Cartwright, William · published 1639 · first performed or written 1636 [Aug 30] (Annals) tragicomedy · King's Men · before the Court unassigned nearest T5 Christian faith, sin and salvation · 482 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
These tears do neither befit you to pay, Nor me to take; be then Arsamnes, on. I feel a numbness seize me; I am stone; I shall not lift mine arm against thee. Sure The God's desire it not. Thou o bright Sun who seest all. Look down upon our Captives fall. Never was purer Sacrifice: 'Tis not a Man, but Virtue dies. While thus we pay our thanks, propitious be; And grant us either Peace or Victory. But thou o Sun mayst set, and then In brightness rise next morn again. He, when he shall once leave this light, Will make and have eternal night. Good deeds may pass for Sacrifice, o then Accept the Virtues, and give back the Man. Hold, hold Arsamnes; Heaven is not pleased with your Sacrifice. The glorious Sun hath veiled his face in clouds Not willing to behold it, and the skies Have shed such numerous tears, as have put out The fire though fully kindled. Thou hast now, The voice and visage of the Gods, good Priest. The Heavens were never more serene. The Gods Have justified my care, Cratander. Happy news, Death sends thee back unto us; this comes not From any humane power; 'tis not my hand That spares thee, blessed Cratander, 'tis some God, Some God reserves thee unto greater works For us, and for thy Country. Being then You so interpret it, I'll thus divide That life they lend me, one half shall be yours, The other Ephesus's, that mine Actions Wearing both Gratitude and Piety, Like to some well wrought Picture, may at once Behold both you, and that.' I shall ne'er be said, The Gods reserved Cratander to a crime, To make him fall more foul. Thy faith hath been So firm and tried, thy moderation So stayed, that in a just reward I must myself conduct thee into Greece, and there Continue thee a King; that what was meant For sport and mirth, may prove a serious honour; And thy Three Days pass o'er into a long And happy government; to be ruled by thee Will be as freedom to them; 'twill not be Accounted slavery to admit a Prince Chosen from out themselves: thy Virtues there May shine, as in their proper Sphere. Let others When they make war, have this ignoble end To gain 'em Slaves, Arsamnes gains a Friend. THose glorious Triumphs of the Persian Court Are honoured much in being made your sport The Slave though freed by th' King, and his Priest too, Thinks not his Pardon good, till sealed by you: And hopes, although his faults have many been, To find here too the favour of a Queen. For 'tis our forward duty that hath shown These loyal faults in honour to your Throne Great joy doth bring some madness with it still; We challenge that as title to do ill.
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)
These teares doe neither befit you to pay, Nor me to take; be then Arsamnes, on. I feele a numnesse seize me; I am stone; I shall not lift mine arme against thee. Sure The Gods desire it not. Thou ô bright Sun who seest all. Looke downe upon our Captives fall. Never was purer Sacrifice: 'Tis not a Man, but Vertue dyes. While thus we pay our thankes, propitious'be; And grant us either Peace or Victory. But thou ô Sun mayst set, and then In brightnesse rise next morne agen. He, when he shall once leave this light, Will make and have eternall night. Good deedes may passe for Sacrifice, ô than Accept the Vertues, and give backe the Man. Hold, hold Arsamnes; Heav'n is not pleased with your Sacrifice. The glorious Sun hath veyl'd his face in clouds Not willing to behold it, and the skyes Have sed such numerous teares, as have put out The fire though fully kindled. Thou hast now, The voyce and visage of the Gods, good Priest. The Heav'ns were never more serene. The Gods Have justify'd my care, Cratander. Happy newes, Death sends thee backe unto us; this comes not From any humane pow'r; 'tis not my hand That spares thee, blest Cratander, 'tis some God, Some God reserves thee unto greater workes For us, and for thy Country. Being then You so interpret it, I'le thus divide That life they lend me, one haife shall be yours, The other Ephesus's, that mine Actions Wearing both Gratitude and Piety, Like to some well wrought Picture, may at once Behold both you, and that. 'I shall ne're be said, The Gods reserv'd Cratander to a crime, To make him fall more foule. Thy faith hath beene So firme and try'd, thy moderation So stayd, that in a just reward I must My selfe conduct thee into Greece, and there Continue thee a King; that what was meant For sport and mirth, may prove a serious honour; And thy Three Dayes passe o're into a long And happy government; to be rul'd by thee Will be as freedome to them; 'twill not be Accounted slavery to admit a Prince Chosen from out themselves: thy Vertues there May shine, as in their proper Spheare. Let others When they make warre, have this ignoble end To gaine 'em Slaves, Arsamnes gaines a Friend. THose glorious Triumphs of the Persian Court Are honour'd much in being made your sport The Slave though freed by th' King, and his Priest too, Thinkes not his Pardon good, till seal'd by you: And hopes, although his faults have many beene, To finde here too the favour of a Queene. For 'tis our forward duty that hath showne These loyall faults in honour to your Throne Great joy doth bring some madnesse with it still; We challenge that as title to doe ill.