Lower, William · published 1639 · first performed or written 1639 [c.1622-1639] (Annals) not in BritDrama T17 Eastern conquest: Persians, Turks and so typicality 0.77 · 563 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
Sir, I am your tutor, And I must chide you though you are my Prince, When I perceive you err as now you do Through weakness of your youth▪ else I should show No love nor duty, these grey hairs of mine, Which time hath turned into a silver hue, Know something of the world, and my experience, howe'er you slight it, hath seen many changes And alterations wrought in mighty states. I have waded through the various passages Of a long life, and therefore can instruct Your youth in the right way, if you but lend An ear unto my counsels: hark my son, I'll tell you plainly, you degenerate In this intemperance of your grief, From the brave stock of your progenitors, Your royal predecessors; fie for shame, Wrong not your virtue to be desperate, O bury not in the forgetful grave, Nor drown in this Laethean flood your glories, Your former glories purchased on your foes By your so oft relieving of your country▪ Rouse up your drowsy spirits, and mitigate Your swelling passions, till I find a way, A way to cure your sorrows. Heaven reward thee For this sweet balsam thou hast poured into My wounded heart, your words have eased me of A great part of the burden which oppressed me, And I refer me wholly to your wisdom, To perfect what you have so well begun; Now to my letter, here's sad matter sure. Sir, so miserable is the state and condition of the town for want of food to sustain us (as this bearer can more particularly inform you) that unless we have speedy relief, I fear Damascus will be taken in upon an assault, for our men are so weak through hunger, as they are scarce able to come up and visit the breach, notwithstanding we are resolved rather to die there, then surrender: so much we prefer your good before our own safety. Now Consolario, what will you advise me To do in this extremity of fate? Hark how the Ordnance battereth the walls Of yond fair City, how the Musketeers Discharge whole volleys; 'tis some sally sure, Made by the brave besieged; how do I talk, They are too weak, too feeble to attempt it, Poor hunger-starved souls; may it not be A Mine sprung in the rampire of the town, And an assault made? O I fear 'tis so, My minde presageth ill, mine armes, sa, a, I'll once again attempt for to relieve it, Although repulsed last. Sir, 'tis in vain, They are too strong entrenched for your weak power To make an entrance, had you not experience Too sad, last time by loss of your own blood, And slaughter of your men, what folly 'twas For to attempt impossibilities? You may fall on, and lose yourself and soldiers Unnecessarily, and to no purpose: But this yond cannot term true fortitude, But rather rashness and temerity; For 'tis a policy in war, sometimes For to preserve your soldiers, as it is At other times to put them upon service: But 'tis not proper now, stay and attend The sequel of this business. Colonel, Can you inform the Prince what did occasion The shooting that we heard now near the town: V▪ as it a sally▪ or a triumph made By the Tartarians for their good success. In conquering this Kingdom?
seed 43: T18 · seed 44: T18 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Sir, I am your tutor, And I must chide you though you are my Prince, When I perceive you erre as now you doe Through weakenesse of your you ▪ ee I should show No love nor duty, these grey haires of mine, Which time hath turn'd into a silver hue, Know something of the world, and my experience, How ere you slight it, hath seene many changes And alterations wrought in mighty states. I have waded through the various passages Of a long life, and therefore can instruct Your youth in the right way, if you but lend An eare unto my counsels: harke my sonne, I'le tell you plainely, you degenerate In this intemperance of your griefe, From the brave stock of your progenitors, Your royall predecessors; fie for shame, Wrong not your vertue to be desperate, O bury not in the forgetfull grave, Nor drown in this Laethean floud your glories, Your former glories purchas'd on your foes By your so oft relieving of your country▪ Rowse up your drowsie spirits, and mitigate Your swelling passions, till I finde a way, A way to cure your sorrowes. Heaven reward thee For this sweet Balsom thou hast powr'd into My wounded heart, your words have eas'd me of A great part of the burthen which oppress'd me, And I referre me wholly to your wisedome, To perfect what you have so well begun; Now to my letter, here's sad matter sure. Sir, so miserable is the state and condition of the towne for want of food to sustaine us (as this bearer can more particularly informe you) that unlesse we have speedy reliefe, I feare Damascus will be taken in upon an assault, for our me are so weake through hunger, as they are scarce able to come up and visit the breach, notwithstanding we are resolved rather to dye there, then surrender: so much we preferre your good before our own safety. Now Consolario, what will you advise me To doe in this extremity of fate? Harke how the Ordnance battereth the walles Of yond faire City, how the Muskettiers Discharge whole volleyes; 'tis some salley sure, Made by the brave besieg'd; how doe I talke, They are too weake, too feeble to attempt it, Poore hunger-sterv'd soules; may it not be A Mine sprung in the rampire of the towne, And an assault made? O I feare 'tis so, My minde presageth ill, mine armes, sa, a, I'le once againe attempt for to relieve it, Although repulsed last. Sir, 'tis in vaine, They are too strong entrench'd for your weake power To make an entrance, had you not experience Too sad, last time by lsse of your owne bloud, And slaughter of your men, what folly 'twas For to attempt impossibilities? You may fall on, and loose your selfe and souldiers Vnnecessarily, and to no purpose: But this yon cannot terme true ortitude, But rather rashnese and temerity; For 'tis a policy in warre, sometimes For to preserve your souldiers, as it is At other times to put them upon service: But 'tis not proper now, stay and attend The sequell of this businesse. Colonell, Can you informe the Prince what did occasion The shooting that we heard now nee the town: V▪ as it a sally▪ or a triumph made By the Tartarians for their good successe. In conquering this Kingdom?