Cartwright, William · published 1639 · first performed or written 1636 [Aug 30] (Annals) tragicomedy · King's Men · before the Court unassigned nearest T17 Eastern conquest: Persians, Turks and so · 478 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
Sirrah jailor, see you send Mistress Turnkey your wife to take us up whores enough: and be sure she let none of the young Students of the Law forestall the Market. Peace, the King approaches: stand in your ranks orderly, and show your breeding; and be sure you blow nothing on the Lords. ARe these the fairest, and the handsomest 'mong all the Captives? There is one more which I set apart; a good personable fellow, but he's wondrous heavy and bookish, and therefore I thought him unfit for any honour. Go call him forth; there's none of all these has A Forehead for a Crown; their blood runs thick, As if't would blot a sword. See, there comes one Armed with a serious and Majestic look, As if he'd read Philosophy to a King: We've conquered something now. What readst thou there? I believe he's cunning a Hymn against the good Time. 'Tis a discourse o'th' Nature of the Soul; That shows the vicious Slaves, but the well inclined Free, and their own though conquered. Thou dost speak As if thou wert victorious, not Arsamnes. I not deny your Conquest, for you may Have virtues to entitle't yours; but otherwise, If one of strange and ill contrived desires, One of a narrow or intemperate mind Prove Master of the field, I cannot say That he hath conquered, but that he hath had A good hand of it; he hath got the day, But not subdued the men: Victory being Not fortune's gift, but the deservings Purchase, Whom dost thou call deserving? Him, who dares Die next his heart in cold blood; him, who fights Not out of thirst, or the unbridled lust Of a fleshed sword, but out of Conscience To kill the Enemy, not the man. Who when The Lawrell's planted on his brow, ev'n then Under that safe-protecting Wreath, will not Contemn the Thunderer, but will Acknowledge all his strength derived, and in A pious way of gratitude return Some of the spoil to Heaven in Sacrifice; As Tenants do the first fruits of their Trees, In an acknowledgement that the rest is due. True, Tell me, wert thou then to pay thy vows What wouldst thou sacrifice? the best, or worst? The best, unto the Best. If I had destined An Ox unto the Altar, he should be Fair, and well fed; for th' Deity doth not love The maimed, or misshapen, 'cause it is A thing so different from himself, deformity Being one of Nature's trespasses: he should Be crowned then, and conducted solemnly, That my Religion might be specious, 'Twere stealth else, not Devotion. Bravely said. But ('t's pity) thou hast reasoned all this while Against thyself, for our Religion doth Require the Immolation of one Captive; And thou hast proved that he is best bellowed That best deserveth to be spared.
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)
Sirrah Gaolor, see you send Mistris Turne-key your wife to take us up whores enough: and be sure she let none of the young Students of the Law fore-stall the Market. Peace, the King approaches: stand in your rankes orderly, and shew your breeding; and be sure you blow nothing on the Lords. ARe these the fairest, and the handsomest 'mong all the Captives? There is one more which I set apart; a good personable fellow, but he's wondrous heavy and bookish, and therefore I thought him unfit for any honour. Goe call him forth; there's none of all these has A Forehead for a Crowne; their blood runnes thicke, As if't would blot a sword. See, there comes one Arm'd with a serious and Majestique looke, As if hee'd read Philosophy to a King: We've conquer'd something now. What readst thou there? I beleeve hee's conning a Hymne against the good Time. 'Tis a discourse o'th' Nature of the Soule; That shewes the vitious Slaves, but the well inclin'd Free▪ and their owne though conquer'd. Thou dost speake As if thou wert victorious, not Arsamnes. I not deny your Conquest, for you may Have vertues to entitle't yours; but otherwise, If one of strange and ill contriv'd desires, One of a narrow or intemperate minde Prove Master of the field, I cannot say That he hath conquer'd, but that he hath had A good hand of it; he hath got the day, But not subdued the men: Victory being Not fortunes gift, but the deservings Purchase, Whom dost thou call deserving? Him, who dares Dy next his heart in cold blood; him, who fights Not out of thirst, or the unbridled lust Of a flesh'd sword, but out of Conscience To kill the Enemy, not the man. Who when The Lawrell's planted on his brow, ev'n then Under that safe-protecting Wreath, will not Contemne the Thunderer, but will Acknowledge all his strength deriv'd, and in A pious way of gratitude returne Some of the spoyle to Heav'n in Sacrifice; As Tenants doe the first fruits of their Trees, In an acknowledgment that the rest is due. True, Tell me, wert thou then to pay thy vowes What wouldst thou sacrifice? the best, or worst? The best, unto the Best. If I had destin'd An Oxe unto the Altar, he should be Faire, and well fed; for th' Deity doth not love The maymed, or mishapen, 'cause it is A thing so different from himselfe, deformity Being one of Natures trespasses: he should Be crown'd then, and conducted solemnly, That my Religion might be specious, 'Twere stealth else, not Devotion. Bravely sayd. But (t's pitty) thou hast reasoned all this while Against thy selfe, for our Religion doth Require the Immolation of one Captive; And thou hast prov'd that he is best bellow'd That best deserveth to be spar'd.