Herbert, Mary Sidney / Garnier, RobertSidney Herbert, Mary · published 1595 · first performed or written 1590 (Annals) tragedy T20 Hercules: labours, suffering and virtue typicality 0.83 · 463 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T20: hercules, hercles, ioue, deianeira, alcides, hand, lo, death, skies, hell.
There needs no proof, but by th' Assyrian king, On whom that Monster woeful wrack did bring. There needs no proof, but by unhappy I, Who lost my empire, honour, life thereby, Yet hath this ill so much the greater force, As scarcely any do against it stand: No not the demi-gods the old world knew, Who all subdued, could pleasure's power subdue. Great Hercules, Hercules once that was Wonder of earth and heaven, matchless in might, Who Anteus, Lycus, Geryon overcame, Who drew from hell the triple-headed dog, Who Hydra killed, vanquished Achelous, Who heavens weight on his strong shoulders bore; Did he not under pleasure's burden bow? Did he not Captive to this passion yield, When by his Captive, so he was inflamed, As now yourself in Cleopatra burn? Slept in her lap, her bosom kissed and kissed, With base unseemly service bought her love, Spinning at distaff, and with sinewy hand Winding on spindle's thread, in maids attire? His conquering club at rest on wall did hang: His bow unstringed he bent not as he used: Upon his shafts the weaving spider's spun: And his hard cloak the fretting moths did pierce. The monsters free and fearless all the time Throughout the world the people did torment. And more and more increasing day by day Scorned his weak heart become a mistress play. In only this like Hercules am I, In this I prove me of his lineage right: In this himself, his deeds I show in this: In this, nought else, my ancestor he is. But go we: die I must, and with brave end Conclusion make of all foregoing harms: Die, die I must: I must a noble death, A glorious death unto my succour call: I must deface the shame of time abused, I must adorn the wanton loves I used, With some courageous act: that my last day By mine own hand my spots may wash away. Come dear Lucill: alas! why weep you thus! This mortal lot is common to us all. We must all die, each doth in homage owe Unto that God that shared the Realms below Ah sigh no more: alas! appease your woes, For by your grief my grief more eager grows, Alas, with what tormenting fire Us martyreth this blind desire to stay our life from flying! How ceaselessly our minds doth rack, How heavy lies upon our back This dastard fear of dying! Death rather healthful succour gives, Death rather all mishaps relieves That life upon us throweth: And ever to us death unclose The door whereby from cureless woes Our weary soul out goeth. What Goddess else more mild than she To bury all our pain can be, What remedy more pleasing? Our pained hearts when dolour stings,
seed 43: T17 · seed 44: T19 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
There nedes no proofe, but by th' Assirian kinge, On whom that Monster woefull wrack did bring. There nedes no proofe, but by vnhappie I, Who lost my empire, honor, life thereby, Yet hath this ill so much the greater force, As scarcely any do against it stand: No not the Demy-gods the olde world knew, Who all subdu'de, could Pleasures power subdue. Great Hercules, Hercules once that was Wonder of earth and heauen, matchles in might, Who Aneus, Lyus, Geryon ouercame, Who drew from hell the triple-headed dogg, Who Hydra kill'd, vanquishd Achelous, Who heauens weight on his strong shoulders bare; Did he not vnder Pleasures burthen bow? Did he not Captiue to this passion yelde, When by his Captiue, so he was inflam'd, As now your self in Cleopatra burne? Slept in hir lapp, hir bosome kist and kiste, With base vnseemely seruice bought her loue, Spinning at distaffe, and with sinewy hand Winding on spindles threde, in maides attire? His conqu'ring clubbe at rest on wal did hang: His bow vnstringd he bent not as he vs'de: Vpon his shafts the weauing spiders spunne: And his hard cloake the fretting mothes did pierce. The monsters free and fearles all the time Throughtout the world the people did torment. And more and more encreasing daie by daie Scorn'd his weake heart become a mistresse play. In onely this like Hercules am I, In this I proue me of his lignage right: In this himselfe, his deedes I shew in this: In this, nought else, my ancestor he is. But goe we: die I must, and with braue end Conclusion make of all foregoing harmes: Die, die I must: I must a noble death, A glorious death vnto my succour call: I must deface the shame of time abus'd, I must adorne the wanton loues I vs'de, With some couragious act: that my last day By mine owne hand my spots may wash away. Come deare Lucill: alas! why weepe you thus! This mortall lot is common to vs all. We must all die, each doth in homage owe Vnto that God that shar'd the Realmes belowe Ah sigh no more: alas! appeace your woes, For by your greife my griefe more eager growes, Alas, with what tormenting fire Vs martireth this blind desire to stay our life from flieng! How ceasleslie our minds doth rack, How heauie lies vpon our back This dastard feare of dieng! Death rather healthfull succour giues, Death rather all mishapps relieues That life vpon vs throweth: And euer to vs death vnclose The dore whereby from curelesse woes Our weary soule out goeth. What Goddesse else more milde then she To burie all our paine can be, What remedie more pleasing? Our pained hearts when dolor stings,