, Fashion, and favour; all their studies aiming At getting money, which no wise man ever Fed his desires with.
seed 43: T25 · seed 44: T6 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
TO what will this declining Kingdome turne, Swindging in euery license, as in this Stupide permission of braue D' Ambois Murther? Murther made paralell with Law? Murther vs'd To serue the Kingdome, giuen by sute to men For their aduancement? suffered scarcrow-like To fright adulterie? what will policie At length bring vnder his capacitie? All things: for as when the high births of Kings Deliuerances, and Coronations, We celebrate with all the Cities Bels (Iangling together in vntun'd confusion:) All order'd Clockes are tyed vp: so when Glory, Flatterie, and smooth applauses of things ill, Vphold th'ordinate swindge of downe-right power, Iustice, and truth, that tell th bounded vse, Vertuous, and well distinguisht formes of Time, Are gag'd and tongue-tide, but wee haue obseru'd Rule in more regular motion: things most lawfull Were once most royall, Kings sought common good Mens manly liberties, though ne'er so meane, And had their owne swindge so▪ more free, and more, But when pride enter'd them, and Rule by power, All browes that smil'd beneath them, frown'd; hearts grieu'd, By imitation; vertue quite was vanisht, And all men stud'd selfe-loue, fraud, and vice, Then no man could be good but he was punisht: Tyrants being still more fearefull of the good Then of the bad; their subiects vertues euer Manag'd with curbs, and dangers, and esteem'd As shadowes, and detractions to their owne. Now all is peace, no danger: now what followes? Idlenesse rusts vs; since no vertuous labour Ends ougt rewarded: Ease, Securitie Now all the Palme weares, wee made warre before So to preuent warre, men with giuing gifts More then receiuing, made our Countrey strong; Our matchlesse race of Souldiers then would spend In publike warres, not priuate brawles, their spirits; In daring Enemies, arm'd with meanest armes; Not courting strumpets, and consuming birth-rights In Apishnesse, and enuy of attire. No labour then was harsh, no way so deepe, No rocke so steepe, but if a Bird could scale it, Vp would our youth flie to. A Foe in armes Stirr'd vp a much more lust of his encounter, Then of a Mistresse neuer so be-painted: Ambition then, was onely scaling walles; And ouer-topping turrets: Fame was wealth; Best parts, best deedes, were best Nobilitie; Honour with worth; and wealth well got or none. Countries we wonne with as few men as Countries. Vertue subdu'd all. Iust: and then our Nobles Lou'd vertue so, they prais'd and vs'd it to; Had rather doe, then say; their owne deedes hearing By others glorified, then be so barraine, That their parts onely stood in praising others. Who could not doe, yet prais'd, and enui'd not; Ciuile behauiour flourisht; Bountie flow'd, Auarice to vpland Boores, slaues hang-men banisht. Tis now quite otherwise; but to note the cause Of all these foule digressions, and reuolts From our first natures, this tis in a word: Since good Arts faile, crafts and deceits are vs'd: Men ignorant are idle; idle men Most practise what they most may doe with ease, Fashion, and fauour; all their studies ayming At getting money, which no wise man euer Fed his desires with.