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 · 515 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
Is it not lawful to Salute the Persian Mock-King, think y', unless We bring a Gift? I'd thought the name of Ephesus Had privileged our access. Think on the honours, The long continuing honours, that you shall Receive at home; think on those numerous tears That you shall wipe away from flowing Eyes, At the first sight of Liberty. Your approach Will entice Cities out of Houses; th' aged, And the young too; the Matron, and the Virgin, All mingled in a blessed confusion, Will in a solemn full Procession come, And with that great Religion bring you in, As if their Captive Gods were brought them back. Come then a King home, that went'st out a Slave. I am so still; no sooner did I come Within the Persian Walls, but I was theirs. And since, good Hippias, this power hath only Added one link more to the Chain. I am Become Arsamnes Instrument: I've sworn Faith to his Sceptre and himself, and must Ask his leave, ere I do betray his Country. You're free enough against us. O the justice Of an unnatural Son! yet ask yourself; Ought that be ratified that's done by force? As if the valiant could be forced by any. You shall not change your fortune, you shall only Pass to another Empire; and for that Right may be violated. Empires are Desired for glory; be all wickedness then Far absent, for in that there can be none. You are resolved to reason yourself then Into a measured unthankfulness? what can Hinder this good t'your Country, but yourself? Fear'st thou the Thunder, and the Gods? the anger O'th' Grecian Powers will be upon thee, if Thou not restor'st them to their seats. On then, Thou undertakest their cause, thou fightest their war. I cannot tell what powers you pretend; Tell me of Justice and Fidelity, These are the Grecian Gods. Be then thy name Blasted to all Posterity, and let Our wretched Nephews, when then Souls shall labour Under the Persian Yoke, curse thee, and say, This slavery we owe unto Cratander. Pray stay, I will go with you, and consider, How am I straightened! Life is short unto me: And th' good man's End ought still to be a business. We must die doing something, lest perhaps We lose our Deaths; we must not yet do ill That we misplace not Action: If I strike On this hand, I'm a Parricide; if on that, The same brand waits me too: how do I tremble, Like to the doubtful Needle twixt two Loadstones, At once inclining unto both, and neither! Here Piety calls me, there my Justice stops me. It is resolved; Faith shall consist with both; And aged Fame after my Death shall tell, Betwixt two sins, Cratander did do well. SEt a watch at the door, to keep out sleep; He's mortal that offers to betray so much weakness As to wink. Here Archippus. May not a man wink without mortality, When he lets it go down? Here Stratocles. I do state winking in that case divine.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T18 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Is it not lawfull to Salute the Persian Mock-King, thinke y', unlesse We bring a Guift? I'd thought the name of Ephesus Had priviledg'd our accesse. Thinke on the honours, The long continuing honours, that you shall Receive at home; thinke on those numerous teares That you shall wipe away from flowing Eyes, At the first sight of Liberty. Your approach Will entice Cities out of Houses; th' aged, And the young too; the Matron, and the Virgin, All mingled in a blest confusion, Will in a solemne full Procession come, And with that great Religion bring you in, As if their Captive Gods were brought them backe. Come then a King home, that went'st out a Slave. I am so still; no sooner did I come Within the Persian Walles, but I was theirs▪ And since, good Hippias, this pow'r hath only Added one linke more to the Chayne. I am Become Arsamnes Instrument: I've sworne Faith to his Scepter and himselfe, and must Aske his leave, e're I doe betray his Country. You're free enough against us. O the justice Of an unnaturall Sonne! yet aske your selfe; Ought that be ratify'd that's done by force? As if the valiant could be forc'd by any. You shall not change your fortune, you shall only Passe to another Empire; and for that Right may be violated. Empires are Desir'd for glory; be all wickednesse then Farre absent, for in that there can be none. You are resolv'd to reason your selfe then Into a measur'd unthankefulnesse? what can Hinder this good t'your Country, but your selfe? Fear'st thou the Thunder, and the Gods? the anger O'th' Grecian Pow'rs will be upon thee, if Thou not restor'st them to their seats. On then, Thou undertak'st their cause, thou fight'st their warre▪ I cannot tell what powers you pretend; Tell me of Justice and Fidelity, These are the Grecian Gods. Be then thy name Blasted to all Posterity, and let Our wretched Nephewes, when then Soules shall labour Under the Persian Yoake, curse thee, and say, This slavery we owe unto Cratander. Pray stay, I will goe with you, and consider, How am I streightned! Life is short unto me: And th' good man's End ought still to be a businesse▪ We must dy doing something, least perhaps We loose our Deaths; we must not yet doe ill That we misplace not Action: If I strike On this hand, I'm a Parricide; if on that, The same brand waytes me too: how doe I tremble, Like to the doubtfull Needle 'twixt two Loadstones, At once inclining unto both, and neither! Here Piety calls me, there my Justice stops me. It is resolv'd; Faith shall consist with both; And aged Fame after my Death shall tell, Betwixt two sinnes, Cratander did do well. SEt a watch at the doore, to keepe out sleepe; He's mortall that offers to betray so much weaknes As to winke. Here Archippus. May not a man winke without mortality, When he lets it goe downe? Here Stratocles. I doe state winking in that case divine.