Field, Nathan / Massinger, Philip · published 1632 · first performed or written 1619 [1617-1619] (Annals) tragedy · King's Men · Blackfriars unassigned nearest T1 Death, grief and revenge · 477 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
I am ready. See, equal judges, with what confidence The cruel murderer stands, as if he would Outface the Court and justice But look on him, And you shall find, for still methinks I do, Though guilt hath dide him black, something good in him, That may perhaps work with a wiser man Than I have been, again to set him free And give him all he has. This is not well. I would you had lived so, my Lord that I, Might rather have continued your poor servant. Then sit here as your judge. I am sorry for you. In no act of my life I have discerned This injury from the court, that any here Should thus uncivilly usurp on what Is proper to me only. What distaste Receives my Lord? You say you are sorry for him: A grief in which I must not have a partner 'Tis I alone am sorry, that I raised The building of my life for seventy years Upon so sure a ground, that all the vices Practised to ruin man, though brought against me, Could never undermine, and no way left To send these grey hairs to the grave with sorrow. Virtue that was my patroness, betrayed me: For entering, nay, possessing this young man, It lent him such a powerful Majesty To grace whate'er he undertook, that freely I gave myself up with my liberty, To be at his disposing; had his person, Lonely I must confess, or far feigned valour, Or any other seeming good, that yet Holds a near neighbourhood, with ill wrought on me, I might have borne it better: but when goodness And piety itself in her best figure Were bribed to my destruction, can you blame me, Though I forget to suffer like a man, Or rather act a woman? Good my Lord. You hinder our proceeding. And forget The parts of an accuser. Pray you remember To use the temper which to me you promised; Angels themselves must break Baumont, that promise Beyond the strength and patience of Angels. But I have done, my good Lord, pardon me A weak old man, and pray add to that A miserable father, yet be careful That your compassion of my age, nor his, Move you to any thing, that may disbecome The place on which you fit Read the Indictment. It shall be needless, I myself, my Lords, Will be my own accuser, and confess All they can charge me with, or will I spare To aggravate that guilt with circumstance They seek to load me with: only I pray, That as for them you will vouchsafe me hearing: I may not be denied it for myself, When I shall urge by what unanswerable reasons I was compelled to what I did, which yet Till you have taught me better, I repent not.
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)
I am ready. See, equall Iudges, with what confidence The cruell murtherer stands, as if he would Outface the Court and usticl But looke on him, And you shall finde, for still methinks I doe, Though guilt hath dide him black, something good in him, That may perhaps worke with a wiser man Then I haue beene, againe to set him free And giue him all he has. This is not well. I would you had liu'd so, my Lord that I, Might rather haue continu'd your poore seruant. Then sit here as your Iudge. I am sorry for you. In no act of my life I haue deern'd This iniury from the court, that any heere Should hus vnciuilly vsurpe on what Is proper to me only. What ditaste Rceies my Lord? You say you are sorry for him: A griefe in which I must not haue a partner 'Tis I alone am sorry, that I rays'd The building of my life for seuenty yeeres Vpon so sure a ground, that all the vices Pactis'd to ruine man, though brought against me, Could nur vndermine, and no way left To send these gray haires to the graue with sorrow. Vertue tha was my patronesse, betrayd me: For entring, nay, possessing this young man, It lent him such a powerfull Maiesty To grace what ere he vndertooke, that freely I gaue my selfe vp with my liberty, To be at his disposing; had his peson, Loely I must confesse, or far fain'd valour, Or any other seeming good, that yet Holds a neere neyghbour-hood, with ill wrought on me, I might haue borne it better: but when goodnesse And piety it selfe in her best figure Were brib'd to my destruction, can you blame me, Though I forget to suffer like a man, Or rather act a woman? Good my Lord. You hinder our proceeding. And forget The parts of an accuser. Pray you remember To vse the temper which to me you promis'd; Angels themselues must breake Baumont, that promise Beyond the strength and patience of Angels. But I haue done, my good Lord, pardon me A weake old man, and pray adde to that A miserable father, yet be carefull That your compassion of my age, nor his, Moue you to any thing, that may dis-become The plce on which you fit Read the Inditement. It shall be needelesse, I my selfe, my Lords, Will be my owne accuser, and confesse All they can charge me with, or will I spare To aggrauate that guilt with circumstance They seeke to loade me with: onely I pray, That as for them you will vouchsafe me hearing: I may not be denide it for my selfe, When I shall vrge by what vnanswerable reasons I was compel'd to what I did, which yet Till you haue taught me better, I repent not.