Gascoigne, George / Kinwelmershe, Francis / Yelverton, ChristopherEuripides / Dolce, Lodovico · published 1575 · first performed or written 1566 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T11 Siblings, kin and confidants · 495 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T11: sister, brother, love, friend, heart, father, mother, woman, lord, hear.
The love I bear to my sweet Polynices, My dear brother, is only cause hereof. Why daughter, know'st thou any remedy How to defend thy father's city here From that outrage and fierce repining wrath, Which he against it, justly hath conceived? O governor might this my faultless blood Suffice to stay my brethren's dire debate, With glad content I could afford my life Betwixt them both to plant a perfect peace. But since (alas) I cannot as I would, A hot desire inflames my fervent mind To have a sight of my sweet Polynices. Wherefore (good guide) vouchsafe to guide me up Into some tower about this hugy court, From whence I may behold our enemy's camp, Thereby at lest to feed my hungry eyes But with the sight of my beloved brother: Then if I die, contented shall I die. O princely dame, the tender care thou tak'st Of thy dear brother, deserveth double praise: Yet crav'st thou that, which cannot be obtained, By reason of the distance from the town Unto the plain, where th'army lies encamped: And furthermore, beseemeth not a maid To show herself in such unseemly place, Whereas among such young and lusty troops Of harebrained soldiers marching to and fro, Both honest name and honour is impaired: But yet rejoice, sith this thy great desire, Without long let, or yet without thy pain, At wish and will shortly may be fulfilled. For Polynices forthwith will hither come, Even I myself was lately at the camp, Commanded by the Queen to bid him come, Who laboureth still to link in friendly league, Her jarring sons (which hap so hoped for, eftsoons I pray the gracious gods to grant) And sure I am, that ere this hour pass, Thou shalt him here in person safely see. O loving friend, dost thou then warrant me, That Polynices will come unto this court? Ere thou he ware thou shalt him here behold. And who (alas) doth warrant his adventure, That of Eteocles he take no harm? 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 Polynices to enter civil wars Is overgreat, 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, Sigh they be just, their mercy is at hand, To help the weak when worldly force doth fail.
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)
The loue I beare to my ſwéete Polynice, My deare brother, is onely cauſe hereof. Why daughter, knowſt thou any remedie How to defend thy fathers citie here From that outrage and fierce repyning wrathe, Which he againſt it, iuſtly hath conceiued? Oh gouernour might this my faultleſſe bloude Suffiſe to ſtay my brethrens dyre debate, With glad content I coulde afford my life Betwixte them both to plant a perfect peace. But ſince (alas) I cannot as I woulde, A hote deſire enflames my feruent mind To haue a ſight of my ſwéete Polynice. Wherfore (good guide) vouchſafe to guide me vp Into ſome tower about this hugie court, From whence I may behold our enemies campe, Therby at leaſt to féede my hungry eyes But with the ſight of my beloued brother: Then if I die, contented ſhall I die. O princly dame, the tender care thou takſte Of thy deare brother, deſerueth double praiſe: Yet crau'ſt thou that, which cannot be obtainde, By reaſon of the diſtance from the towne Vnto the plaine, where tharmie lies incampte: And furthermore, beſemeth not a maide To ſhew hir ſelfe in ſuch vnſéemly place, Whereas among ſuch yong and luſtie troupes Of harebrainde ſouldiers marching to and fro, Both honeſt name and honour is empairde: But yet reioyce, ſith this thy great deſire, Without long let, or yet without thy paine, At wiſhe and will ſhortly may be fulfillde. For Polynice forthwith will hither come, Euen I my ſelfe was lately at the campe, Commaunded by the Quéene to bid him come, Who laboureth ſtill to linke in frendly league, Hir iarring ſonnes (which happe ſo hoped for, Eftſones I pray the gracious gods to graunt) And ſure I am, that ere this hour paſſe, Thou ſhalt him here in perſon ſafely ſée. O louing frend, doeſt thou then warrant me, That Polynice will come vnto this court? Ere thou he ware thou ſhalt him here beholde. And who (alas) doth warrant his aduenture, That of Eteocles he take no harme? 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 comforte 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 Polynice to enter ciuil warres Is ouergreat, and for this onely cauſe Full many men haue broke the lawes of truth, And topſie turuie 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.