Marlowe, Christopher · published 1590 · first performed or written 1587 [1587-1588] (Annals) tragedy · Admiral's (Nottingham's) Men T17 Eastern conquest: Persians, Turks and so typicality 0.86 · 496 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
Then hear thy charge, valiant Theridama The chiefest Captain of Mycetes host, The hope of Persia, and the very legs Whereon our state doth lean, as on a staff, That holds us up, and foils our neighbour foes, Thou shalt be leader of this thousand horse, Whose foaming gall with rage and high disdain, Have sworn the death of wicked Tamburlaine. Go groaning forth, but come thou smiling home, As did Sir Paris with the Grecian Dame, Return with speed, time passeth swift away, Our life is frail, and we may die today. Before the Moon renew her borrowed light, Doubt not my Lord and gracious Sovereign, But Tamburlaine, and that Tartarian rout, Shall either perish by our warlike hands, Or plead for mercy at your highness feet. Go, stout Theridama, thy words are swords And with thy looks thou conquerest all thy foes: I long to see thee back return from thence, That I may view these milk-white steeds of mine. All loaden with the heads of killed men, And from their knees, even to their hooves below, Besmeared with blood, that makes a dainty show. Then now my Lord, I humbly take my leave. Therid. farewell ten thousand times, Ah, Menaphon, why stayest thou thus behind, When other men press forward for renown? Go Menaphon, go into Scythia, And foot by foot follow Theridamas: Nay, pray you let him stay, a greater Fits Menaphon, than warring with a Thief: Create him Prorex of Africa, That he may win the Babylonians hearts, Which will revolt from persian government, Unless they have a wiser king than you. Unless they have a wiser king than you? These are his words, Meander set them down. And ad this to them, that all Asia Lament to see the folly of their King. Well here I swear by this my royal seat. You may do well to kiss it then. Embossed with silk as best beseems my state. To be revenged for these contemptuous words. O where is duty and allegiance now? Fled to the Caspean or the Ocean main? What, shall I call thee brother? No, a foe, Monster of Nature, shame unto thy stock, That dar'st presume thy Sovereign for to mock. Meander come, I am abused Meander. How now my Lord, what, mated and amazed To hear the king thus threaten like himself? Ah Menaphon, I pass not for his threats, The plot is laid by persian Noble men, And Captains of the Medean garrisons, To crown me Emperor of Asia, But this it is that doth excruciate The very substance of my vexed soul! To see our neighbours that were wont to quake And tremble at the persian monarch name, Now sits and laughs our regiment to scorn, And that which might resolve me into tears: Men from the farthest equinoctial line, Have swarmed in troops into the Eastern India: Lading their ships with gold and precious stones: And made their spoils from all our provinces.
seed 43: T18 · seed 44: T18 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Then heare thy charge, valiant Theridimas The chiefest Captaine of Mycetes hoste, The hope of Persea, and the verie legges Whereon our state doth leane, as on a staffe, That holds vs vp, and foiles our neighbour foes, Thou shalt be leader of this thousand horse, Whose foming galle with rage and high disdaine, Haue sworne the death of wicked Tamburlaine. Go growning foorth, but come thou smyling home, As did Sir Paris with the Grecian Dame, Returne with speed, time passeth swift away, Our life is fraile, and we may die to day. Before the Moone renew her borrowed light, Doubt not my Lord and gratious Soueraigne, But Tamburlaine, and that Tartarian rout, Shall either perish by our warlike hands, Or plead for mercie at your highnesse feet. Go, stout Theridimas, thy words are swords And with thy lookes thou conquerest all thy foes: I long to see thee back returne from thence, That I may view these milk-white steeds of mine. All loden with the heads of killed men, And from their knees, euen to their hoofes below, Besmer'd with blood, that makes a dainty show. Then now my Lord, I humbly take my leaue. Therid. farewel ten thousand times, Ah, Menaphon, why staiest thou thus behind, When other men prease forward for renowne? Go Menaphon, go into Scythia, And foot by foot follow Theridamas: Nay, pray you let him stay, a greater Fits Menaphon, than warring with a Thiefe: Create him Prorex of Affrica, That he may win the Babylonians hearts, Which will reuolt from Persean gouernment, Vnlesse they haue a wiser king than you. Vnlesse they haue a wiser king than you? These are his words, Meander set them downe. And ad this to them, that all Asia Lament to see the follie of their King. Well here I sweare by this my royal seat. You may doe well to kisse it then. Embost with silke as best beseemes my state. To be reueng'd for these contemptuous words. O where is dutie and allegeance now? Fled to the Caspean or the Ocean maine? What, shall I call thee brother? No, a foe, Monster of Nature, shame vnto thy stocke, That dar'st presume thy Soueraigne for to mocke. Meander come, I am abus'd Meander. How now my Lord, what, mated and amaz'd To heare the king thus thraten like himselfe? Ah Menaphon, I passe not for his threates, The plot is laid by Persean Noble men, And Captaines of the Medean garrisons, To crowne me Emperour of Asia, But this it is that doth excruciate The verie substance of my vexed soule! To see our neighbours that were woont to quake And tremble at the Persean Monarkes name, Now sits and laughs our regiment to scorne, And that which might resolue me into teares: Men from the farthest Equinoctiall line, Haue swarm'd in troopes into the Easterne India: Lading their shippes with golde and pretious stones: And made their spoiles from all our prouinces.