Hercules Oetaeus (Hercules on Mount Oeta) (Seneca's Tenth Tragedy) · chunk 11 of 44
Seneca, Lucius Annaeus / Studley, John · published 1581 · first performed or written 1566 (Annals) tragedy T20 Hercules: labours, suffering and virtue typicality 0.73 · 481 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T20: hercules, hercles, ioue, deianeira, alcides, hand, lo, death, skies, hell.
But Issue is the thing that doth in marriage kindle love. And Issue is the thing that doth in marriage malice move. This while the bondmaid to thee for present shallbe brought Lo he jetteth up and down with princely poor full haught, And buckles fast about his Loins the lively lions case, Who doth invest the wretched with the right of kingly mace, Deposing those from honours type that late so lofty sat. And pestereth his puissant paws with huge unwieldy bat, Of whose exploits, and martial acts the Seres sing aloof, And all enclosed in Ocean sea thereof have perfect proof Is now became an amorous knight: the honour of his name Doth nothing touch his conscience, to tender once his fame. He roveth through the world, as on that doth no whit esteem, Although that men as soon to Ioue shall him unworthy deem. Nor like the man whose credit through the towns of Greece is great. He seeks to compass his desire, to work a lovers feat. With single Dames is his delight: If any him deny, Than to attain his lawless lust by rigour doth he try. With men he fareth frantically, to others smart and blame He wins his wives, his folly frail is cloaked by virtues name. The noble City Oechalie is made a razed town. The Sun twixt morn and even did set, in one day up, and down. One day did see it stand in state, the same did see it fall. These bloody broils, and wasting wars of Love proceeded all, As oft as parents unto him deny their daughters dear, So oft I warrant them they need his wrathful fury fear. So oft a man with Hercules shallbe at deadly food: As he denies his stepfather to be by joining blood. If he may not be son in law, then doth he rage, and rave: Why do these guiltless hands of mine still keep him from his grave, Till he dissemble frantic fits, to bend his aiming bow, And death's wound on my child, and me with bloody hands bestow? Thus haughty Hercules was wont his wedlocks to divorce. Yet nought there is, that law of guilt on him might have recourse. He makes the world blame Iuno, for the ills he hath commit. O rigour, of my rage why dost thou qualify my fit? Now must thou set thy hands on work, too't while thy hands be hot. Thy husband wilt thou slay? Him whom his Leman lewd hath got. But yet, he is the son of Ioue. And so Alcmena's son. With stroke of steel? With stroke of steel if it cannot be done, Then for to bring his death to pass, I'll set for him a snare. What kind of madness may it be that makes thee thus to fare? Such as my husband hath me taught.
seed 43: T17 · seed 44: T19 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
But Iſſue is the thing that doth in marriage kindell loue. And Iſſue is the thing that doth in marriage mallice moue. This while the bondmayde to thee for preſent ſhalbe braught Loe hee etreth vp and downe with pryncely pore full haught, And buckles faſt about his Loynes the liuely Lyons caſe, Who doth inueſt the wretched with the right of kingly mace, Dpoſing thoſe from honoures type that late ſo lofty ſat. And peſtereth his puiſſaunt pawes with huge dvnweildy bat, Of whoſe exploytes, and maarciale actes the Seres ſing aloofe, And all encloſde in Ocean ſea thereof haue perfit proofe Is now became an amorous knight: the honour of his name Doth nothing touch his conſcience, to tender once his ame. Hee roueth through the worlde, as on that doth no whit eſteeme, Although that men as ſoone to Ioue ſhall him vnworthy deeme. Nor like the man whoſe credit through the townes of Greece is greate. Hee ſeekes to compaſſe his deſer, to worke a Louers feate. With ſingle Dames is his delight: If any him deny, Then to attayne his lawleſſe luſt by rigour doth hee try. With men hee fareth frantickly, to others ſmart and blame Hee win his Wyes, his folly frayle is cloackt by vertues name. The noble City Oechalie is made a razed towne. The Sunne twixt morne and euen did ſet, in one day vp, and downe▪ One day did ſee it ſtand in ſtate, the ſame did ſee it fall. Theſe bloudy broyles, and waſting warres of Loue proceeded all, As oft as parents vnto him deny theyr daughters deare, So oft I warrant them they neede his wrathfull fury feare. So oft a man with Hercules ſhalbe at deadly foode: As hee denies his ſtepfather to bee by ioyning bloude. If hee may not be ſonne in law, then doth hee rage, and raue: Why doe theſe guiltleſſe handes of myne ſtill keepe him from his graue, Till hee diſſemble franticke fits, to bend his ayming bowe, And deaths wounde on my chylde, and me with bloudy hands beſtowe? Thus hawty Hercules was wont his wedlockes to deuorce. Yet nought there is, that lawe of guilt on him might haue recorſe. Hee makes the worlde blame Iuno, for the ills hee hath commit. O rigour, of my rage why doſt thou quallify my fit? Now muſt thou ſet thy hands on worke, too't whie thy hands bee hot. Thy huſband wilt thou ſlay? Him whō his Leman lewd hath got. But yet, he is the ſonne of Ioue. And ſo Alemenas ſonne. With ſtroke of ſteele? With ſtroke of ſteele if it cannot bee donne, Then for to bring his death to paſſe, ile ſet for him a ſnare. What kinde of madneſſe may it be that makes thee thus to fare? Such as my huſband hath mee taught.