Nabbes, Thomas · published 1637 · first performed or written 1635 (Annals) tragedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T53 The crown: kingship claimed, resigned an · 511 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T53: crown, king, state, life, lord, lords, live, queen, tullia, prince.
Beauty no more the subject be Of want on art to flatter thee: Or in dull figures call thee spring; lily or Rose, or other thing: All which beneath thee are, and grow Into contempt when thou dost show The unmatched glory of thy brow. Behold a sphere of Virgins move, None 'mongst them less than Queen of Love. And yet their Queen so far excels Beauty and she are only parallels. But 'tis not Sophonisba. Fairer yet. Unhappy Syphax from whose eyes such wonders Have been to long concealed. Which is the goddess? Which Sophonisba? Can thy sense distinguish? See Syphax, thus I deign to show thee that Kings have been proud to worship. ere I embrace Let me admire. In each eye sits a Cupid; Who as he skips about to shoot his darts. Is himself fettered in the golden curls That deck her brow. Elysium's but a fable. And that eternity the Poets dream of serves but to figure this. Although my difference Might challenge more, I'm not ambitious Of shallow praise. My spirit must fly high To catch at fame, not flattery. Came you not To love me then? I did: but not to think All your expressions (though they were extended Beyond my wish) can merit it. I am A King; and you methinks should court the fortune With a glad readiness, to share my honours, And to be made my equal. Were you more, I am above addition in myself: And should be lessened if I did confine A thought to any person, and the act Included nothing but bare satisfaction Of a desire. I will not let a smile Fall loosely from me, but shall be attended By actions worth their history; which read Shall with the apprehension of my greatness Amaze posterity. Can Sophonisba Be covetous of more than the earth's honours? When she shall sit encompassed in a ring Of noble Matrons that shall deify Her beauty with their praises? When she shall Be crowned with sparkling wreaths to blind the gazers, As if a Constellation had been robbed To make her shine. When in a king's arms sleeping All pleasures shall be ministered, that Nature And art in their contention strive to own, And take their glory from. I hire pretty baits To catch an easy wanton, whose dull earth A little varnished o'er doth know itself No farther than the superficial tincture Discovered in her glass. I have a soul Greater than Syphax Kingdom: and to bound it Would take from what I am. 'Twill be your honour 'Bove all that your ambition can direct you To hope for (next eternity) If I Vouchsafe to add unto your petty royalty My greater self; and the addition be Greater than you can purchase by your conquests. 'Tis but her due when Sophonisba craves Worlds for her Kingdoms, their Kings for her slaves. Should Syphax make a resignation Of all he own's for me; 'twere but as if He pared a molehill from the earth, to place An Atlas in its stead.
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)
Beautie no more the subject be Of want on art to slatter thee: Or in dull figures call thee spring; Lillie or Rose, or other thing: All which beneath thee are, and grow Into contempt when thou dost show The unmatch't glory of thy brow. Behold a spheare of Virgins move, None mongst them lesse then Queene of Love. And yet their Queene so farre excels Beauty and she are onely parallels. But 'tis not Sophonisba. Fairer yet. Vnhappy Syphax from whose eyes such wonders Have beene to long conceal'd. Which is the goddesse? Which Sophonisba? Can thy sense distinguish? See Syphax, thus I deigne to shew thee that Kings have beene proud to worship. E're I embrace Let me admire. each eye sit's a Cupid; Who as he skip's about to shoot his dartes. Is himselfe fetter'd in the golden curles That deck her brow. Elysium's but a fable. And that eternity the Poets dreame of Serv's but to figure this. Although my difference Might challenge more, I'm not ambitious Of shallow praise. My spirit must flie high To catch at fame, not flattery. Came you not To love me then? I did: but not to thinke All your expressions (though they were extended Beyond my wish) can merit it. I am A King; and you me thinks should court the fortune With a glad readinesse, to share my honours, And to be made my equall. Were you more, I am above addition in my selfe: And should be lessen'd if I did confine A thought to any person, and the act Included nothing but bare satisfaction Of a desire. I will not let a smile Fall loosly from me, but shall be attended By actions worth their history; which read Shall with the apprehension of my greatnesse Amaze posterity. Can Sophonisba Be covetous of more then the earths honours? When she shall sit incompass'd in a ring Of noble Matrons that shall deifie Her beauty with their praises? When she shall Be crown'd with sparkling wreathesto blind the gazers, As if a Constellation had beene rob'd To make her shine. When in a Kings armes sleeping All pleasures shall be minister'd, that Nature And art in their contention strive to owne, And take their glory from. I hei'r prety baites To catch an easie wanton, whose dull earth A little varnish'to're doth know it selfe No farther then the superficiall tincture Discoverd in her glasse. I have a soule Greater then Syphax Kingdome: and to bound it Would take from what I am. 'Twill be your honour 'Bove all that your ambition can direct you To hope for (next eternity) If I Vouchsafe to add unto your petty royalty My greater selfe; and the addition be Greater then you can purchase by your conquests. 'Tis but her due when Sophonisba crav's Worlds for her Kingdomes, their Kings for her slaves. Should Syphax make a resignation Of all he own's for me; 'twere but as if He par'd a mol-hill from the earth, to place An Atlas in its stead.