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 · 509 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
For constant pledge, he hath his brother's faith, He hath also the truce that yet endures. I fear alas, alas I greatly fear, Some trustless snare his cruel brother lays To trap him in. Daughter, god knows how willing I would be With sweet relief to comfort thy distress, But I cannot impart to thee, the good Which I myself do not as yet enjoy. The wailful cause that moves Eteocles With Pollinyce to enter civil wars Is over great, and for this only cause Full many men have broke the laws of truth, And topsy-turvy turned many towns. " To greedy (daughter) too too greedy is Desire to rule and reign in kingly state. Ne can he bide, that sways a realm alone To have another joined with him therein: Yet must we hope for help of heavenly powers, Sith they be just, their mercy is at hand, To help the weak when worldly force doth fail. As both my brethren be, so both I bear As much goodwill as any sister may, But yet the wrong that unto Pollinyce This trothless tyrant hath unjustly showed, Doth lead me more, to wish the prosperous life, Of Pollinyce, than of that cruel wretch. Besides that, Pollinyce whiles he remained In Thebes here, did ever love me more, Than did Eteocles, whose swelling hate Is towards me increased more and more: Whereof I partly may assure myself, Considering he disdains to visit me, Yea, haply he intends to reave my life, And having power he will not stick to do it. This therefore makes me earnestly desire oft-times to see him: yet ever as I think For to discharge the duty of a sister, The fear I have of hurt, doth change as fast My doubtful love into disdainful spite. Yet daughter, must ye trust in mighty Ioue, His will is not, that for th'offence of one So many suffer undeserved smart: I mean of thee, I mean of Polinyce, Of Iocasta thy woeful aged mother, And of Ismena thy beloved sister. Who though for this she doth not outwardly From dreary eyen distill lamenting tears, Yet do I think, no less afflicting grief Doth inwardly torment her tender breast. Besides all this, a certain jealousy, Lately conceived (I know not whence it springs) Of Creon, my mother's brother, appalls me much, Him doubt I more than any danger else. Dear daughter, leave this foolish jealousy, And seeing that thou shalt here shortly find Thy brother Polinyce, go in again. O joyful would it be to me therewhile, To understand the order of the host, Whether it be such as have sufficient power To overthrow this mighty town of Thebes. What place supplies my brother Polynice? Where found ye him? what answer did he give? And though so great a care pertaineth not Unto a maid of my unskilful years, Yet, for because myself partaker am Of good and evil with this my country soil, I long to hear thee tell those fearful news, Which otherwise I can not understand.
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)
For constant pledge, he hath his brothers faith, He hath also the truce that yet endures. I feare alas, alas I greatly feare, Some trustlesse snare his cruell brother layes To trappe him in. Daughter, god knowes how willing I would be With swéete reliefe to comfort thy distresse, But I cannot impart to thée, the good Which I my selfe doe not as yet enioye. The wailefull cause that moues Eteocles With Pollinyce to enter ciuill warres Is ouer great, and for this onely cause Full many men haue broke the lawes of truth, And topsieturuie turned many townes. "To gredie (daughter) too too gredie is "Desire to rule and raigne in kingly state. Ne can he bide, that swaise a realme alone To haue another ioynde with him therin: Yet must we hope for helpe of heauenly powers, Sith they be iuste, their mercy is at hand, To helpe the weake when worldly force doth faile. As both my brethren e, so bth I beare As much goodwill as any sister may, But yet the wrong that vnto Pollinyce This trothlesse tyrant hath vniustlie shewd, Doth leade me more, to wishe the prosperous life, Of Pollinyce, than of that cruell wretch. Besides that, Pollinyce whiles he remainde In Thebes here, did euer loue me more, Than did Eteocles, whose swelling hate Is towardes me increased more and more: Wherof I partly may assure my selfe, Considering he disdaynes to visite me, Yea, happly he intends to reaue my life, And hauing power he will not sticke to doe it. This therefore makes me earnestly desire Oftymes to sée him: yet euer as I thinke For to discharge the duetie of a sister, The feare I haue of hurt, doth chaunge as fast My doubtfull loue into disdaynefull spight. Yet daughter, must ye trust in mightie Ioue, His will is not, that for thoffence of one So many suffer vndeserued smarte: I meane of thée, I meane of Polinyce, Of Iocasta thy wofull aged mother, And of Ismena thy beloued sister. Who though for this she dothe not outwardly From drearie eyen distill lamenting teares, Yet do I thinke, no lesse afflicting griefe Dothe inwardly torment hir tender brest. Besides all this, a certayne ielousie, Lately conceyude (I knowe not whence it springes) Of Creon, my mothers brother, appaules me muche, Him doubt I more than any danger else. Deare daughter, leaue this foolishe ielouse, And séeing that thou shalt héere shortly finde Thy brother Polinyce, go in agayne. O ioyfull would it be to me therwhile, To vnderstande the order of the hoste, Whether it be suche as haue sufficient power To ouerthrowe this mightie towne of Thebs. What place supples my brother Polynice? Where founde ye hym? what answere did he giue? And though so great a care perteineth not Unto a mayde of my vnskilfull yeres, Yet, forbicause my selfe partaker am Of good and euill with this my countrey soyle, I long to heare thée tell those fearfull newes, Which otherwise I can not vnderstande.