Nabbes, Thomas · published 1637 · first performed or written 1635 (Annals) tragedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T17 Eastern conquest: Persians, Turks and so · 498 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
'Tis a joyful errant. Just Nemesis, thy Griffins have been swift, And borne thee well to see the execution Of a revenge upon perfidious Syphax. Hadst thou failed in't, we justly might disclaim Thy deity, and without fear of punishment Profane thy altars: on whose marbles now we'll pay a sacrifice of richest flame Mixed with the blood of Kings, Discourse the progress To this event. When your successful policy Had destroyed both the Campes of Asdrubal And Syphax with devouring fire, whose flames seemed to the distant gazers on't a prodigy That threatened dissolution, and begot Their greater fear, then when th' Artillery Of heaven speaks loudest through the burning air To tell the world Iove's angry: When you retired To Utica to prevent an invasion Intended by the Carthaginian Navy, Which darked the Sea (much like a cloud of vultures That are convented after some great fight To glut their ravenous gorges with the gore, Thousands of soulless men lie reeking in) The mad Numidian King, in whom despair Had kindled a new valour, gathers head. And with a fresh supply of unmanned men (For had they been such as experience Had taught the useful order of a war Th'end had again been doubtful) gives us battle. Their first assault made us retire; yet still We kept the sudden form hast put us in For best advantage: till their heedless courage Hurried them on, where our foot Legions Observing their disorder (for they fought In throngs so thick, that many times one striking Wounded his fellow) gives them new resistance. At which they stop, mated with apprehension Of their own danger: whom th'incensed King Mixing his threats with promises of honour Labour's to bring one till his horse being killed We took him prisoner, with two thousand more. The rest not flame are fled. Brave victory Worthy th'achievers, to whose memories Eternal statues shall be raised, and trophies Rich as Rome's Capitol is glorious with. But where is Massanissa? He pretended To visit Cirtha, Syphax chiefest City: Which is delivered up. I have new fears That woman will again bewitch him. Know The cause. 'Tis Massanissa. Th'only wealth I'd be possessed of. I embrace in thee A boundless treasure. Let not Scipio Flatter me into pride for what is rather Fortunes than mine. The actions of thy virtue. fortune's an under power that is herself Commanded by desert. 'Tis a mere vainness Of our credulity to give her more Than her due attribute; which is but servant To an heroic spirit. This example Might instance proofs for her divinity. All's but endeavour until perfected By the success, and that is fortunes only; Desert shares little in'r. Let not thy modesty Maintain such errors. To refuse just praise Is an extreme worse than man's overweening Opinion of himself. Great Massanissa Shall have all honours due unto his conquest; And wear triumphant Garlands; that false King Chained to his Chariot from the gazer's eyes Inviting scorn, not pity.
seed 43: T1 · seed 44: T2 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
'Tis a joyfull errant. Iust Nemesis, thy Grirfins have beene swift, And borne thee well to see the execution Of a revenge upon perfidious Syphax. Hadst thou fail'd in't, we justly might disclaime Thy deity, and without feare of punishment Prophane thy altars: on whose marbles now Wee'l pay a sacrifice of richest flame Mixt with the blood of Kings, Discourse the progresse To this event. When your successefull policy Had destroy'd both the Campes of Asdrubal And Syphax with devouring fire, whose flames seem'd to the distant gazers on't a prodigie That threaten'd dissolution, and begot Their greater feare, then when th' Artilerie Of heaven speak's lowdest through the burning ayre To tell the world Iove's angry: When you retir'd To Vtica to prevent an invasion Intended by the Carthaginian Navy, Which dark't the Sea (much like a clowd of Vulturs That are convented after some great fight To glut their ravenous gorges with the gore, Thousands of soul-lesse men lye reeking in) The mad Numidian King, in whom despaire Had kindled a new valour, gather's head. And with a fresh supply of unman'd men (For had they beene such as experience Had taught the usefull order of a warre Th'end had againe beene doubtfull) giv's us battaile. Their first assault made us retire; yet still We kept the suddaine forme hast put us in For best advantage: 'till their heedlesse courage Hurri'd them on, where our foot Legions Observing their disorder (for they fought In throngs so thick, that many times one striking Wounded his fellow) giv's them new resistance. At which they stop, mated with apprehension Of their owne danger: whom th'incensed King Mixing his threates with promises of honour Labour's to bring one till his horse being kill'd We tooke him prisoner, with two thousand more. The rest not flame are fled. Brave victory Worthy th'atchievers, to whose memories Eternall statues shall be rais'd, and trophees Rich as Romes Capitoll is glorious with. But where is Massanissa? He pretended To visit Cirtha, Syphax chiefest Citie: Which is deliver'd up. I have new feares That woman will agen bewitch him. Know The cause. 'Tis Massanissa. Th'only wealth I'de be possest of. I embrace in thee A boundlesse treasure. Let not Scipio Flatter me into pride for what is rather Fortunes then mine. The actions of thy vertue. Fortun's an under power that is her selfe Commanded by desert. 'Tis a meere vainnesse Of our credulity to give her more Then her due attribute; which is but servant To an heroick spirit. This example Might instance proofes for her divinity. All's but endeavour untill perfected By the successe, and that is fortunes only; Desert shar's little in'r. Let not thy modesty Maintaine such errors. To refuse just praise Is an extreme worse then man's over-weening Opinion of himselfe. Great Massanissa Shall have all honours due unto his conquest; And weare triumphant Garlands; that false King Chain'd to his Chariot from the gazers eyes Inviting scorne, not pitty.