Campaspe (Alexander, Campaspe, and Diogenes) · chunk 3 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 0.77 · 537 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
Then if it be such a thing to be Alexander, I hope it shallbe no miserable thing to be a virgin. For if he save our honours, it is more than; to restore our goods. And rather do I wish he preserve our fame then our lives, which if he do, we will confess there can be no greater thing than to be Alexander. Clytus, are these prisoners? of whence these spoils? Like your majesty they are prisoners, & of Thebes. Of what calling or reputation? I know not, but they seem to be Ladies of honour. I will know: Madam, of whence you are I know, but who, I cannot tell. Alexander, I am the sister of Theagines, who fought a battle with thy father, before the City of Chyeronie, where he died, I say which none can gainsay, valiantly. Lady, there seem in your words sparks of your brother's deeds, but worser fortune in your life than his death: but fear not, for you shall live without violence, enemies, or necessity: but what are you fair Lady, another sister to Theagines? No sister to Theagines, but an humble handmaid to Alexander, borne of a mean parentage, but to extreme fortune. Well Ladies, for so your virtues show you, whatsoever your births be, you shallbe honourably entreated. Athens shallbe your Thebes, & you shall not be as abjects of war, but as subjects to Alexander. Parmenio, conduct these honourable Ladies into the City, charge the soldiers not so much as in words to offer them any offence, and let all wants be supplied so far forth as shallbe necessary for such persons and my prisoners. Hephestion, it resteth now that we have as great care to govern in peace, as conquer in war: that whilst arms cease, Arts may flourish, and joining letters with lances we endeavour to be as good Philosophers as soldiers, knowing it no less praise to be wise, than commendable to be valiant. Your Majesty therein showeth that you have as great desire to rule as to subdue: & needs must that common wealth be fortunate, whose Captain is a Philosopher, and whose Philosopher is a Captain. I serve in steed of a master, a mouse, whose house is a tub, whose dinner is a crust, and whose board is a bed. Then art thou in a state of life, which Philosophers commend. A crumb for thy supper, an hand for thy cup, and thy clothes for thy sheets. For Natura paucis contenta. Manes, it is pity so proper a man should be cast away upon a Philosopher: but that Diogenes that dog should have Manes that dogbolte, it grieveth nature and spiteth art: the one having found the so dissolute, absolute I would say, in body, the other so single singular in mind. Are you merry, it is a sign by the trip of your tongue, and the toys of your head, that you have done that today, which I have not done these three days. What's that? Dined. I think Diogenes keeps but cold cheer. I would it were so, but he keepeth neither hot nor cold. What then, luke warm? That made Manes run from his master last day.
seed 43: T30 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Then if it be such a thing to be Alexander, I hope it shalbe no miserable thing to be a virgin. For if he saue our honors, it is more thē; to restore our goodes. And rather doe I wishe hee preserue our fame then our lyues, which if he do, wee will confesse there can bee no greater thing then to be Alexander. Clytus, are these prisoners? of whēce these spoiles? Like your maiestie they are prisoners, & of Thebes. Of what calling or reputation? I know not, but they seeme to be Ladies of honor. I wil know: Madam, of whence you are I know, but who, I cannot tell. Alexander, I am the sister of Theagines, whoe fought a battle with thy father, before the Citie of Chyeronie, where he died, I say which none cāgainsay, valialy. Lady, there seeme in your wordes sparkes of your brothers deedes, but woorser fortune in your lyfe then his death: but feare not, for you shall liue without violence, enemies, or necessitie: but what are you fayre Lady, an other sister to Theagines? No sister to Theagines, but an humble handmaid to Alexander, borne of a meane parentage, but to extreame fortune. Well Ladies, for so your vertues shewe you, whatsoeuer your birthes be, you shalbe honourably entreated. Athens shalbe your Thebes, & you shall not be as abiectes of warre, but as subiectes to Alexander▪ Parmenio, conducte these honourable Ladies into the Citie, charge the souldiers not so much as in wordes to offer them any offence, and let all wants be supplyed so farre forth as shalbe necessary for such persons and my prisoners. Hephestion, it resteth now that we haue as great care to gouerne in peace, as conquer in war: that whilest armes cease, Artes may flourish, and ioyning letters with launces we endeuor to be as good Philosophers as soldiers, knowing it no lesse praise to be wise, thē commendable to be valiaunt▪ Your Maiestie therein sheweth that you haue as great desire to rule as to subdue: & needes must that common wealth be fortunate, whose Captaine is a Philosopher, and whose Philosopher is a Captaine. I serue in steede of a maister, a mouse, whose house is a tub, whose dinner is a crust, and whose boord is a bed. Then art thou in a state of life, which Philosophers commend. A crumme for thy supper, an hande for thy cup, and thy clothes for thy sheetes. For Natura paucis contenta. Manes, it is pittie so proper a man should be cast away vppon a Philosopher: but that Diogines that dogge should haue Manes that dogbolte, it greeueth nature and spiteth arte: the one hauing found the so dissolute, absolute I would say, in body, the other so single singuler in minde. Are you mery, it is a signe by the trip of your tongue, and the toyes of your heade, that you haue done that to day, which I haue not done these three daies. Whats that? Dined. I thinke Diogines keepes but cold cheere. I would it were so, but hee keepeth neither hot nor cold. What then, luke warme? That made Manes runne from his maister last day.