Gascoigne, George / Kinwelmershe, Francis / Yelverton, ChristopherEuripides / Dolce, Lodovico · published 1575 · first performed or written 1566 (Annals) tragedy T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla typicality 0.73 · 545 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
Not far fro thence, the mighty Polybus, Of Corinth King, did keep his princely court, Unto whose woeful wife (lamenting much She had no offspring by her noble fere) The courteous shepherd gave my little son: Which grateful gift, the Queen did so accept, As nothing seemed more precious in her sight: Partly, for that, his features were so fine, Partly, for that, he was so beautiful, And partly, for because his comely grace Gave great suspicion of his royal blood. The infant grew, and many years was deemed Polybus' son, till time, that Oedipus (For so he named was) did understand That Polybus was not his sire in deed, Whereby forsaking friends and country there, He did return to seek his native stock: And being come into Phocides land, Took notice of the cursed oracle, How first he should his father do to death, And then become his mother's wedded mate. O fierce aspect of cruel planets all, That can decree such seas of heinous faults. Then Oedipus, freight full of chilling fear, By all means sought t' avoid this furious fate, But whiles he weened to shun the shameful deed, Unluckily guided by his own mishap, He fell into the snare that most he feared: For lo, in Phocides did Laius' lie, To end the broils that civil discord than Had raised up in that unquiet land, By means whereof my woeful Oedipus, Affording aid unto the other side, With murdering blade unwares his father slew. Thus heavenly doom, thus fate, thus powers divine, Thus wicked read of Prophets took effect: Now only rests to end the bitter hap Of me, of me his miserable mother. Alas, how cold I feel the quaking blood Pass too and fro within my trembling breast? Oedipus, when this bloody deed was done, Forced forth by fatal doom, to Thebes came, Where as full soon with glory he achieved The crown and sceptre of this noble land, By conquering Sphinx that cruel monster lo, That erst destroyed this goodly flowering soil: And thus did I (O hateful thing to hear) To my own son become a wretched wife. No marvel, though the golden Sun withdrew His glittering beams from such a sinful fact. And so by him that from this belly sprang, I brought to light (O cursed that I am) Aswell two sons, as daughters also twain: But when this monstrous marriage was disclosed, So sore began the rage of boiling wrath To swell within the furious breast of him, As he himself by stress of his own nails, Out of his head did tear his griefful eyen, Unworthy more to see the shining light. How could it be, that knowing he had done So foul a blot, he would remain alive? So deeply faulteth none, the which unwares Doth fall into the crime he can not shun: And he (alas) unto his greater grief, Prolongs the date of his accursed days, Knowing that life doth more and more increase The cruel plagues of his detested guilt, Where stroke of griefly death doth set an end Unto the pangs of man's increasing pain. Of others all, most cause have we to moon Thy woeful smart (O miserable Queen) Such and so many are thy grievous harms.
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)
Not farre fro thence, the mightie Polibus, Of Corinth King, did kéepe his princely court, Vnto whoſe wofull wife (lamenting muche Shée had no ofſpring by hir noble phéere) The curteous ſhepherd gaue my little ſonne: Which gratefull gift, the Quéene did ſo accept, As nothing ſéemde more precious in hir ſight: Partly, for that, his faitures were ſo fine, Partly, for that, he was ſo beautifull, And partly, for bicauſe his comely grace Gaue great ſuſpicion of his royall bloude. The infant grewe, and many yeares was demde Polibus ſonne, till time, that Oedipus (For ſo he named was) did vnderſtande That Polibus was not his ſire in déede, Whereby forſaking frendes and countrie there, He did returne to ſeeke his natiue ſtocke: And being come into Phocides lande, Toke notice of the curſed oracle, How firſt he ſhoulde his father doe to death, And then become his mothers wedded mate. O fierce aſpect of cruell planets all, That can decrée ſuch ſeas of heynous faultes. Then Oedipus, fraight full of chilling feare, By all meanes ſought t' auoyde this furious fate, But whiles he wéende to ſhunne the ſhameful déede, Vnluckly guided by his owne miſhappe, He fell into the ſnare that moſt he feared: For loe, in Phocides did Laius lye, To ende the broyles that ciuill diſcorde then Had rayſed vp in that vnquiet lande, By meanes whereof my wofull Oedipus, Affording ayde vnto the other ſide, With murdring blade vnwares his father ſlewe. Thus heauenly doome, thus fate, thus powers diuine, Thus wicked reade of Prophets tooke effect: Now onely reſtes to ende the bitter happe Of me, of me his miſerable mother. Alas, how colde I féele the quaking bloud Paſſe too and fro within my trembling breſt? Oedipus, when this bloudy déede was doone, Forſt foorth by fatall doome, to Thebes came, Where as full ſoone with glory he atchieude The crowne and ſcepter of this noble lande, By conquering Sphinx that cruell monſter loe, That earſt deſtroyde this goodly flouring ſoyle: And thus did I (O hatefull thing to heare) To my owne ſonne become a wretched wife. No meruayle, though the golden Sunne withdrew His glittering beames from ſuche a ſinfull facte. And ſo by him that from this belly ſprang, I brought to light (O curſed that I am) Aſwell two ſonnes, as daughters alſo twaine: But when this monſtrous mariage was diſcloſde, So ſore began the rage of boyling wrath To ſwell within the furious breſt of him, As he him ſelfe by ſtreſſe of his owne nayles, Out of his head did teare his griefull eyne, Vnworthy more to ſée the ſhining light. How could it be, that knowing he had done So foule a blot, he would remayne aliue? So déepely faulteth none, the which vnwares "Doth fall into the crime he can not ſhunne: And he (alas) vnto his greater gréefe, Prolongs the date of his accurſed dayes, Knowing that life doth more and more increaſe The cruell plages of his deteſted gilte, "Where ſtroke of griefly death dothe ſet an ende "Vnto the pangs of mans increaſing payne. Of others all, moſte cauſe haue we to mone Thy wofull ſmarte (O miſerable Quéene) Such and ſo many are thy gréeuous harmes.