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 · 523 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
To raise with speed the siege from these our walls, And send the soldiers home from whence they came: Which if he grant me not, then must I do (Though loath) as much as right and reason would, To venge my cause that is both good and just. Yet this in heaven the Gods my records be, And here in earth each mortal man may know, That never yet my guiltless heart did fail Brotherly duty to Eteocles, And that causeless he holds me from mine own, Thus have I said O mother, even as much As needful is, wherein I me assure, That in the judgement both of good and bad, My words may seem of reason to proceed, Constrained thus in my defence to speak. None may deny, O peer of princely race, But that thy words are honest, good and just, And such as well be that song of thine. " If what to some seems honest, good and just, Could seem even so in every doubtful mind, " No dark debate nor quarrel could arise: But look, how many men so many minds, " And that, that one man judgeth good and just, Some other deems as deeply to be wrong. To say the truth (mother) this mind of mine Doth fleet full far from that farfetch of his, Ne will I longer cover my conceit: If I could rule or reign in heaven above, And eke command in depth of darksome hell, No toil ne travel should my sprites abash, To make the way unto my restless will, To climb aloft, nor down for to descend. Then think you not, that I can yield consent To yield a part of my possession, Wherein I live and lead the monarchy. " A witless fool may every man him guess, That leaves the more and takes him to the less. With this, reproach might to my name redound, If he, that hath with foreign power spoiled Our pleasant fields, might reave from me perforce, What so he list by force of arms demand. No less reproof the citizens ensues, If I, for dread of Greekish hosts, should grant That he might climb to height of his desire. In fine, he ought not thus of me to crave Accord or peace, with bloody sword in hand, But with humility and prayer both. For often is it seen, and proof doth teach, " Sweet words prevail, where sword and fire fail. Yet this, if here within these stately walls He list to live, the son of Oedipus, And not as king of Thebes, I stand content. But let him think, since now I can command, This neck of mine shall never yield to yoke Of servitude: let bring his banners splayed, Let spear and shield, sharp sword, and cindering flames Procure the part that he so vainly claims: As long as life within this breast doth last, I nill consent that he should reign with me. If law of right may any way be broke, Desire of rule within a climbing breast " To break a vow may bear the buckler best.
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)
To raise with spéede the siege from these our walles, And send the souldiers home from whence they came: Which if he graunt me not, then must I do (Though loth) as much as right and reason would, To venge my cause that is both good and iust. Yet this in heauen the Gods my records be, And here in earth each mortall man may know, That neuer yet my giltlesse heart did faile Brotherly dutie to Eteocles, And that causlesse he holdes me from mine own, Thus haue I said O mother, euen as much As néedefull is, wherein I me assure, That in the iudgement both of good and badde, My words may séeme of reason to procéede, Constrained thus in my defence to speake. None may denie, O pere of princely race, But that thy words are honest, good and iust, And such as well be séeme that ong of thine. "If what to some séemes honest, good and iust, "Could séeme euen so in euery doubtfull mind, "No darke debate nor quarell could arise: "But looke, how many men so many minds, "And that, that one man iudgeth good and iust, "Some other déemes as déepely to be wrong. To say the truth (mother) this minde of mine Doth fléete full farre from that farfetch of his, Ne will I longer couer my conceit: If I could rule or reigne in heauen aboue, And eke commaund in depth of derksome hell, No toile ne trauell should my sprites abashe, To make the way vnto my restlesse will, To climbe aloft, nor downe for to descend. Then thinke you not, that I can yeld consent To yeld a parte of my possession, Wherein I liue and lead the monarchie. "A witlesse foole may euery man him gesse, "That leaues the more and takes him to the lesse. With this, reproch might to my name redound, If he, that hath with forren power spoilde Our pleasaunt fields, might reaue from me perforce, What so he list by force of armes demand. No lesse reproofe the citizens ensewes, If I, for dread of Gréekish hosts, should graunt That he might climbe to height of his desire. In fine, he ought not thus of me to craue Accord or peace, with bloudy sword in hand, But with humilitie and prayer both. For often is it séen, and proofe doth teach, "Swete words preuaile, where sword and fire faile. Yet this, if here within these stately walles He list to liue, the sonne of Oedipus, And not as king of Thebes, I stand content. But let him thinke, since now I can commaunde, This necke of mine shall neuer yeld to yoke Of seruitude: let bring his banners splaide, Let speare and shielde, sharpe sworde, and cyndring flame Procure the parte that he so vainely claimes: As long as life within this brest doth last, I nill consent that he should reigne with me. If lawe of right may any way be broke, "Desire of rule within a climbing brest "To breake a vow may beare the buckler best.