The Misfortunes of Arthur (Certain Devices and Shows Presented to Her Majesty) · chunk 34 of 35
Hughes, Thomas / Fulbecke, William · published 1587 · first performed or written 1588 [Feb 28] (Annals) tragedy · before the Court unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 493 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Whiles worldly powers like sudden puffs do pass. And yet for one that goes, another comes, Some borne, some dead: So still the store endures. So that both Fates and common care proved That men must needs be borne, and some must rule. Wherefore ye Peers, and Lordings lift aloft, And whosoever in Thrones that judge your thralls: Let not your Sovereignty heave you to high, Nor their subjection press them down too low. It is not pride, that can augment your power, Nor lowly looks, that long can keep them safe: The Fates have found a way, whereby ere long The proud must leave their hope, the meek their fear. Who ere received such favour from above, That could assure one day unto himself? Him, whom the Morning found both stout and strong, The Evening left all groveling on the ground. This breath and heat wherewith man's life is fed Is but a flash, or flame, that shines a while, And once extinct, is as it ne'er had been. Corruption hourly frets the Body's frame, Youth tends to age, and age to death by kind. Short is the race, prefixed is the end, Swift is the time, wherein man's life doth run. But by his deeds t'extend renown and fame, That only virtue works, which never fades. Sat cytò, si sat benè: utcunque: Quod non dat spes, dat optio. Allecto: thou that hast excluded me From fields Elysyan, where the guiltless souls Avoid the scourge of Radamanthus' Ire: Let it be lawful, (sith I am removed From blessed islands, to this cursed shore, This loathed earth where Arthur's table stands, With Ordure foul of Harpies fierce disdained,) The fates and burden secrets to disclose Of black Coeytus and of Acheron, The floods of death the lakes of burning souls. Where Hellish frogs do prophecy revenge: Where Tartar's sprights with careful heed attend The dismal summons of Alecto's mouth. myself by precept of Proserpina, Commanded was in presence to appear, Before the synod of the damned spirits. In fearful mood I did perform their hest, And at my entrance in th'enchanted snakes, Which wrap themselves about the furies necks, Did hiss for joy: and from the dreadful benthe The supreme fury thus assigned her charge. Gorlois quoth she thou thither must ascend. Whence through the rancour of malicious foes Wearied with wounds thou didst descend to us. Make Britain now the mark of thy revenge On ruthless Britons and Pendragon's race, Disburse the treasure of thy Hellish plagues. Let blood contend with blood, Father with Son, Subject with Prince, and let confusion reign. She therewithal enjoined the dusky clouds Which with their darkness turned the earth to Hell, Convert to blood and pour down streams of blood. Cornwall shall groan, and Arthur's soul shall sigh, Before the conscience of Guenevora The map of hell shall hang and fiends shall rage: And Gorlois ghost exacting punishment. With dreams, with horrors and with deadly trance
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)
Whiles worldly powers like sudden puffes do passe. And yet for one that goes, another comes, Some borne, some dead: So still the store indures. So that both Fates and common care prou'de That men must needes be borne, and some must rule. Wherefore ye Peéres, and Lordings lift aloft, And whosoe'r in Thrones that iudge your thralls: Let not your Soueraingty heaue you to hye, Nor their subiection presse them downe too lowe. It is not pride, that can augment your power, Nor lowlie lookes, that long can keepe them safe: The Fates haue found a way, whereby ere long The proude must leaue their hope, the meeke their feare. Who ere receau'd such fauor from aboue, That could assure one day vnto himselfe? Him, whom the Morning found both stout and strong, The Euening left all groueling on the ground. This breath and heate wherewith mans life is fedde Is but a flash, or flame, that shines a while, And once extinct, is as it ne'r had bene. Corruption hourely frets the bodies frame, Youth tends to age, and age to death by kinde. Short is the race, prefixed is the end, Swift is the tyme, wherein mans life doth run. But by his deedes t'extend renowme and fame, That onely vertue workes, which neuer fades. Sat cytò, si sat benè: vtcun que : Quod non dat spes, dat optio. ALecto: thou that hast excluded mee From feeldes Elysyan, where the guiltlesse soules Avoide the scourge of Radamanthus Ire: Let it be lawfull, (sith I am remou'd From blessed Ilands, to this cursed shoare, This loathed earth where Arthurs table standes, With Ordur foule of Harpies fierce disteind,) The fates and den secrets to disclose Of blacke Coeytus and of Acheron, The floudes of death the lakes of burning soules. Where Hellish frogges doe prophecie reuenge: Where Tartars sprights with carefull heede attende The dismall summons of Alectoes mouth. My selfe by precept of Proserpina, Commaunded was in presence to appeare, Before the Synode of the damned sprightes. In fearefull moode I did performe their hest, And at my entrance in th'inchaunted snakes, Which wrap themselus about the furies neckes, Did hisse for ioy: and from the dreadfull benthe The supreme furie thus assignde her charge. Gorlois quoth she thou thither must ascend. Whence through the rancour of malicious foes Wearyed with woundes thou didst descend to vs. Make Brytaine now the marke of thy reuenge On ruthlesse Brytaines and Pendragons race, Disbursse the treasure of thy Hellish plagues. Let blood contend with blood, Father with Sonne, Subiect with Prince, and let confusion raigne. She therewithall enioynde the duskie cloudes Which with their darkenesse turnde the earth to Hell, Conuert to blood and poure downe streames of blood. Cornewell shall groane, and Arthurs soule shall sigh, Before the conscience of Gueneuora The map of hell shall hang and fiendes shall rage And Gorlois ghost exacting punishment. With dreames, with horrors and with deadly traunce