Gascoigne, George / Kinwelmershe, Francis / Yelverton, ChristopherEuripides / Dolce, Lodovico · published 1573 · first performed or written 1566 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla · 478 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
" Experience proves, and daily is it seen, In vain, too vain man strives against the heavens. Not far fro thence, the mighty Polybus, Of Corinth King, did keep his princely court, Unto whose woeful wife (lamenting much She had no offspring by her noble fere) The courteous shepherd gave my little son: Which grateful gift, the Queen did so accept, As nothing seemed more precious in her sight: Partly, for that, his features were so fine, Partly, for that, he was so beautiful, And partly, for because his comely grace Gave great suspicion of his royal blood. The infant grew, and many years was deemed Polybus' son, till time, that Oedipus (For so he named was) did understand That Polybus was not his sire in deed, Whereby forsaking friends and country there, He did return to seek his native stock: And being come into Phocides land, Took notice of the cursed oracle, How first he should his father do to death, And then become his mother's wedded mate. O fierce aspect of cruel planets all, That can decree such seas of heinous faults. Then Oedipus, freight full of chilling fear, By all means sought t'avoid this furious fate, But whiles he weened to shun the shameful deed, Unluckily guided by his own mishap, He fell into the snare that most he feared: For lo, in Phocides did Laius lie, To end the broils that civil discord then Had raised up in that unquiet land, By means whereof my woeful Oedipus, Affording aid unto the other side, With murdering blade unwares his father slew. Thus heavenly doom, thus fate, thus powers divine, Thus wicked read of Prophets took effect: Now only rests to end the bitter hap Of me, of me his miserable mother. Alas, how cold I feel the quaking blood Pass too and fro within my trembling breast? Oedipus, when this bloody deed was done, Forced forth by fatal doom, to Thebes came, Where as full soon with glory he achieved The crown and sceptre of this noble land, By conquering Sphinx that cruel monster lo, That erst destroyed this goodly flowering soil: And thus did I (O hateful thing to hear) To my own son become a wretched wife. No marvel, though the golden Sun withdrew His glittering beams from such a sinful fact. And so by him that from this belly sprang, I brought to light (O cursed that I am) As well two sons, as daughters also twain: But when this monstrous marriage was disclosed, So sore began the rage of boiling wrath To swell within the furious breast of him, As he himself by stress of his own nails, Out of his head did tear his griefful eyen, Unworthy more to see the shining light. how could it be, that knowing he had done So foul a blot, he would remain alive?
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T33 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
"Experience proues, and daily is it séene, "In vaine, too vaine man striues against the heauens. Not farre fro thence, the mightie Polibus, Of Corinth King, did kepe his princely court, Unto whose wofull wife (lamenting muche She had no ofspring by hir noble phéere) The curteous shepherd gaue my little sonne: Which gratefull gift, the Quéene did so accept, As nothing séemde more precious in hir sight: Partly, for that, his faitures were so fine, Partly, for that, he was so beautifull, And partly, for bycause his comely grace Gaue great suspicion of his royall bloude. The infant grewe, and many yeares was demd Polibus sonne, till tyme, that Oedipus (For so he named was) did vnderstande That Polibus was not his sire in déede, Wherby forsaking frendes and countrie there, He did returne to seke his natiue stocke: And being come into Phocides lande, Toke notice of the cursed oracle, How first he shoulde his father doe to death, And then become his mothers wedded mate. O fierce aspecte of cruell planets all, That can decrée such seas of heynous faultes. Then Oedipus, fraight ful of chilling feare, By all meanes sought t'auoyde this furious fate, But whiles he wéende to shunne the shamefull dede, Unluckly guyded by his owne mishappe, He fell into the snare that most he feared: For loe, in Phocides did Laius lye, To ende the broyles that ciuill discorde then Had raysed vp in that vnquiet lande, By meanes wherof my wofull Oedipus, Affording ayde vnto the other side, With murdring blade vnwares his father slewe. Thus heauenly doome, thus fate, thus powers diuine, Thus wicked reade of Prophets tooke effect: Nowe onely restes to ende the bitter happe Of me, of me his miserable mother. Alas, howe colde I féele the quaking bloud Passe too and fro within my trembling brest? Oedipus, when this bloudy déede was doone, Forst foorth by fatall doome, to Thebes came, Where as ful soone with glory he atchieude The crowne and scepter of this noble lande, By conquering Sphinx that cruell monster loe, That earst destroyde this goodly flouring soyle: And thus did I (O hatefull thing to heare) To my owne sonne become a wretched wife. No meruayle, though the golden Sunne withdrew His glittering beames from suche a sinfull facte. And so by him that from this belly sprang, I brought to light (O cursed that I am) As well two sonnes, as daughters also twayne: But when this monstruous mariage was disclosde, So sore began the rage of boyling wrath To swell within the furious brest of him, As he him selfe by stresse of his owne nayles, Out of his head did teare his griefull eyne, Unworthy more to see the shining light. Howe coulde it be, that knowing he had don So foule a blot, he would remayne aliue?