Shakespeare, William · published 1623 · first performed or written 1610 [c.1610-1611] (Annals) romance · King's Men unassigned nearest T24 Apollo, Phoebus and the Muses · 469 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T24: apollo, phoebus, midas, muses, ears, play, hedone, gods, siren, time.
Your Actions are my Dreams. You had a Bastard by Polixenes, And I but dreamed it: As you were passed all shame, (Those of your Fact are so) so past all truth; Which to deny, concerns more than avails: for as Thy Brat hath been cast out, like to itself, No Father owning it (which is indeed More criminal in thee, than it) so thou Shalt feel out justice; in whose easiest passage, Look for no less than death. Sir, spare your Threats: The Bug which you would fright me with, I seek: To me can Life be no commodity; The crown and comfort of my Life (your favour) I do give lost, for I do feel it gone, But know not how it went. My second joy, And first Fruits of my body, from his presence I am barred, like one infectious. My third comfort (Stared most unluckily) is from my breast (The innocent milk in it most innocent mouth) Haled out to murder. Myself on every Post Proclaimed a Strumpet: With immodest hatred The Childbed privilege denied, which longs To Women of all fashion. Lastly, horrid Here, to this place, i' th' open air, before I have got strength of limit. Now (my Liege) Tell me what blessings I have here alive, That I should fear to die? Therefore proceed: But yet hear this: mistake me not: no Life, (I prise it not a straw) but for mine Honour, Which I would free: if I shall be condemned Upon surmizes (all proofs sleeping else, But what your jealousies awake) I tell you 'Tis Rigour, and not Law Your Honours all, I do refer me to the Oracle: Apollo be my judge. This your request Is altogether just: therefore bring forth (And in Apollo's Name) his Oracle. The Emperor of Russia was my Father. Oh that he were alive, and here beholding His Daughter's Trial: that he did but see The flatness of my misery; yet with eyes Of Pity, not Revenge. You here shall swear upon this Sword of justice, That you (Cleomines and Dion) have Been both at Delphos, and from thence have brought This seal'd-vp Oracle, by the Hand delivered Of great Apollo's Priest; and that since then, You have not dared to break the holy Seal, Nor read the Secrets in't. All this we swear. Break up the Seals, and read. Hermione is chaste, Polixenes blameless, Camillo a true Subject, Leontes a jealous Tyrant, his innocent Babe truly begotten, and the King shall live without an Heir, if that which is lost, be not found. Now blessed be the great Apollo. Praised. Hast thou read truth? I (my Lord) even so as it is here set down. There is no truth at all i' th' Oracle: The Sessions shall proceed: this is mere falsehood.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T26 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Your Actions are my Dreames. You had a Baſtard by Polixenes, And I but dream'd it: As you were paſt all ſhame, (Thoſe of your Fact are ſo) ſo paſt all truth; Which to deny, concernes more then auailes: for as Thy Brat hath been caſt out, like to it ſelfe, No Father owning it (which is indeed More criminall in thee, then it) ſo thou Shalt feele out Iuſtice; in whoſe eaſieſt paſſage, Looke for no leſſe then death. Sir, ſpare your Threats: The Bugge which you would fright me with, I ſeeke: To me can Life be no commoditie; The crowne and comfort of my Life (your Fauor) I doe giue loſt, for I doe feele it gone, But know not how it went. My ſecond Ioy, And firſt Fruits of my body, from his preſence I am bar'd, like one infectious. My third comfort (Star'd moſt vnluckily) is from my breaſt (The innocent milke in it moſt innocent mouth) Hal'd out to murther. My ſelfe on euery Poſt Proclaym'd a Strumpet: With immodeſt hatred The Child-bed priuiledge deny'd, which longs To Women of all faſhion. Laſtly, horried Here, to this place, i' th' open ayre, before I haue got ſtrength of limit. Now (my Liege) Tell me what bleſſings I haue here aliue, That I ſhould feare to die? Therefore proceed: But yet heare this: miſtake me not: no Life, (I prize it not a ſtraw) but for mine Honor, Which I would free: if I ſhall be condemn'd Vpon ſurmizes (all proofes ſleeping elſe, But what your Iealouſies awake) I tell you 'Tis Rigor, and not Law Your Honors all, I doe referre me to the Oracle: Apollo be my Iudge. This your requeſt Is altogether iuſt: therefore bring forth (And in Apollo's Name) his Oracle. The Emperor of Ruſſia was my Father. Oh that he were aliue, and here beholding His Daughters Tryall: that he did but ſee The flatneſſe of my miſerie; yet with eyes Of Pitty, not Reuenge. You here ſhal ſweare vpon this Sword of Iuſtice, That you (Cleomines and Dion) haue Been both at Delphos, and from thence haue brought This ſeal'd-vp Oracle, by the Hand deliuer'd Of great Apollo's Prieſt; and that ſince then, You haue not dar'd to breake the holy Seale, Nor read the Secrets in't. All this we ſweare. Breake vp the Seales, and read. Hermione is chaſt, Polixenes blameleſſe, Camillo a true Subiect, Leontes a iealous Tyrant, his innocent Babe truly begotten, and the King ſhall liue without an Heire, if that which is loſt, be not found. Now bleſſed be the great Apollo. Prayſed. Haſt thou read truth? I (my Lord) euen ſo as it is here ſet downe. There is no truth at all i' th' Oracle: The Seſſions ſhall proceed: this is meere falſehood.