Gascoigne, George / Kinwelmershe, Francis / Yelverton, ChristopherEuripides / Dolce, Lodovico · published 1573 · first performed or written 1566 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T11 Siblings, kin and confidants · 502 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T11: sister, brother, love, friend, heart, father, mother, woman, lord, hear.
O Gentle daughter of King Oedipus, O sister dear to that unhappy wight Whom brother's rage hath reaved of his right, To whom, thou know'st, in young and tender years I was a friend and faithful governor, Come forth, sith that her grace hath granted leave, And let me know what cause hath moved now So chaste a maid to set her dainty foot Over the threshold of her secret lodge? Since that the town is furnished everywhere With men of arms and warlike instruments, Unto our ears there comes no other noise, But sound of trump, and neigh of trampling steeds, Which running up and down from place to place, With hideous cries betoken blood and death: The blazing sun ne shineth half so bright, As it was wont to do all dawn of day: The wretched dames throughout the woeful town, Together clustering to the temples go, Beseeching Ioue by way of humble plaint, With tender ruth to pity their distress. The love I hear to my sweet Polynice, My dear brother, is only cause hereof. Why daughter, know'st thou any remedy How to defend thy father's city here From that outrage and fierce repining wrath, Which he against it, justly hath conceived? Oh governor might this my faultless blood Suffice to stay my brethren's dire debate, With glad consent I could afford my life Betwixt them both to plant a perfect peace: But since (alas) I cannot as I would, A hot desire inflames my fervent mind To have a sight of my sweet Pollynice. Wherefore (good guide) vouchsafe to guide me up Into some tower about this hugy court, From whence I may behold our enemy's camp, Thereby at least to feed my hungry eyes But with the sight of my beloved brother: Then if I die, contented shall I die. O princely dame, the tender care thou tak'st Of thy dear brother, deserveth double praise: Yet cravest thou that, which cannot be obtained, By reason of the distance from the town Unto the plain, where th'army lies encamped: And furthermore, beseemeth not a maid To show herself in such unseemly place, Whereas among such young and lusty troops Of harebrained soldiers marching to and fro, Both honest name and honour is impaired: But yet rejoice, sith this thy great desire, Without long let, or yet without thy pain, At wish and will shall shortly be fulfilled. For Polynice forthwith will hither come, Even I myself was lately at the camp, Commanded by the Queen to bid him come, Who laboureth still to link in friendly league, Her jarring sons (which hap so hoped for, eftsoons I pray the gracious gods to grant) And sure I am, that ere this hour pass, Thou shalt him here in person safely see. O loving friend, dost thou then warrant me, That Polynice will come unto this court? Ere thou be ware thou shalt him here behold. And who (alas) doth warrant his adventure, That of Eteocles he take no harm?
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)
O Gentle daughter of King Oedipus, O sister deare to that vnhappie wight Whom brothers rage hath reaued of his right, To whom, thou knowst, in yong and tender yeares I was a friend and faithfull gouernour, Come forth, sith that hir grace hath graunted leaue, And let me knowe what cause hath moued nowe So chaste a maide to set hir daintie foote Ouer the thresholde of hir secrete lodge? Since that the towne is furnishte euerywhere With men of armes and warlike instrumentes, Unto our eares there cōmes no other noyse, But sounde of trumpe, and neigh of trampling stedes, Which running vp and downe from place to place, With hideous cries betoken bloude and death: The blasing sunne ne shineth halfe so brighte, As it was wont to doe al dawne of daye: The wretched dames throughout the wofull towne, Together clustring to the temples goe, Beseching Ioue by way of humble plainte, With tender ruthe to pitie their distresse. The loue I heare to my swéete Polynice, My deare brother, is onely cause hereof. Why daughter, knowst thou any remedie How to defend thy fathers citie here From that outrage and fierce repyning wrathe, Which he against it, iustly hath conceiued? Oh gouernour might this my faultlesse bloude Suffise to stay my brethrens dyre debate, With glad consent I coulde afford my life Betwixt them both to plant a perfect peace: But since (alas) I cannot as I woulde, A hote desire insames my eruent mind To haue a sight of my swéete Pollynice. Wherfore (good guide) vouchsafe to guide Into some tower aboute this hugie court, From whence I may behold our enemies campe, Therby at least to féede my hungry eyes But with the sight of my beloued brother: Then if I die, contented shall I die. O princely dame, the tender care thou takste Of thy deare brother, deserueth double praise: Yet crau'st thou that, which cannot be obtainde, By reason of the distance from the towne Unto the plaine, where tharmie lies incampt: And furthermore, besemeth not a maide To shew hir selfe in such vnsemely place, Wheras among such yong and lustie troupes Of harebrainde souldiers marching to and fro, Both honest name and honour is empairde: But yet reioyce, sith this thy great desire, Without long let, or yet without thy paine, At wishe and will shall shortly be fulfillde. For Palynice forthwith will hither come, Euen I my selfe was lately at the campe, Commaunded by the Quéene to bid him come, Who laboureth still to linke in frendly league, Hir iarring sonnes (which happe so hoped for, Eftsones I pray the gracious gods to graunt) And sure I am, that ere this houre passe, Thou shalt him here in person safely sée. O louing frend, doest thou then warrant me, That Polynice will come vnto this court? Ere thou be ware thou shalt him here beholde. And who (alas) doth warrant his aduenture, That of Eteocles he take no harme?