Seneca, Lucius Annaeus / Newton, Thomas · published 1581 · first performed or written 1581 (Annals) tragedy T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla typicality 0.83 · 483 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
Renowned Prince, of royal Race and Noble line sprung: The Thebans dreading much the drife of this your children's throng, And warlike garboil now in hand, most humbly pray your Grace For countries safety, down to set some order in the case. They be not threats and menacies that thus their minds affright: The mischief is more near than so: the Enemy is in sight. For Polynices he that is your younger son of twain, Doth claim the crown, and in his turn in Thebes requires to reign According unto covenants made: which quarrel to decite He purposeth the dene of sword, and marital force t'abide. With him he brings a mighty Troop from every part of Greece, Sir, seven Dukes, besieging Thebes are minded it to fleece. Help noble King, else are we like to perish man and child, These bloody broils of civil war from us protect and shield. Am I one like to stop the rage of any wicked act? Am I one like to cause these Youths to leave their bloody fact? Am I a master like to teach what laws of love do mean? Should I not then from former quise digress in nature clean? They tread their Father's steps aright, they play my lawless pranks: Like Sire, like Sons, like Tree, like fruit: I con them hearty thanks: By this I know them for my Sons, and praise their towardness: I would they should by peevish parts, whose Sons they be, express. Show forth you noble Gallant imps, what mettled minds you bear, Show forth by deeds your valour great, let lofty sprights appear. Surmount and dim my praises all, Eclipse my glory quite: Attempt some enterprise in which your Sire may have delight To have till now remained in life: hereof I have no doubt: For well I know your practice is strange feats to bring about. Your birth and line from whence you sprung, assures me of no less Such noble Bloods must needs achieve some doughty worthiness. Your Weapons and Artillery for war bring out with speed, Consume with flame your native Soil, and desolation breed In every house within the Land: a hurly-burly make Confusedly of every thing. Make all the Realm to quake, And in exile their days let end make level with the ground Each fenced Fort and walled Town: The Gods and all confound, And throw their Temples on their heads: Their Images deface, And melt them all: turn vpstdowne each house in every place. Burn, spoil, make havoc, leave no jot of City free from fire, And let the flame begin his rage within my Chamber dire. Sir, banish these unpatient pangs, let plagues of Common wealth Entreat your Grace, sith upon you stayeth all their hope and health. Procure your sons to reconcile themselves, as brothers ought, Establish peace between them both, let means of love be sought.
seed 43: T30 · seed 44: T33 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
REnowmed Prynce, of royall Race and Noble lygne yſpronge: The Thebans dreading much the drife of this your childrens thronge, And warlicke garboyle now in hand, moſt humbly pray your Grace For Countreys ſafety, downe to ſet ſome order in the caſe. They bee not threates and menacies that thus their mindes affright: The miſchiefe is more neere then ſo: the Enmy is in ſight. For Polynices he that is your younger ſonne of twayne, Doth clayme the crowne, and in his turne in Thebes requires to raigne According vnto couenaunts made: which quarrell to decite Hee purpoſeth the dene of ſword, and martall force t'abide. With him he brings a mighty Troupe from eu'ry part of Greece, Sir, ſeuen Duce, heſieging Thebes are minded it to fleeſe. Helpe noble King, els are wee lyke to periſhe man and chylde, Theſe bloudy broyles of ciuill warre from vs protect and ſhyelde. Am I one like to ſtop the rage of any wicked act? Am I one like to cauſe theſe Youthes to leaue their bloudy fact? Am I a maiſter like to teach what lawes of loue do meane? Should I not then from former quiſe digreſſe in nature eleane? They treade their Fathers ſteps aright, they play my lawleſſe prankes: Like Syre, like Sonnes, like Tree, like fruite: I con thē harty thanks: By this I know them for my Sonnes, and praiſe their towardneſſe: I would they ſhould by peeuiſh partes, whoſe Sonnes they be, expreſſe. Shew forth you noble Gallante ympes, what metled minds you beare, Shew forth by deedes your valor great, let lofty ſprights appeare. Surmount and dimme my prayſes all, Eclypſe my glory quight: Attempt ſome enterpriſe in which your Syre may haue delight To haue till now remaynd in life: hereof I haue no doubt: For well I know your practiſe is ſtraunge feates to bring about. Your byrth and ligne from whence you ſpronge, aſſures me of no leſſe Such noble Bloudes muſt needes atchiue ſome doughty worthineſſe. Your Weapons and Artillery for warre bring out with ſpeede, Conſume with flame your natiue Soyle, and deſolation breede In eu'ry houſe wirhin the Land: a hurly burly make Confuſedly of eu'ry thinge. Make all the Realme to quake, And in exile theyr dayes let end make leuell with the ground Eche fenced Fort and walled Towne: The Gods and all confound, And throw their Temples on their heads: Their Images deface, And melt them all: turne vpſ downe eche houſe in eu'ry place. Burne, ſpoyle, make hauocke, leaue no iote of City free from fyre, And let the flame begin his rage within my Chamber dyre. Syr, baniſh theſe vnpatient panges, let plagues of Cōmon wealth Entreate your Grace, ſith vpon you ſtayth all their hope and health. Procure your ſonnes to reconcile themſelues, as brothers ought, Eſtabliſhe peace betwene them both, let meanes of loue be ſought.