Lower, William · published 1639 · first performed or written 1639 [c.1622-1639] (Annals) not in BritDrama T17 Eastern conquest: Persians, Turks and so typicality 0.80 · 475 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
Royal Sir there is A Herald now arrived unto the Court Sent from the General of the Persian army, Who craves he may deliver what in charge Was given him by the Prince. He shall be heard, Admit him to the presence. Speak your business. Then this it is my sovereign Lord and Prince, Demands surrender of the fair Lucinda Th' Egyptian Princess his betrothed love, Upon whose person in your Kingdom here, There was a rape committed; if she be not Returned unspotted in her reputation, And all her goods, her gold and precious jewels Restored, and a full satisfaction made Unto the utmost doit, he vows by heaven To lay Arabia waste, until it be Reduced unto a wilderness, and made A habitation for the forlorn Owl, The Bat, and other birds of dismal night, That shun and hate th'appearance of the light. Tell Perseus we do not doubt his power, But dare his utmost malice, and because We would not have him live in ignorance, Give him to understand that we know nothing Of what befell the Princess, and this is The first time that we heard it; for the wrong He doth us in invading of our land, Without just cause, he shall be answerable: So much inform thy master. 'Tis my duty. This is strange news, Allecto is it not? The soldan's daughter raped, and we not know it Till now, and yet done in our kingdom too? How should it be? let us consider of it; I now have found it, and 'tis probable, How think you? may it not be by the thieves That live among the deserts? so it is Upon my life, for that way she must pass To travel into Persia, and we know Their strength too well: these villains in this war Will more annoy us then the Persian army: Heaven look upon us, for we stand in danger, Between a forragne and domesticke soe: We sail between the rocks, the shelves, the shores Of Scylla and Charybdis, yet we may Escape those dangers, if th' immortal Gods Commit the balance to Astrea's hands, To weigh our causes; let our fortune be According to our right, and we agree. Now fellow soldiers, since you have committed This place of Captain to me, and submitted yourselves to my command, I must reduce you Into another way, another form, Another course of life more honourable, And make you worthy of that glorious title And attribute of soldier, which as yet You but usurp and wrongfully apply Unto yourselves: I do assure you this, You shall not have occasion to complain, Or to repent the change. Sir, you shall mould us Into what form or fashion you please. Our minds shall be as soft and tractable To your commands, as Virgin wax unto Th'impression of the seal.
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)
Royall Sir there is A Herauld now arrivi'd unto the Court Sent from the Generall of the Persian armie, Who craves he may deliver what in charge Was given him by the Prince. He shall e heard, Admit him to the presence. Speake your businesse. The this it is my soveraigne Lord and Prince, Demands surrender of the aire Lucinda Th' Egyptian Princesse his betrothed love, Vpon whose person in your Kingdome here, There was a rape committed; if she be not Return'd unspotted in her reputation, And all her goods, her gold and pretious jewels Restor'd, and a full satisfaction made Vnto the utmost doit, he vowes by heaven To lay Arabia wast, untill it be Reduc'd unto a wildernsse, and made A habitation or the forlorne Owle, The Bat, and other birds of dismall night, That shun and hate th'appearance of the light. Tell Perseus we doe not doubt his power, But dare his utmost malice, and because We would not have him live in ignorance, Give him to understand that we know nothing Of what befell the Princesse, and this is The first time that we heard it; for the wrong He doth us in invading of our land, Without just cause, he shall be answerable: So much informe thy master. 'Tis my duty. This is strange newes, Alecto is it no? The Souldans daughter rap'd, and we not know it Till now, and yet done in our kingdome too? How should it be? let us consider of it; I now have found it, and 'tis probable, How thinke you? may it not be by the theeves That live among the desarts? so it is Vpon my life, for that way she must passe To travell into Persia, and we know Their strength too well: these villaines in this warre Will more annoy us then the Persian army: Heaven looke upon us, for we stand in danger, Between a forragne and domesticke soe: We saile between the rockes, the shelves, the shores Of Scylla and Charibdis, yet we may Escape those dangers, if th' immortall Gods Commit the ballance to Astrea's hands, To weigh our causes; let our fortune be According to our right, and we agree. Now fellow souldiers, since you have committed This place of Captaine to me, and submitted Your selues to my command, I must reduce you Into another way, another forme, Another course of life more honourable, And make you worthy of that glorious title And attribute of souldier, which as yet You but usurpe and wrongfully apply Vnto your selves: I doe assure you this, You shall not have occasion to complaine, Or to repent the change. Sir, you shall mould us Into what forme or fashion you please. Our mindes shall be as soft and tractable To your commands, as Virgin waxe unto Th'impression of the seale.