Markham, Gervase / Sampson, William · published 1622 · first performed or written 1622 [c.1619-1622] (Annals) tragedy · Red Bull (Revels) Company (first) · Red Bull unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 466 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
Gracious Sir, Fear not my care; for nothing you can wish Is able to outstrip my diligence. ay but awake the duty which you owe Unto your King and Country; when that moves, Children are strangers, Fathers are unknown, And where our PRINCE's health is questioned, The lives we either borrow or do lend Must be forgot and made ridiculous: You understand me, go, dispatch, away. With faith great as your longings. So, why so; Thus have I started bravely, and maintained My race with full speed to ambition; Much of my way is smoothed by the deaths Of proud Antigonus and Alexander, But chiefly of Hircanus, till he went My torch could never kindle; could I now But damp the high Priest Aristobulus, (As there's much water towards) and in it Drown his old politic Mother, half my way Lies as my thoughts would wish it; and howe'er By birth I am a Bastard, yet my wit Shall bear me 'bove the trueborn; for 'tis found, Power makes all things lawful, all things sound. Who sits on the Tribunal, sits on thorn, And dangers do surround him; for at it Envy stands ever gazing, and with darts Headed with lightning strikes unto the heart Of every noble action: What can Kings Do, that the rude not censure and pervert To vild interpretations? Nay, although justice and mercy guard them; though men's faults Are grown so odious, that even Cruelty Is a commended goodness, mere Distrust A reasonable virtue; Secrecy, Important and most needful; and Suspect, A worthy truth, which needs no witnesses: Yet, in this case, (where men cannot err twice) What shall we do, that shall scape Infamy? Fine dissimulation! O 'tis a hell to think on, that howe'er Our natures are inclined to pity, yet Our actions must be cruel (or so thought) To guard our lives from danger; wicked men With their sins so transform us. O my Love, This unto thee I speak, whose tender heart I know hath bitter thoughts, when it records Thy Fathers and thy Grandfathers mishaps: 'Tis true, I caused them die; but (gentle Sweet) Necessity, thy safety, mine, nay all the Lands, Were my most just assistants; and the act Was noble, howe'er blamed of Cruelty. My dearest Lord, do not mistake my temper, My Grandfather, and Father, when they fell, however Nature taught mine eyes to weep, Yet in my love to you I buried them; They were rich jewels once, but, set by you, They have nor price, nor lustre; 'tis mine eye That pities them, my heart doth honour you. O you're a goodness past equality, And all the blessed times which are to come Shall with more admiration than belief Receive th'incredible, but undoubted truth, Of your rare mildness, faith and temperance.
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)
Gracious Sir, Feare not my care; for nothing you can wish Is able to outstrip my diligence. I but awake the duty which you owe Vnto your King and Countrey; when that moues, Children are strangers, Fathers are vnknowne, And where our Princes health is questioned, The liues we either borrow or doe lend Must bee forgot and made ridiculous: You vnderstand me, goe, dispatch, away. With faith great as your longings. So, why so; Thus haue I started brauely, and maintain'd My race with full speed to ambition; Much of my way is smoothed by the deaths Of proud Antigonus and Alexander, But chiefly of Hircanus, till hee went My torch could neuer kindle; could I now But dampe the high Priest Aristobulus, (As there's much water towards) and in it Drowne his old politique Mother, halfe my way Lies as my thoughts would wish it; and how ere By birth I am a Bastard, yet my wit Shall beare me 'boue the true-borne; for 'tis found, Power makes all things lawfull, all things sound. Who sits on the Tribunall, sits on thorne, And dangers doe surround him; for at it Enuy stands euer gazing, and with darts Headed with lightning strikes vnto the heart Of euery noble action: What can Kings Doe, that the rude not censure and peruert To vilde interpretations? Nay, although Iustice and mercy guard them; though mens faults Are growne so odious, that euen Cruelty Is a commended goodnesse, meere Distrust A reasonable vertue; Secrecie, Important and most needfull; and Suspect, A worthy truth, which needs no witnesses: Yet, in this case, (where men cannot erre twice) What shall we doe, that shall scape Infamie? Fine dissimulation! O 'tis a hell to thinke on, that how ere Our natures are inclin'd to pitty, yet Our actions must be cruell (or so thought) To guard our liues from danger; wicked men With their sinnes so transforme vs. O my Loue, This vnto thee I speake, whose tender heart I know hath bitter thoughts, when it records Thy Fathers and thy Grand-fathers mishaps: 'Tis true, I caus'd them dye; but (gentle Sweete) Necessity, thy safety, mine, nay all the Lands, Were my most iust assistants; and the act Was noble, how ere blam'd of Cruelty. My dearest Lord, doe not mistake my temper, My Grand-father, and Father, when they fell, How euer Nature taught mine eyes to weepe, Yet in my loue to you I buried them; They were rich Iewels once, but, set by you, They haue nor price, nor lustre; 'tis mine eye That pitties them, my heart doth honour you. O y'are a goodnesse past equality, And all the blessed times which are to come Shall with more admiration then beleefe Receiue th'incredible, but vndoubted truth, Of your rare mildnesse, faith and temperance.