Anonymous · published 1592 · first performed or written 1592 [c.1589-1592] (Annals) tragedy · Unknown unassigned nearest T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla · 515 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
To one past cure, good counsel comes too late, Yet say thy mind. With secret letters woe her, and with gifts, My lines and gifts will but return my shame. hear me my Lord, let me go over to Rhodes, That I may plead in your affection's cause, One woman may do much to win another. Indeed Lucina were her husband from her, She happily might be won by thy persuades, But whilst he lives there is no hope in her. Why lives he then to grieve great Soliman, This only remains, that you consider, In two extremes the least is to be chosen, If so your life depend upon her love, And that her love depends upon his life, Is it not better that Erastus die Ten thousand deaths, than Soliman should perish? I sayst thou so? why then it shall be so, But by what means shall poor Erastus die? This shall be the means, I'll fetch him back again, Under colour of great consequence, No sooner shall he land upon our shore, But witness shall be ready to accuse him, Of treason done against your mightiness, And then he shall be doomed by martial law, Oh fine device, Brusor get thee gone, Come thou again, but let the lady stay, To win Perseda to my will, meanwhile, Will I prepare the judge and witnesses, And if this take effect, thou shalt be Viceroy, And fair Lucina Queen of Tripoli, Brusor be gone, for till thou come I languish. And now to ease my troubled thoughts at last, I will go sit among my learned Eunuchs, And here them play, and see my minions dance, For till that Brusor bring me my desire, I may assuage, but never quench loves fire. Since the expugnation of the Rhodian I'll, methinks a thousand years are overpast, More for the lack of my Perseda's presence, than for the loss of Rhodes that paltry I'll, Or for my friends that there were murdered, My valour everywhere shall purchase friends, And where a man lives well, there is his country. Alas the Christians are but very shallow, In giving judgement of a man at arms, A man of my desert and excellence. The Turks whom they account for barbarous, Having foreheard of Basilisco's worth, A number under prop me with their shoulders, And in procession bore me to the Church, As I had been a second Mahomet, I fearing they would adore me for a God, Wisely informed them that I was but man, Although in time perhaps I might aspire, To purchase Godhead, as did Hercules, I mean by doing wonders in the world: A midst their Church they bound me to a pillar, And to make trial of my valiancy, They lopped a collop of my tenderest member. But think you basilisk squicht for that, Even as a Cow for tickling in the horn, That done, they set me on a milk white Ass, Compassing me with goodly ceremonies, That day methought, I sat in Pompey's Chair, And viewed the Capitol, and was Rome's greatest glory.
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)
To one past cure, good counsell comes too late, Yet say thy minde. With secret letters woe her, and with gifts, My lines and gifts will but returne my shame. Here me my Lord, let me go ouer to Rhodes, That I may plead in your affections cause, One woman may do much to win another. Indeede Lucina were her husband from her, She happely might be woone by thy perswades, But whilst he liues there is no hope in her. Why liues he then to greeue great Soliman, This onely remaines, that you consider, In two extreames the least is to be chosen, If so your life depend vpon her loue, And that her loue depends vpon his life, Is it not better that Erastus die Ten thousand deaths, then Soliman should perish? I saist thou so? why then it shall be so, But by what meanes shall poore Erastus die? This shall be the meanes, Ile fetch him backe againe, Vnder couler of great consequence, No sooner shall he land vpon our shore, But witnes shall be ready to accuse him, Oftreason doone against your mightines, And then he shall be doomd by marshall law, Oh fine deuise, Brusor get thee gone, Come thou againe, but let the lady stay, To win Perseda to my will, meane while, Will I prepare the iudge and witnesses, And if this take effect, thou shalt be Viceroy, And faire Lucina Queene of Tripolie, Brusor be gone, for till thou come I languish. And now to ease my troubled thoughts at last, I will go sit among my learned Euenukes, And here them play, and see my minions dance, For till that Brusor bring me my desire, I may asswage, but neuer quench loues fire. Since the expugnation of the Rhodian Ile, Me thinkes a thousand yeares are ouerpast, More for the lack of my Persedas presence, Then for the losse of Rhodes that paltry Ile, Or for my friends that there were murthered, My valour euery where shall purchase friends, And where a man liues well, there is his countrie. Alas the Christians are but very shallow, In giuing iudgement of a man at armes, A man of my desert and excellence. The Turkes whom they account for barbarous, Hauing forehard of Basiliscoes worth, A number vnder prop me with their shoulders, And in procession bare me to the Church, As I had beene a second Mahomet, I fearing they would adore me for a God, Wisely informd them that I was but man, Although in time perhaps I might aspire, To purchase Godhead, as did Hercules, I meane by doing wonders in the world: A midst their Church they bound me to a piller, And to make triall of my valiancie, They lopt a collop of my tendrest member. But thinke you Basilisco squicht for that, Euen as a Cowe for tickling in the horne, That doone, they set me on a milke white Asse, Compassing me with goodly ceremonies, That day me thought, I sat in Pompeyes Chaire, And viewd the Capitoll, and was Romes greatest glorie.