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 · 500 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
" So deeply faulteth none, the which unwares Doth fall into the crime he can not shun: And he (alas) unto his greater grief, Prolongs the date of his accursed days, Knowing that life doth more and more increase The cruel plagues of his detested guilt, " Where stroke of grisly death doth set an end Unto the pangs of man's increasing pain. Of others all, most cause have we to moan Thy woeful smart (O miserable Queen) Such and so many are thy grievous harms. Now to the end this blind outrageous sire. Should reap no joy of his unnatural fruit, His wretched sons, pricked forth by furious spite, Adjudge their father to perpetual prison: There buried in the depth of dungeon dark, (Alas) he leads his discontented life, Accursing still his stony hearted sons, And wishing all th'infernal sprites of hell, To breath such poisoned hate into their breasts, As each with other fall to bloody wars, And so with pricking point of piercing blade, To rip their bowels out, that each of them With other's blood might stain his guilty hands, And both at once by stroke of speedy death Be forthwith thrown into the Stygian lake. The mighty Gods prevent so foul a deed. They to avoid the wicked blasphemies, And sinful prayer of their angry sire, Agreed thus, that of this noble realm, Until the course of one full year was run, Eteocles should sway the kingly mace, And Polynice as exul should depart, Till time expired: and then to Polynice Eteocles should yield the sceptre up: Thus year by year the one succeeding other, This royal crown should unto both remain. Oh th'unbridled minds of ambitious men. Eteocles, thus placed in princely seat, Drunk with the sugared taste of kingly reign, Not only shut his brother from the crown, But also from his native country soil. Alas poor Polynice, what might he do, Unjustly by his brother thus betrayed? To Argos he, with sad and heavy cheer Forthwith conveyed himself, on whom at length With fawning face good fortune smiled so, As with Adrastus king of Argives there, He found such favour and affinity, As to restore my son unto his reign, He hath besieged this noble city Thebes. And hence proceeds, my most extreme annoy: For, of my sons, whoever do prevail, The victory will turn unto my grief: Alas, I fear (such is the chance of war) That one, or both shall purchase death thereby. Wherefore, to shun the worst that may befall, Though comfortless, yet as a pitiful mother Whom nature binds to love her loving sons, And to provide the best for their avail, I have thought good by prayers to entreat The two brethren (nay rather cruel foes) A while to stay their fierce and furious fight, Till I have tried by means for to appease, The swelling wrath of their outraging wills. And so with much to do, at my request They have forborn unto this only hour.
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)
"So déepely faulteth none, the which vnwares "Dothe fall into the crime he can not shunne: And he (alas) vnto his greater gréefe, Prolongs the date of his accursed dayes, Knowing that life dothe more and more increase The cruell plagues of his detested gilte, "Where stroke of griesly death dothe set an ende "Uto the pangs of mans increasing payne. Of others all, moste cause haue we to mone Thy wofull smarte (O miserable Quéene) Suche and so many are thy gréeuous harmes. Now to the ende this blinde outragious sire. Should reape no ioy of his vnnaturall fruite, His wretched sonnes, prickt foorth by furious spight, Adiudge their father to perpetuall prison: There buried in the depthe of dungeon darke, (Alas) he leades his discontented lyfe, Accursing still his stony harted sonnes, And wishing all th'infernall sprites of hell, To breathe suche poysned hate into their brestes, As eche with other fall to bloudy warres, And so with pricking poynt of piercing blade, To rippe their bowels out, that eche of them With others bloud might stayne his giltie hands, And bothe at once by stroke of spéedie death Be foorthwith throwne into the Stigia lake. The mightie Gods preuent so fowle a déede. They to auoyde the wicked blasphemies, And sinfull prayer of their angrie sire, Agréed thus, that of this noble realme, Untill the course of one full yere was runne, Eteocles should sway the kingly mace, And Polynice as exul should departe, Till time expyrde: and then to Polynice Eteocles should yéelde the scepter vp: Thus yere by yere the one succéeding other, This royall crowne should vnto bothe remayne. Oh thunbridled mindes of ambicious men. Eteocles, thus plast in princely seate, Drunke with the sugred taste of kingly raigne, Not onely shut his brother from the crowne, But also from his natiue country soyle. Alas poore Polynice, what might he doe, Uniustly by his brother thus betrayed? To Argos he, with sad and heauie chéere Forthwith conuayde him selfe, on whom at length With fauning face good fortune smyled so, As with Adrastus king of Argiues there, He founde suche fauour and affinitie, As to restore my sonne vnto his raigne, He hath besedge this noble citie Thebes. And hence procéedes, my most extreme annoye: For, of my sonnes, who euer doe preuaile, The victorie will turne vnto my griefe: Alas, I feare (such is the chaunce of warre) That one, or both shall purchase death therby. Wherfore, to shunne the worst that may befall, Thoughe comfortlesse, yet as a pitifull mother Whom nature bindes to loue hir louing sonnes, And to prouide the best for their auaile, I haue thought good by prayers to intreate The two brethren (nay rather cruell foes) A while to staie their fierce and furious fight, Till I haue tried by meanes for to appease, The swelling wrath of their outraging willes. And so with much to doe, at my request They haue forborne vnto this onely houre.