Gascoigne, George / Kinwelmershe, Francis / Yelverton, ChristopherEuripides / Dolce, Lodovico · published 1573 · first performed or written 1566 (Annals) tragedy T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla typicality 0.78 · 512 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
The shining day had run his hasted course, And dewy night bespread her mantel dark, When I that wandered after weary toil, To seek some harbour for mine irked limbs, 'gan find at last a little cabin, close Adjoined fast unto the stately walls, Where king Adrastus held his royal towers. Scarce was I there in quiet well ycouched, But thither came another exile eke, Named Tydeus, who strove perforce to drive Me from this sorry seat, and so at last, We settled us to fell and bloody fight, Whereof the rumour grew so great forth with, That straight the king informed was thereof, Who seeing then the ensigns that we bore, To be even such as were to him foresaid, Chose each of us to be his son by law, And sithence did solemnize eke the same. Yet would I know, if that thy wife be such As thou canst joy in her? or what she is? O mother dear, fairer ne wiser dame Is none in Greece, Argia is her name. How couldst thou to this doubtful enterprise, So many bring, thus armed all at once? Adrastus swore, that he would soon restore Unto our right both Tydeus, and me: And first for me, that had the greater need, Whereby the best and boldest bloods in Greece, Have followed me unto this enterprise. A thing both just and grievous unto me, Grievous I say, for that I do lament To be constrained by such open wrong, To war against mine own dear country fears. But unto you (O mother) doth pertain To stint this strife, and both deliver me From exile now, and eke the town from siege: For otherwise, I swear you here by heavens, Eteocles, who now doth me disdain For brother, shortly shall see me his lord. I ask the seat, whereof I ought of right Possess the half, I am Oedipus' son, And yours, so am I true son to you both. Wherefore I hope that as in my defence The world will weigh, so Ioue will me assist. Behold O queen, behold O worthy queen, Unworthy he, Eteocles here comes, So, would the Gods, that in this noble realm Should never long unnoble tyrant reign, Or that with wrong the right and doubtless heir, Should banished be out of his princely seat. Yet thou O queen, so file thy sugared tongue, And with such counsel deck thy mother's tale, That peace may both the brother's hearts inflame, And rancour yield, that erst possessed the same. Mother, behold, your hests for to obey, In person now am I resorted hither: In haste therefore, fain would I know what cause With hasty speed, so moved hath your mind To call me now so causeless out of time, When common wealth most craves my only aid: Fain would I know, what quaint commodity Persuades you thus to take a truce for time, And yield the gates wide open to my foe, The gates that might our stately state defend, And now are made the path of our decay.
seed 43: T30 · seed 44: T33 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
The shining day had runne his hasted course, And deawie night bespread hir mantell darke, When I that wandred after wearie toyle, To seke some harbrough for myne irked limmes, Gan fynde at last a little cabbin, close Adioyned faste vnto the stately walles, Where king Adrastus helde his royall towres. Scarce was I there in quiet well ycoucht, But thither came an other exile eke, Named Tydeus, who straue perforce to driue Mée from this sorie seate, and so at laste, Wée settled vs to fell and blouddie fight, Whereof the rumour grewe so greate foorth with, That straight the king enformed was thereof, Who séeing then the ensignes that wée bare, To be euen suche as were to him foresayde, Chose eche of vs to be his sonne by lawe, And sithens did solemnize eke the ame. Yet woulde I know, if that thy wyfe be suche As thou canst ioy in hir? or what she is? O mother deare, fayrer ne wyser dame Is none in Greece, Argia is hir name. Howe couldst thou to this doubtefull enterprise, So many bring, thus armed all at once? Adrastus sware, that he woulde sone Unto our right both Tydeus, and me: And fyrst for mée, that had the greater néede, Whereby the best and bolest blouds in Greece, Haue fellowed me vnto this enterpryse. A thing both iuste and grieuous vnto mée, Gréeuous I saye, for that I doe lamente To be constrayned by suche open wrong, To warre agaynst myne owne deare countrey féeres. But vnto you (O mother) dothe pertaine To stiute this stryfe, and bothe duliuer mée▪ From exile now, and eke the towne from siege: For otherwise, I sweare you here by heauens, Eteocles, who now doth me disdayne For brother, shortly shall sée me his lorde. I aske the seate, wherof I ought of right Possesse the halfe, I am Oedipus sonne, And yours, so am I true sonne to you both. Wherfore I hope that as in my defence The worlde will weygh, so Ioue will me assiste. Beholde O quéene, beholde O woorthie quéene, Unwoorthie he, Eteocles here cōmes, So, woulde the Gods, that in this noble realme Shoulde neuer long vnnoble tyrant reigne, Or that with wrong the right and doubtlesse heire, Shoulde banisht be out of his princely seate. Yet thou O quéene, so fyle thy sugred toung, And with suche counsell decke thy mothers tale, That peace may bothe the brothers heartes inflame▪ And rancour yelde, that erst possest the same. Mother, beholde, youre hestes for to obey, In person nowe am I resorted hither: In haste therefore, fayne woulde I knowe what cause With hastie spéede, so moued hath your mynde To call me nowe so causelesse out of tyme, When common wealth moste craues my onely ayde: Fayne woulde I knowe, what queynt commoditie Persuades you thus to take a truce for tyme, And yelde the gates wide open to my foe, The gates that myght our stately state defende, And nowe are made the path of our decay.