Campaspe (Alexander, Campaspe, and Diogenes) · chunk 2 of 25
Lyly, John · published 1584 · first performed or written c.1583 (Annals) comedy · Children of the Chapel (first) (Oxford's Boys) · before the Court T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla typicality 0.74 · 527 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
PArmenio, I cannot tell whether I should more commend in Alexander's victories, courage, or courtesy, in the one being a resolution without fear, in the other a liberality above custom: Thebes is raised, the people not racked, towers thrown down, bodies not thrust aside, a conquest without conflict, and a cruel war in a mild peace. Clytus, it becometh the son of Philip to be none other than Alexander is: therefore seeing in the father a full perfection, who could have doubted in the son an excellency. For as the moon can borrow nothing else of the sun but light, so of a fire, in whom nothing but virtue was, what could the child receive but singular? It is for Turks to stain each other, not for diamonds, in the one to be made a difference in goodness, in the other no comparison. You mistake me Parmenio, if whilst I commend Alexander, you imagine I call Philip into question, unless happily you conjecture (which none of judgement will conceive) that because I like the fruit, therefore I heave at the tree, or coveting to kiss the child, I therefore go about to poison the teat. ay but Clytus I perceive you are borne in the East, and never laugh but at the sun rising, which argueth though a duty where you ought, yet no great devotion where you might. We will make no controversy of that which there ought to be no question, only this shall be the opinion of us both, that none was worthy to be the father of Alexander but Philip, nor any meet to be the son of Philip but Alexander. Soft Clytus, behold the spoils & prisoners, a pleasant sight to us, because profit is joined with honour, not much painful to them, because their captivity is eased by mercy. Fortune, thou didst never yet deceive virtue, because virtue never yet did trust fortune. Sword and fire will never get spoil, where wisdom and fortitude bears sway. O Thebes, thy walls were raised by the sweetness of the harp, but rased by the shrillness of the trumpet. Alexander had never come so near the walls, had Epaminondas walked about the walls, and yet might the Thebans have been merry in their streets, if he had been to watch their towers. But destiny is seldom foreseen, never prevented. We are here now captives, whose necks are yoked by force, but whose hearts can not yield by death. Come Campaspe and the rest, let us not be ashamed to cast our eyes on him, on whom we feared not to cast our darts. madam, you need not doubt, it is Alexander, that is, the conqueror. Alexander hath overcome, not conquered. To bring all under his subjection is to conquer. He cannot subdue that which is divine. Thebes was not. Virtue is. Alexander as he tendereth virtue, so he will you, he drinketh not blood, but thirsteth after honour, he is greedy of victory, but never satisfied with mercy. In fight terrible, as becometh a captain, in conquest mild, as beseemeth a king. In all things then which nothing can be greater he is Alexander.
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)
PArmenio, I cannot tel whether I should more commend in Alexanders victories, courage, or curtesie, in the one being a resolution without feare, in the other a liberalitie aboue custōe: Thebes is raysed, the people not racked, towers throwne down, bodies not thrust aside, a cōquest without conflict, and a cruell warre in a milde peace. Clytus, it becommeth the sonne of Phillip to be none other then Alexander is: therefore seeing in the father a full perfection, who could haue doubted in the sonne an excellencie. For as the moone can borrow nothing els of the sunne but light, so of a fire, in whome nothing but vertue was, what coulde the childe receiue but singuler? It is for Turkes to staine each other, not for Dyamordes, in the one to bee made a difference in goodnes, in the other no comparison. You mistake mee Parmenio, if whilest I commend Alexander, you imagine I call Phillyp into question, vnlesse happely you coniecture (which none of iudgment will conceiue) that because I like the fruit, therefore I heaue at the tree, or coueting to kisse the childe, I therefore goe about to poyson the teat. I but Clytus I perceiue you are borne in the East, and neuer laugh but at the sunne rising, which argueth though a duetie where you ought, yet no great deuotion where you might. We wil make no controuersie of that which there ought to be no question, onely this shal be the opinion of vs both, that none was worthy to be the father of Alexander but Phillip, nor any meete to bee the sonne of Phillip but Alexander. Soft Clytus, behold the spoiles & prisoners, a pleasaunt sight to vs, because profit is ioyned with honour, not much paineful to them, because their captiuitie is eased by mercy. Fortune, thou didst neuer yet deceiue vertue, because vertue neuer yet did trust fortune. Sworde and fire will neuer get spoile, where wisdome and fortitude beares sway. O Thebes, thy walles were raysed by the sweetenesse of the harpe, but rased by the shrilnes of the trumpet. Alexander had neuer come so neere the wals, had Epaminondas walkt about the walles, and yet might the Thebanes haue beene mery in their streetes, if he had beene to watch their towers. But destinie is seldome foreseene, neuer preuented. We are heere now captiues, whose neckes are yoaked by force, but whose hearts can not yeelde by death. Come Campaspe and the rest, let vs not be ashamed to cast our eies on him, on whome wee feared not to cast our dartes. Madame, you neede not doubt, it is Alexander, that is, the conquerour. Alexander hath ouercome, not conquered. To bring al vnder his subiection is to cōquer. He cannot subdue that which is diuine. Thebes was not. Vertue is. Alexander as hee tendreth vertue, so hee will you, he drinketh not bloud, but thirsteth after honor, he is greedy of victory, but neuer satisfied with mercie. In fight terrible, as beecommeth a captaine, in conqueste milde, as beseemeth a king. In al things then which nothing can be greater he is Alexander.