Hercules Oetaeus (Hercules on Mount Oeta) (Seneca's Tenth Tragedy) · chunk 10 of 44
Seneca, Lucius Annaeus / Studley, John · published 1581 · first performed or written 1566 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T21 Cupid, Venus and the nymphs · 497 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T21: cupid, venus, love, ceres, diana, fair, nymphs, goddess, bow, damon.
To prate what pranks he played with fifty daughters in one night. And yet how soon of such a pang he over came the might, He set much store by Omphale of Lidia land the Queen, When like a guest on Tmolus the mount he hath been seen. He was so pricked with Cupid's dart, and caught in Venus' trap, That tuck in woman's weed he sat with distaff in his lap And spoon the flax with fumbling fist, and rudely thumbed the thread Aud flong from him the syons case the price of noble deede. With tresses trick on plaited locks he wailed as a maid With myrrh his ftiseled pole was smeared, and curry bush was brayed, Thus everywhere as fancy flits, the fondling dotes in love. But in such sort as easily he can the same remove. But they whom fickle fancies fits have taint, do learn at last In link of love by tract of time to fix affiance fast. Trow ye that he this captive quean, and on whom he do see The daughter of his deadly foe, will more esteem than thee? As gladsome groves at Prime of spring in beauty's pride are seen When freshest warmth the naked twigs doth clad in pleasant green. But when could Boreas boisterous blast the pipling puffs doth stop Of south wind sweet, rough winter poles the naked bushes top: The bare wood with misshapen stumps doth show a withered Face, Even so my beauty marching forth a season on his Race Still fades away, and evermore abates his glimpsing gloss, And whatsoever was in me, by care is come to loss. And that which erst by fancy fed the greedy gazing eyes, Is fallen away by bearing child: so oft it droops, and dies. And since I came to mother's state. I faded fast away. And wrinkled age with furrowed face steps in with quick decay. But yet this bondmaids feature fresh her sorrow better brooks. Her comely countenance crazied is with lean and wanny looks. And yet for all her kark and care amid her deep distress. she bears a glimpse of beauty bright, and favour nothing less. Her heavy hap, and frowning rate can nothing from her pluck. Save Sceptre from her royal hand by all this lowering luck. By means of this first fainting fear did lodge within my breast, That makes me wake the weary nights, and lose my kindly rest. In all men's eyes at first I seemed to be a blessed Wife. And Ladies all at our estate repining very rife Did wish my watch in spite of fate what Stepster shall I hope As match in majesty to Ioue within the heavenly cope? Dear fosterdame whom shall I make my fear in spousal bed? Although Euryst that Hercules to all these toils hath led, Do link with me in bridal bands, my state shallbe impaired. 'tis small worth to deserve to be to kingly wedlock reared.
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)
To prae what prankes he playd with fifty daughters in one night. And yet how ſoone of ſuch a pange he ouer came the might, He ſet much ſtore by Omphale of Lidia land the Queene, When like a gueſt on Timolus the mount he hath bene ſeene. He was ſo prict with Cupids dart, and caught in Venus trap, That tucke in womans weede he ſat with diſtaf in his lap And ſpoon the flaxe with ſombling fyſt, and rudely thumbde the threede Aud flong from him the ſyons caſe the price of noble deede. With treſſes tricke on plaited lockes he wayled as a mayde With myrre his ftiſeled poale was ſmeard, and curied buſh was brayde, Thus euery where as fancy flits, the fondling dotes in loue. But in ſuch ſort as eaſely he can the ſame remoue. But they whom fickle fanſies haue taynt, doe learne at laſt In linke of loue by tract of time to fix affiaunce faſt. Trow yee that hee this captiue queane, and on whom hee doe ſee The daughter of his deadly foe, will more eſteeme then thee? As gladſome groues at Prime of ſpring in beauties pride are ſeene When freſſheſt warmth the naked twigges doth clad in pleaſant greene. But when coulde Boreas boyſteous blaſt the pipling puffes doth ſtop Of ſouth winde ſweete, rough wynter powles the naked buſſhes top: The barewoode with miſſhapen ſtumpes doth ſhew a withered Face, Euen ſo my beauty marching forth a ſeaſon on his Race Still fades away, and euermore abates his glimſing gloſſe, And what ſo euer was in mee, by care is come to loſſe. And that which earſt by fanſy fed the greedy gazing eyes, Is fallen away by bearing childe: ſo oft it droupes, and dyes. And ſince I came to mothers ſtate. I faded faſt away. And wrinckled age with furrowed face ſteps in with quick decay. But yet this bondmaydes eauter freſh her ſorrow better brookes. Her comely countnaunce crazied is with leane and wanny lookes. And yet for all her kark and care amid her deepe iſtreſſe. Shee beares a glimſe of beauty bryght, and fauour nothing leſſe. Her heauy hap, and frowning rate can nothing from her plucke. Saue Scepter from her royall hande by all this lowring lucke. By meanes of this firſt faynting feare did lodge within my breaſt, That makes mee wake the weary nightes, and leeſe my kindely reſt. In all mens eyes at firſt I ſeemde to be a bleſſed Wyfe. And Ladies all at our eſtate repining very ryfe Did wyſhe my watch in ſpite of fate what Sepſer ſhall I hope As match in maieſty to Ioue within the heauenly coape? Deare foſterdame whom ſhall I make my feere in ſpowſall bed? Although Euryſt that Hercules to all theſe toyles hath led, Doe linke with mee in bridall bandes, my ſtate ſhalbe impayrde. Tis ſmall worth to deſerue to bee to kingly wedlock rayrde.