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 · 501 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
Then I will give you documents of war, And rudiments of martial discipline. But first you must shake off unworthy thoughts, And stick to virtuous actions, ere you can Rightly attain this knowledge, you must not Seek by unlawful means to gather wealth, Or to extort by violence and wrong, What doth not rightly appertain to you. You must not rob poor passengers, nor take Them prisoners on their way, you must forget Your outrages, your murders, rapes, and thefts, And put on other habits which may suit This our profession. But then how shall we Subsist and live? I'll tell you how you shall More rich than ever, and yet honestly And honourably too. What news my friends? Strange unexpected news we have received, The Persian army is at hand and ready To enter in the deserts, and are marching In hostile manner to th' Arabian Court, Burning and spoiling all the land before them. But can you understand what moved the Persian To enter into war against the King, And to invade his Country? 'Tis because He was informed, though falsely, that the rape On fair Lucinda was committed by The king's command, and she detained at Court. How came you Sirs by this intelligence? We had it from a prisoner, which our men Took of the Persians, who it seems, is one Of the fore-riders of the camp. Here's work, And brave employment for you, here you can Get wealth and honour too, and do your King And Country service: here's boot enough, Win it and wear it; now courage my hearts. Sir, from the top of yonder lofty mountain, The sentinel discovers dust to rise From up the champain country, and doth hear Drums beating of a march, and trumpets sounding, Which makes us doubt an army. Let them come, we'll stand upon our guard for to receive them, Yet we'll do things discreetly too, and not Give battle rashly, for the Persian army Is rich and mighty, not for us to deal with But upon great advantages: attend My words, we'll lie close in our ambuscadoes Until we hear the vanguard of their army, And battle is marched by, then on the rear We will fall on, and fiercely give the charge Upon the narrow passage, so before The vanguard and the battle can assist, We shall cut of their baggage, and retire With all our wealth into the Caves and Mountains Safe from the strongest forces of the world; I'll bring you on and off with honour Sirs. Go one brave Captain with success, and we In all thy bold attempts will second thee. Now fellow soldiers is not this more honourable, And profitable too? To beat an army, Then to oppress poor pilgrims, and the like, Who travel for devotions sake unto The tomb of famed Mahomet at Maecha? Sure you must needs confess it. We extol And magnify this change of discipline. and will conform ourselves to any thing You shall command us.
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)
Then I will give you documents of warre, And rudiments of martiall discipline. But first you must shake off unworthy thoughts, And sticke to vertuous actions, re you can Rightly attaine this knowledge, you must not Seeke by unlawfull meanes to gather wealth, Or to extort by violence and wrong, What doth not rightly appertaine to you. You must not rob poore passengers, nor take Them prisoners on their way, you ust forget Your out-rages, your murthers, rapes, and thes, And put on other habits which may suit This our profession. But then how shall we Subsist and live? I'le tell you how you shall More rich then ever, and yet honestly And honourably too. What newes my friends? Strange unexpected newes we have receiv'd, The Persian army is at hand and ready To enter in the desarts, and are marching In hostile manner to th' Arabian Court, Burning and spoyling all the land before them. But can you understand what mov'd the Persian To enter into warre against the King, And to invade his Country? 'Tis because He was inform'd, though falsly, that the rape On faire Lucinda was committed by The Kings command, and she detain'd at Court. How came you Sirs by this intelligence? We had it from a prisoner, which our men Tooke of the Persians, who it seemes, is one Of the fore-riders of the camp. Here's worke, And brave employment for you, here you can Get wealth and honour too▪ and doe your King And Country service: here's boot enough, Winne it and weare it; now courage my hearts. Sir, from the top of yonder lofty mountaine, The sentinell discovers dust to rise From up the champain country, and doth heare Drums beating of a march, and trumpets sounding, Which makes us doubt an army. Let them come, Wee'l stand upon our guard for to receive them, Yet wee'l doe things discreetly too, and not Give battell rashly, for the Persian army Is rich and mighty, not for us to deale with But upon great advantages: attend My words, we'll lye close in our ambuscadoes Vntill we heare the vantguard of their army, And battell is march'd by, then on the reare We will fall on, and fercely give the charge Vpon the narrow passage, so before The vanguard and the battell can assist, We shall cut of their baggage, and retire With all our wealth into the Caves and Mountaines Safe from the strongest forces of the world; I'le bring you on and off with honour Sirs. Goe one brave Captaine with successe, and we In all thy bould attempts will second thee. Now fellow souldiers is not this more honorable, And profitable too? o beate an army, Then to oppresse poore pilgrimes, and the like, Who travell for devotions sake unto The tombe of famed Mahomet at Maecha? Sure you must needs confesse it. We extoll And magnifie this change of discipline. and will conforme our selves to any thing You shall command us.