Carlell, Lodowick · published 1629 · first performed or written 1629 [c.1622-1629] (Annals) tragicomedy · King's Men · before the Court T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.84 · 524 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
It is a cruel Law that doth condemn the innocent. Why, is he innocent? Let me die for't if I do not prove He did not kill the Duke. And by my Crown, since thou dost interpose thyself Betwixt the sword of justice and the Object, It shall cut through thy life too with Lysander's, If thou dost fail to prove what thou affirmest. I do beseech your Majesty, Let not this frantic man, (for so he seems to be) Out of his love to me, ruin himself: I do confess again it was this unlucky hand, And no other, that killed the Duke. I call the heavens to witness, it was I That was the cause he bled that day, And well he did deserve it, for thinking So unjustly to rob thee of Clarinda, Who only dost deserve her. Carry the fellow hence; Do I sit here to hear a mad man talk? Call me not fellow, I am as good A Gentleman, as was the Duke your cousin, And were he now alive he would acknowledge it. Away with him to Prison, I'll have him Strangely punished for this presumption. Away with him. Sir upon my credit, And men of my Profession should not lie, he's both In Birth and worth equal unto the Duke. Though I do reverence your Profession, Yet I see no cause to believe you, For in this Kingdom there is none so worthy. Sir, yes; every way as worthy, And one your Majesty doth love so well, That if he ask you, I know you will pardon Lord Lysander for his sake. Sure all the world's infected, One that I loved so well and equal to the Duke In Birth; how canst thou prove this? Thus I can prove it, To your great joy and all the Kingdoms. I am amazed; art thou a Conjurer, And from the quiet grave hath raised The beloved person of my Kinsman to delude me? For thou wert he that said thou foundst his body. Ghosts do not use to pay their duty to The living, Sir, feel my hand, I am your Servant. O my dear cousin, can this be true! Sir, I will make all plain: but first I must Relieve the worthiest of men, noble Lysander, Send for Clarinda, and tell her this glad news: madam, let me kiss your fair hands, I ever honoured you, but now I do adore That high raised mind of yours, that fears not To profess your love to virtue, though in distress. Dear cousin, I do long to know by what means you were preserved. This reverend man that did the pious act, Can best resolve it you. 'Twas he that brought first word that he Had found your body, by which we were resolved That you were dead, he told his tale so punctually. When I began to be passed danger of my Wounds, I framed that tale about the thieves, Intending to conceal myself, and so to make Trial of your love to me, and of Clarinda's Love unto Lysander, both which I find Not to be equaled.
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Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
It is a cruell Law that doth condemne the innocent. Why, is he innocent? Let me dye for't if I doe not proue He did not kill the Duke. And by my Crowne, ſince thou doſt interpoſe thy ſelfe Betwixt the ſword of Iuſtice and the Obiect, It ſhall cut through thy life too with Lyſanders, If thou doſt faile to proue what thou affirmeſt. I doe beſeech your Maieſty, Let not this franticke man, (for ſo he ſeemes to be) Out of his loue to me, ruine himſelfe: I doe confeſſe againe it was this vnlucky hand, And no other, that kild the Duke. I call the heauens to witneſſe, it was I That was the cauſe he bled that day, And well he did deſerue it, for thinking So vniuſtly to rob thee of Clarinda, Who only doſt deſerue her. Carry the fellow hence; Doe I ſit here to heare a mad man talke? Call me not fellow, I am as good A Gentleman, as was the Duke your Cozen, And were he now aliue hee would acknowledge it. Away with him to Priſon, Ile haue him Strangely puniſht for this preſumption. Away with him. Sir vpon my credit, And men of my Profeſſion ſhould not lye, he's both In Birth and worth equall vnto the Duke. Though I doe reuerence your Profeſſion, Yet I ſee no cauſe to belieue you, For in this Kingdome there is none ſo worthy. Sir, yes; euery way as worthy, And one your Maieſtie doth loue ſo well, That if he aske you, I know you will pardon Lord Lyſander for his ſake. Sure all the world's infected, One that I loued ſo well and equall to the Duke In Birth; how canſt thou proue this? Thus I can proue it, To your great ioy and all the Kingdomes. I am amaz'd; art thou a Coniurer, And from the quiet graue hath raiſed The beloued perſon of my Kinſman to delude me? For thou wert he that ſaid thou foundſt his body. Ghoſts doe not vſe to pay their duty to The liuing, Sir, feele my hand, I am your Seruant. O my deare Cozen, can this be true! Sir, I will make all plaine: but firſt I muſt Relieue the worthieſt of men, noble Lyſander, Send for Clarinda, and tell her this glad newes: Madame, let me kiſſe your faire hands, I euer honourd you, but now I doe adore That high rais'd mind of yours, that feares not To profeſſe your loue to vertue, though in diſtreſſe. Deare Cozen, I do long to know by what meanes you were preſeru'd. This reuerend man that did the pious act, Can beſt reſolue it you. 'Twas he that brought firſt word that he Had found your body, by which we were reſolued That you were dead, he told his tale ſo punctually. When I began to bee paſt danger of my Wounds, I fram'd that tale about the thieues, Intending to conceale my ſelfe, and ſo to make Triall of your loue to me, and of Clarinda's Loue vnto Lyſander, both which I finde Not to be equal'd.