The Valiant Welshman (Caradoc the Great) · chunk 8 of 32
A., R. · published 1615 · first performed or written 1612 [1610-1615] (Annals) history · Prince Henry's Men unassigned nearest T18 Rebels, barons and the king's wars at ho · 466 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T18: king, lord, wallace, earl, edward, england, scotland, rebels, bruce, english.
Then know, great King, that now Gederus stands, As in a Labyrinth of hope and fear, Uncertain either of his life and Crown. The Roman▪ Claudius' Cesar, with an host Of matchless numbers, bold and resolute, Are marching towards Britain, armed with rage, For the denying Tribute unto Rome, By force and bloody war to conquer it, And either win Britain with the sword, Or make her stoop under the Roman yoke. Now, mighty King, since Britain, through the world, Is counted famous for a generous I'll, Scorning to yield to foreign servitude, Gederus humbly doth desire your aid, To back him 'gainst the pride of Roman Cesar, And force his Forces from the British shores: Which being done with speed, he vows to tie Himself to Wales, in bonds of amity. Legate, this news hath pleased Octavian well. The Bryttaynes are a Nation free and bold, And scorn the bonds of any foreign foe; A Nation, that by force was ne'er subdued, But by base Treasons politicly forced. Claudius forgets, that when the British Isle Scarce knew the meaning of a stranger's march, Great Iulius Cesar, fortunate in arms, Suffered three baserepulses from the Cliffs Of chalky Dover: And had not Bryttayne to herself proved false, Cesar and all his Army had been toombde In the vast bosom of the angry sea. Son Caradoc, how think you of this worthy enterprise? Yet 'tis unfit, that on this sudden warning, You leave your fair wife, to the Theoric Of matrimonial pleasure and delight. Oh my good Lord, this honourable cause Is able to inflame the coward breast Of base Thersites, to transform a man, That's Planet-struck with Saturn, into Mars; To turn the Caucasus of peasant thoughts, Into the burning Aetna of revenge, And manly Execution of the foe. What man is he, if Reason speak him man, Or honour spurs on, that immortal fame May canonize his Acts to after times, And Kingly Homers in their Swan-like tunes Of sphearelike Music, of sweet Poesy, May tell their memorable acts in verse; But at the name of Romans, is all war, All courage, all compact of manly vigour Totally magnanimous, fit to cope Even with a band of Centaurs, or a host Of Cretan Minotaures? Then let not me be bard: The way to honour's craggy, rough, and hard. Go on, & prosper, brave resolved Prince. Fair Princess, be not you dismayed at this; 'tis honour bids me leave you for a while. 'Twill not long be absent. All the world, Except this honourable accident, Could not entreat, what now I must perform, Being ingadgde by honour. Let it suffice, That joy that lives with thee, without thee dies. Sweet Lord, each hour whilst you return, I'll pray, Honour may crown you with a glorious day.
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)
Then know, great King, that now Gederus stands, As in a Labyrinth of hope and feare, Vncertaine eyther of his life and Crowne. The Romane▪ Claudius Cesar, with an hoste Of matchlesse numbers, bold and resolute, Are marching towards Brittayn, armd with rage, For the denying Tribute vnto Rome, By force and bloudy warre to conquer it, And eyther winne Brittayne with the sword, Or make her stoope vnder the Romane yoke. Now, mighty King, since Brittayne, through the world, Is counted famous for a generous Ile, Scorning to yeeld to forraine seruitude, Gederus humbly doth desire your ayde, To backe him 'gainst the pride of Romane Cesar, And force his Forces from the Brittish shores: Which being done with speede, he vowes to tye Himselfe to Wales, in bonds of amity. Legate, this news hath pleasd Octauian wel. The Bryttaynes are a Nation free and bold, And scorne the bonds of any forrayne foe; A Nation, that by force was ne're subdude, But by base Treasons politikely forst. Claudius forgets, that when the Bryttish Ile Scarce knew the meaning of a strangers march, Great Iulius Cesar, fortunate in armes, Suffred three baserepulses from the Cliffes Of chalky Douer: And had not Bryttayne to her selfe prou'd false, Cesar and all his Army had beene toombde In the vast bosome of the angry sea. Sonne Caradoc, how thinke you of this worthy enterprise? Yet tis vnfit, that on this sudden warning, You leaue your fayre wife, to the Theoricke Of matrimoniall pleasure and delight. Oh my good Lord, this honourable cause Is able to inflame the coward brest Of base Thersites, to transforme a man, Thats Planet-strooke with Saturne, into Mars; To turne the Caucasus of peasant thoughts, Into the burning Aetna of reuenge, And manly Execution of the foe. What man is he, if Reason speake him man, Or honour spurs on, that immortall fame May canonize his Acts to after times, And Kingly Homers in their Swanlike tunes Of sphearelike Musicke, of sweet Poesie, May tell their memorable acts in verse; But at the name of Romanes, is all warre, All courage, all compact of manly vigour Totally magnanimious, fit to cope Euen with a band of Centaures, or a hoast Of Cretan Minotaures? Then let not me be bard: The way to honour's craggy, rough, and hard. Go on, & prosper, braue resolued Prince. Faire Princesse, be not you dismaid at this; Tis honour bids me leaue you for a while. 'Twill not long be absent. All the world, Except this honourable accident, Could not intreat, what now I must performe, Being ingadgde by honour. Let it suffice, That ioy that liues with thee, without thee dies. Sweet Lord, ech howre whilst you return, Ile pray, Honour may crowne you with a glorious day.