Seneca, Lucius Annaeus / Newton, Thomas · published 1581 · first performed or written 1581 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T46 Swords, quarrels and valour · 461 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T46: rapier, sword, fight, gentlemen, gentleman, kicked, kill, dagger, signor, valour.
Rules Argive people, swaying them with awe of Princely check: And he t' advance his son in law to his most lawful right Hath with him brought from seven Realms a warlike Crew to fight. What doom I should in this case give, which side I wish to win, I cannot tell: my mind amazed, yet doubtful rests therein. Th'one of my Sons (as right it is) requires the Crown as due: I know it so accorded was: his cause is good and true. But in such sort, by force of Arms to rely mand the same, Is ill and most unnatural, herein he is to blame. What shall I do, what may I say? I mother am to both: And thus my Sons at deadly feud to see I am full loath. Without the breach of mother zeal I can no way devise: For what good had I wish to th'one, thence th'other's harm doth rise. But though I love them both alike, yet sure my heart inclines To him that hath the better cause: though wronged thus, he pines: As one by frowning fortune thrilled from pillar unto post: His Credit, Country, friends, and wealth, and treasure being lost. The weaker side I will support, and further all I can, Most mercy always should vt showed unto th'oppressed man. While (Madame) you waymenting here your heavy plaints declare And waste the time, my Lords your Sons in ranged battle are: Each Captains bright in Armour stands, the Trumpet sounds amain, And Standard is advanced, amid the throng of either train. In martial ray full priest to fight stand seven worthy Kings: And each of them a warlike troop of valiant Soldiers brings. With courage not behind the best, the Thebans march apace: And like right imps of Cadmus brood, do slash at enemies face. The soldiers force and willingness on either side to fight, Appears: in that they nothing less pretend them shameful flight. See how their trampling to and fro, the dust to Skies doth rear, And what a Cloud of Smoke in Camp the horses make t'appear. And if my fear dismay me not: It all be true I see: methinks I view their glittering glaives begored with blood to be. methinks I see the vaward thrill and shake their Pikes in hand: methinks I see the Gydons gay, and Streamers where they stand: Wherein is wrought by courteous skill, in Letters all of Gold The Scutcheon, Post, Name and Arms of every captain bold. Make haste, be gone, dispatch. (Madame) Cause Brethren to agree: Betwixt them stay this quarrel, lest a slaughter great ye see. So shall you to your Children love, to each side peace restore: The mother's mediation may heal up all the soar.
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)
Rules Argiue people, ſwaying them with awe of Princely checke: And he t' aduaunce his ſonne in law to his moſt lawfull right Hath with him brought from ſeuen Realmes a warlike Crue to fight. What doome I ſhould in this caſe geue, which ſyde I wiſh to winne, I cannot tell: my minde amazde, yet doubtfull reſts therein. Th'one of my Sonnes (as right it is) requyres the Crowne as due: I knowe it ſo accorded was: his cauſe is good and true. But in ſuch ſort, by force of Armes to relie maunde the ſame, Is ill and moſt vnnaturall, herein he is to blame. What ſhall I doe, what may I ſay? I mother am to both: And thus my Sonnes at deadly fewde to ſee I am full loth. Without the breach of mother zeale I can no way deuiſe: For what good had I wiſhe to th'one, thence th'others harme doth riſe. But though I loue them both alyke, yet ſure my heart enclynes To him that hath the better cauſe: though wronged thus, he pynes: As one by frowning fortune thrilde from piller vnto poſt: His Credite, Countrey, friendes, and wealth, and treaſure being loſt. The weaker ſide I will ſupport, and further al I can, Moſt mercy alwayes ſhould vt ſhewde vnto th'oppreſſed man. While (Madame) you waymēting here your heauy plaints declare And waſte the time, my Lords your Sonnes in taunged battayle are: Eche Captains bright in Armour ſtandes, the Trumpet ſounds amain, And Standard is aduanc'de, amid the thronge of eyther traine. In marſhall ray full preſt to fight ſtand ſeuen worthy Kynges: And eche of them a warlicke troupe of valiaunt Souldiers bringes. With courage not behynd the beſt, the Thebanes marche apace: And like right ympes of Cadmus brood, do ſlaſh at Enmies face. The Souldiers force and willingnes on eyther ſide to fyght, Appeares: in that they nothing leſſe pretend them ſhameful flight. See how their trampling to and froe, the duſt to Skies doth reare, And what a Cloud of Smoke in Campe the horſes make t'appeare. And if my feare diſmay me not: It all be true I ſee: Me thinkes I view their glittering glaues begoard with bloud to bee. Me thinkes I ſee the Voward thrill and ſhake their Pikes in hand: Me thinkes I ſee the Gydons gay, and Streamers where they ſtand: Wherein is wrought by curtous ſkill, in Letters all of Gold The Scotchion, Poeſte, Name and Armes of euery captayne bold. Make haſt, be gone, diſpatch. (Madame) Cauſe Brethren to agree: Betwyxt them ſtay this quarell, leaſt a ſlaughter great ye ſee. So ſhall you to your Children loue, to each ſyde peace reſtoare: The mothers mediation may heale vp all the Soare.