Preston, Thomas · published 1570 · first performed or written 1561 [c.1558-1569] (Annals) tragedy T38 Death, parting and grief at court typicality 0.87 · 495 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
A caitiff vile to pity thee, my heart it is not bend: Ne yet to pardon your offence, it is not mine intent. Our mighty prince with humbe suit of your grace this I crave: That this request it may take place, your favour for to have. Let mercy yet abundantly the life of Queen preserve: Sigh she in most obedient wise, your graces will doth serve. As yet your grace but while with her, hath had cohabitation: And sure this is no desert why, to yield her indignation. Therefore (O King) her life prolong, to joy her days in bliss: Your grace shall win immortal fame, in granting unto this. She is a Queen whose goodly hue, excels the royal Rose: For beauty bright dame nature she, a large gift did dipose. For comeliness who may compare? of all she bears the bet: This should give cause to move your grace, to love her very well. Her silver breast in those your arms, to sing the songs of love: Fine qualities most excellent to be in her you prove. A precious pearl of prize to Prince, a jewel passing all: Therefore (O king to beg remorse on both my knees I fall. To grant her grace to have her life, with heart I do desire: You villains twain, with raging force, ye set my heart on fire. If I consent that she shall die, how dare ye crave her life? You two to ask this at my hand, doth much enlarge my strife. Were it not for shame you two should die, that for her life do sue But favour mine from you is gone, my Lords Itel you true. I sent for Cruelty of late, if he would come away: I would commit her to his hands, his cruel part to play. Even now I see where he doth come, it doth my heart delight: Come Murder, come, let us go forth with might. Once again the King's commandment we must fulfil I am contented to do it with a good wil. Murder and Cruelty, for both of you I sent: With all festination, your offices to frequent. Lay hold on the Queen, take her to your power: And make her away with in this hour. Spare for no fear I do you full permit: So I from this place, do mean for to flit. With courageous hearts (O King) we will obey: Then come my Lords let us depart away. With heavy hearts we will do all, your grace doth say, Come Lady and Queen now are you in our haudling: In faith with you we will use no dandling. With all expedition, I Murder will take place: Though thou be a Queen, ye be under my grace. With patience I will you both obey: Not more words but go with us away. Yet before I die some Psalm to God let me sing: We be content to permit you that thing.
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)
A caitiue vile to pitie thée, my hart it is not bent: Ne yet to pardon your offence, it is not mine intent. Our mightie prince wt humbe ſute of your grace this I craue: That this requeſt it may take place, your fauour for to haue. Let mercy yet abundantly the life of Queen preſerue: Sith ſhée in moſte obedient wiſe, your graces wil dooth ſerue. As yet your grace but while with her, hath had cohabitation: And ſure this is no deſert why, to yeeld her indiguation. Therfore (O King) her life prolong, to ioy her dayes in bliſſe: Your grace ſhall win immortall fame, in graunting vnto this. She is a Queene whoſe goodly hue, excelles the royall Roſe: For beautie bright dame nature ſhe, a large gift did dipoſe. For comelynes who may compare? of all ſhe beares the bet: This ſhould giue cauſe to mooue your grace, to looue her very wel. Her ſiluer breſt in thoſe your armes, to ſing the ſongs of looue: Fine quallities moſte excellent to be in her you prooue. A preciouſe pearle of priſe to Prince, a Iewel paſſing all: Therfore (O king to beg remorce on bothe my knées I fall. To graunt her grace to haue her life, with hart I doo deſire: You villaines twain, with raging force, ye ſet my hart on fire. If I conſent that ſhe ſhall dye, how dare ye craue her life? You two to aſke this at my hand, dooth much inlarge my ſtrife. Were it not for ſhame you two ſhould dye, that for her life doo ſue But fauour mine from you is gone, my Lords Itel you true. I ſent for Crueltie of late, if he would come away: I would commit her to his hands, his cruel parte to play. Euen now I ſee where he dooth come, it dooth my hart delight: Come Murder, come, let vs go foorth with might. Once again the Kings commaundement we muſt fulfil I am contented to doo it with a good wil. Murder and Crueltie, for bothe of you I ſent: With all feſtination, your offices to frequent. Lay holde on the Quéen, take her to your power: And make her away with in this houre. Spare for no feare I doo you ful permit: So I from this place, doo meane for to flit. With couragious harts (O King) we will obey: Then come my Lords let vs departe away. With heuy harts we wil doo all, your grace dooth ſay, Come Lady and Quéen now are you in our haudling: In faith with you we wil vſe no dandling. With all expedition, I Murder wil take place: Though thou be a Quéene, ye be vnder my grace. With patience I wil you bothe obey: No more woords but go with vs away. Yet before I dye ſome Pſalme to God let me ſing: We be content to permit you that thing.