The Renegado, or The Gentleman of Venice · chunk 25 of 39
Massinger, Philip · published 1630 · first performed or written 1624 [licensed for stage, Sep 17] [incorrect] (Annals) tragicomedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T1 Death, grief and revenge · 509 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
In the most sordid slavery might equal The rapines I have made, till with one voice My patient sufferings, might exact from my Most cruel creditors, a full remission, An eyes loss with an eye, limbs with a limb, A sad account! yet to find peace within here, Though all such as I have maimed, and dismembered In drunken quarrels, or o'ercome with rage When they were given up to my power, stood here now And cried for restitution; to appease 'em, I would do a bloody justice on myself; Pull out these eyes that guided me to ravish Their sight from others; lop these legs that bore me To barbarous violence, with this land cut off This instrument of wrong, till nought were left me But this poor bleeding limbless trunk, which gladly I would divide among them. Ha! what think I Of petty forfeitures, in this reverend habit, (All that I am turned into eyes) I look on A deed of mine so fiendlike, that repentance, Though with my tears I taught the sea new tides, Can never wash off; all my thefts, my rapes Are venial trespasses compared to what I offered to that shape, and in a place too Where I stood bound to kneel to't. 'tis forgiven, I with his tongue (whom in these sacred vestments With impure hands thou didst offend) pronounce it, I bring peace to thee, see that thou deserve it In thy fair life hereafter. Can it be! Dare I believe this vision, or hope A pardon ere may find me? Purchase it By zealous undertakings, and no more 'twill be remembered. What celestial balm I feel now poured into my wounded conscience? What penance is there I'll not undergo Though ne'er so sharp and rugged, with more pleasure Than flesh and blood ere tasted, show me true sorrow, Armed with an iron whip, and I will meet The stripes she brings along with her, as if They were the gentle touches of a hand, That comes to cure me. Can good deeds redeem me? I will rise up a wonder to the world, When I have given strong proofs how I am altered, I that have sold such as professed the Faith, That I was borne in, to captivity, Will make their number equal, that I shall Deliver from the oar; and win as many By the clearness of my actions, to look on Their misbelief, and loathe it. I will be A convoy for all Merchants: and thought worthy To be reported to the world hereafter, The child of your devotion, nursed up And made strong by your charity, to break through All danger's Hell can bring forth to oppose me; Nor am I though my fortunes were thought desperate, Now you have reconciled me to myself, So void of worldly means, but in despite Of the proud Viceroys, wrongs I can do something To witness of my change; when you please try me, And I will perfect what you shall enjoin me, Or fall a joyful Martyr.
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)
In the most sordid slauery might equall The rapines I haue made, till with one voyce My patient sufferings, might exact from my Most cruell creditors, a full remission, An eies losse with an eie, limbs with a limb, A sad accompt! yet to finde peace within heere, Though all such as I haue maim'd, and dismembred In drunken quarrells, or orecome with rage When they were giu'n vp to my power, stood heere now And cride for restitution; to appease 'em, I vvould doe a bloody iustice on my selfe; Pull out these eies that guided me to rauish Their sight from others; lop these legs that bore me To barbarous violence, with this land cut off This instrument of wrong, till nought were left me But this poore bleeding limblesse truncke, which gladly I vvould diuide among them. Ha! what thinke I Of petty forfeitures, in this reuerend habit, (All that I am turnd into eies) I looke on A deede of mine so fiendlike, that repentance, Though with my teares I taught the sea new tides, Can neuer wash off; all my thefts, my rapes Are veniall trespasses compar'd to what I offer'd to that shape, and in a place too Where I stood bound to kneele to't. Tis forgiuen, I with his tongue (whom in these sacred vestments With impure hands thou didst offend) pronounce it, I bring peace to thee, see that thou deserue it In thy fayre life heereafter. Can it bee! Dare I beleeue this vision, or hope A pardon ere may finde me? Purchase it By zealous vndertakings, and no more T'will be remembred. What celestiall balme I feele now pour'd into my wounded conscience? What penance is there Ile not vndergoe Though nere so sharpe and rugged, with more pleasure Then flesh and blood ere tasted, shew me true sorrow, Arm'd vvith an iron vvhip, and I vvill meete The stripes she brings along vvith her, as if They vvere the gentle touches of a hand, That comes to cure me. Can good deeds redeeme me? I vvill rise vp a vvonder to the vvorld, When I haue giuen strong proofes how I am altred, I that haue sold such as profest the Faith, That I was borne in, to captiuity, Will make their number equall, that I shall Deliuer from the oare; and vvinne as many By the cleerenesse of my actions, to looke on Their misbeleefe, and loth it. I will be A conuoy for all Marchants: and thought vvorthy To be reported to the vvorld heereafter, The child of your deuotion, nurs'd vp And made strong by your charity, to breake through All dangers Hell can bring foorth to oppose me; Nor am I though my fortunes were thought desperate, Now you haue reconcil'd me to my selfe, So voyd of vvorldly meanes, but in despight Of the proud Viceroyes, vvrongs I can doe something To vvitnesse of my change; when you please trye me, And I will perfit vvhat you shall inioyne me, Or fall a ioyfull Martyr.