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 0.87 · 491 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
Then shall I say that best doth seem to me? Yea Creon yea, thy counsel hold I dear. Seven men of courage have they chosen out. A slender number for so great emprise. But they them chose for guides and captains. To such an host? why they may not suffice. Nay, to assault the seven gates of the city. What then behoveth so bestead to done? With equal number see you do them match. And then commit our men in charge to them? Choosing the best and boldest bloods in Thebes. And how shall I the City then defend? Well with the rest, for one man sees not all. And shall I choose the boldest or the wisest? Nay both, for one without that other fails. " Force without wisdom then is little worth. That one must be fast to that other joined Creon I will thy counsel follow still, For why, I hold it wise and trusty both, And out of hand for now I will depart That I in time the better may provide Before occasion slip out of my hands, And that I may this Polynices' quell: For well may I with bloudy knife him le That comes in arms my country for to spoil, But if so please to fortune and to fate That other end than I do think may fall, To thee my friend it resteth to procure The marriage twixt my sister Antigone And thy dear son Haemon, to whom for dower At parting thus I promise to perform As much as late I did behest to thee: My mother's blood and brother dear thou art, Ne need I crave of thee to guard her well, As for my father care I not, for if So chance I die, it may full well be said His bitter curses brought me to my bane, The Lord defend, for that unworthy were. Of Thebes town the rule and sceptre lo I need nor ought it other wise dispose Than unto thee, if I die without heir. Yet longs my lingering mind to understand The doubtful end of this unhappy war: Wherefore I will thou send thy son to seek Tiresias the divine, and learn of him, For at my call I know he will not come That often have his arts and him reproved. As you command, so ought I to perform. And last, I thee and city both command, If fortune friendly favour our attempts, And make our men triumphant victors all, That none there be so hardy ne so bold For Polynices' bones to give a grave: And who presumes to break my hest herein, Shall die the death in penance of his pain, For though I were by blood to him conjoined I part it now, and justice goeth with me To guide my steps victoriously before. Pray you to Ioue he deign for to defend, Our City safe both now and evermore.
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)
Then shall I say that best doth séeme to me? Yea Creon yea, thy counsell holde I deare. Seuen men of courage haue they chosen out. A slender number for so great emprise. But they them chose for guides and capitaynes. To suche an hoste? why they may not suffise. Nay, to assault the seuen gates of the citie. What then behoueth so bestad to done? With equall number sée you do them matche. And then commit our men in charge to them? Chusing the best and boldest blouds in Thebes. And how shall I the Citie then defende? Well with the rest, for one man sées not all. And shall I chuse the boldest or the wisest? Nay both, for one without that other fayles. "Force without wisedome then is litle worthe. That one must be fast to that other ioynde Creon I will thy counsell follow still, For why, I hold it wise and trusty both, And out of hand for now I will departe That I in time the better may prouide Before occasion slip out of my handes, And that I may this Pollinices quell: For well may I with bloudy knife him le That commes in armes my countrie for to spoyle, But if so please to fortune and to fate That other ende than I doe thinke may fall, To thée my frend it resteth to procure The mariage twixt my sister Antygone And thy deare sonne Haemone, to whom for dowre At parting thus I promise to performe As much as late I did beheste to thée: My mothers bloude and brother deare thou arte, Ne néede I craue of thée to garde hir well, As for my father care I not, for if So chaunce I dye, it may full well be sayd His bitter curses brought me to my bane, The Lord defend, for that vnworthy were. Of Thebes towne the rule and scepter loe I néede nor ought it other wise dispose Than vnto thée, if I dye without heyre. Yet longs my lingring mynde to vnderstande The doubtfull ende of this vnhappie warre: Wherfore I will thou send thy sonne to seke Tyresias the deuine, and learne of him, For at my call I knowe he will not come That often haue his artes and him reproude. As you commaund, so ought I to performe. And last, I thée and citie both commaund, If fortune frendly fauour our attemptes, And make our men triumphant victors al, That none there be so hardie ne so bolde For Pollinices bones to giue a graue: And who presumes to breake my heste berein, Shall dye the death in penaunce of his paine, For thoughe I were by bloud to him conioynde I part it now, and iustice goeth with me To guide my steppes victoriously before. Pray you to Ioue he deigne for to defende, Our Citie safe both nowe and euermore.