Marlowe, Christopher · published 1590 · first performed or written 1588 [1587-1588] (Annals) tragedy · Admiral's (Nottingham's) Men T17 Eastern conquest: Persians, Turks and so typicality 0.78 · 470 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
I have a hundred thousand men in arms, Some, that in conquest of the perjured Christian. Being a handful to a mighty host, Think them in number yet sufficient, To drink the river Nile or Euphrates, And for their power, enough to win the world. And I as many from Ierusalem, Iudaea, Gaza, and Scalonians bounds, That on mount Sinai with their ensigns spread, Look like the particoloured clouds of heaven, That show fair weather to the neighbour morn. And I as many bring from Trebizon, Chio Famastro and Amasia, All bordering on the Mare-major sea: Riso, Sancina, and the bordering towns, That touch the end of famous Euphrates. Whose courages are kindled with the flames, The cursed Scythian sets on all their towns, And vow to burn the villains cruel heart. From Soria with seventy thousand strong, ta'en from Aleppo, Soldino, Tripoli, And so unto my city of Damasco, I march to meet and aid my neighbour kings, All which will join against this Tamburlaine, And bring him captive to your highness feet. Our battle then in martial manner pitched, According to our ancient use, shall bear The figure of the semicircled Moon: Whose horns shall sprinkle through the tainted air, The poisoned brains of this proud Scythian. Well then my noble Lords, for this my friend, That freed me from the bondage of my foe: I think it requisite and honourable, To keep my promise, and to make him king, That is a Gentleman (I know) at least. That's no matter sir, for being a king, For Tamburlaine came up of nothing. Your Majesty may choose some pointed time, Performing all your promise to the full: 'tis nought for your majesty to give a kingdom. Then will I shortly keep my promise Almeda Why, I thank your Majesty. SO, burn the turrets of this cursed town, Flame to the highest region of the air: And kindle heaps of exhalations, That being fiery meteors, may presage, Death and destruction to th'inhabitants Over my Zenith hang a blazing star, That may endure till heaven be dissolved, Fed with the fresh supply of earthly dregs, Threatening a death and famine to this land, Flying Dragons, lightning, fearful thunderclaps, singe these fair plains, and make them seem as black As is the Island where the Furies mask Compassed with Lethe, Styx and Phlegeton, Because my dear Zenocrate is dead. This Pillar placed in memory of her, Where in Arabian, Hebrew, Greek, is writ This town being burnt by Tamburlaine the great, Forbids the world to build it up again. And here this mournful streamer shall be placed Wrought with the persian and Egyptian arms, To signify she was a princess borne, And wife unto the Monarch of the East. And here this table as a Register Of all her virtues and perfections.
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)
I haue a hundred thousad men in armes, Some, that in conquest of the periur'd Christian. Being a handfull to a mighty hoste, Thinke them in number yet sufficient, To drinke the riuer Nile or Euphrates, And for their power, ynow to win the world. And I as many from Ierusalem, Iudaea, Gaza, and Scalonians bounds, That on mount Sinay with their ensignes spread, Looke like the parti-coloured cloudes of heauen, That shew faire weather to the neighbor morne. And I as many bring from Trebizon, Chio Famastro and Amasia, All bordring on the Mare-major sea: Riso, Sancina, and the bordering townes, That touch the end of famous Euphrates. Whose courages are kindled with the flames, The cursed Scythian sets on all their townes, And vow to burne the villaines cruell heart. From Soria with seuenty thousand strong, Tane from Aleppo, Soldino, Tripoly, And so vnto my citie of Damasco, I march to meet and aide my neigbor kings, All which will ioine against this Tamburlain, And bring him captiue to your highnesse feet. Our battaile then in martiall maner pitcht, According to our ancient vse, shall beare The figure of the semi-circled Moone: Whose hornes shall sprinkle through the tainted aire, The poisoned braines of this proud Scythian. Wel then my noble Lords, for this my friend, That freed me from the bondage of my foe: I thinke it requisite and honorable, To keep my promise, and to make him king, That is a Gentleman (I know) at least. That's no matter sir, for being a king, For Tamburlain came vp of nothing. Your Maiesty may choose some pointed time, Perfourming all your promise to the full: Tis nought for your maiesty to giue a kingdome. Then wil I shortly keep my promise Almeda Why, I thank your Maiesty. SO, burne the turrets of this cursed towne, Flame to the highest region of the aire: And kindle heaps of exhalations, That being fiery meteors, may presage, Death and destruction to th'inhabitants Ouer my Zenith hang a blazing star, That may endure till heauen be dissolud, Fed with the fresh supply of earthly dregs, Threatning a death and famine to this land, Flieng Dragons, lightning, fearfull thunderclaps, sindge these fair plaines, and make them seeme as black As is the Island where the Furies maske Compast with Lethe, Styx and Phlegeton, Because my deare Zenocrate is dead. This Piller plac'd in memorie of her, Where in Arabian, Hebrew, Greek, is writ This towne being burnt by Tamburlaine the great, Forbids the world to build it vp againe. And here this mourful streamer shal be plac'd Wrought with the Persean and Egyptian armes, To signifie she was a princesse borne, And wife vnto the Monarke of the East. And here this table as a Register Of all her vertues and perfections.