Anonymous · published 1592 · first performed or written 1592 [c.1589-1592] (Annals) tragedy · Unknown unassigned nearest T50 Fleets, armies and generals: war by sea · 514 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T50: sea, honour, general, soldiers, men, ship, fight, soldier, king, vittori.
Ah that Perseda were not half so fair, Or that Soliman were not so fond, Or that Perseda had some other love, Whose death might save my poor Erastus' life, See where he comes, whom though I dearly love, Yet must his blood be spilled for my behoof, Such is the force of morrow burning love. Erastus, Lord Governor of Rhodes, I arrest you in the king's name. What thinks Lord Brusor of this strange arrest, Hast thou entrapped me to this treachery: Intended well I wot without the leave Or licence of my Lord great Soliman. Why then appeal to him, where thou shalt know And be assured that I betray thee not. Yes, thou, and I, and all of us betray him. No, no, in this case no appeal shall serve. Why then to thee, or unto any else, I here protest by heavens unto you all, That never was there man more true or just, Or in his deeds more loyal and upright, Or more loving, or more innocent, Than I have been to gracious Soliman, Since first I set my feet on Turkish land. myself would be his witness if I durst, But bright Perseda's beauty stops my tongue. Why sirs, why face to face express you not, The treasons you revealed to Soliman? That very day Erastus went from hence, He sent for me into his Cabinet, And for that man that is of my profession. I never saw them I until this day. His Cabin door fast shut, he first began To question us of all sorts of fireworks, Wherein, when we had fully resolved him, What might be done, he spreading on the board, A huge heap of our imperial coin, All this is yours quoth he, if you consent, To leave great Soliman and serve in Rhodes. Why that was treason, but onwards with the rest. What have we here, my master before the marshal? We said not I, nor durst we say him nay, Because we were already in his galleys, But seemed content to fly with him to Rhodes, With that he pursed the gold, and gave it us. The rest I dare not speak it is so bad. heavens hear you this, and drops not vengeance on them The other wit. The rest, and worst, will I discourse in brief, Will you consent quoth he to fire the fleet, That lies hard by us here in Bosphoron, For be it spoke in secret here quoth he, Rhodes must no longer bear the turkish yoke, We said the task might easily be performed, But that we lacked such drugs to mix with powder, As were not in his galleys to be got, At this he leapt for joy, swearing and promising, That our reward should be redoubled: We came a-land not minding for to return, And as our duty and allegiance bound us, We made all known unto great Soliman, But ere we could summon him aland, His ships were past a kenning from the shore, Belike he thought we had bewrayed his treasons.
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)
Ah that Perseda were not halfe so faire, Or that Soliman were not so fond, Or that Perseda had some other loue, Whose death might saue my poore Erastus life, See where he comes, whome though I deerely loue, Yet must his bloud be spilt for my behoofe, Such is the force of morrow burning loue. Erastus, Lord Gouernour of Rhodes, I arrest you in the Kings name. What thinks Lord Brusor of this strange arrest, Hast thou intrapt me to this tretcherie: Intended well I wot without the leaue Or licence of my Lord great Soliman. Why then appeale to him, where thou shalt know And be assured that I betray thee not. Yes, thou, and I, and all of vs betray him. No, no, in this case no appeale shall serue. Why then to thee, or vnto any else, I heere protest by heauens vnto you all, That neuer was there man more true or iust, Or in his deeds more loyall and vpright, Or more louing, or more innocent, Than I haue bene to gratious Soliman, Since first I set my feet on Turkish land. My selfe would be his witnesse if I durst, But bright Persedaes beautie stops my tongue. Why sirs, why face to face expresse you not, The treasons you reueald to Soliman? That very day Erastus went from hence, He sent for me into his Cabinet, And for that man that is of my profession. I neuer saw them I vntill this day. His Cabine dore fast shut, he first began To question vs of all sorts of fire-workes, Wherein, when we had fully resolued him, VVhat might be done, he spredding on the boord, A huge heape of our imperiall coyne, All this is yours quoth he, if you consent, To leaue great Soliman and serue in Rhodes. Why that was treason, but onwards with the rest. What haue we heer, my maister before the marshall? We said not I, nor durst we say him nay, Bicause we were already in his gallyes, But seemd content to flie with him to Rhodes, With that he purst the gould, and gaue it vs. The rest I dare not speake it is so bad. Heauens heer you this, and drops not vengeance on them The other wit. The rest, and worst, will I discourse in briefe, Will you consent quoth he to fire the fleete, That lies hard by vs heere in Bosphoron, For be it spoke in secret heere quoth he, Rhodes must no longer beare the turkish yoake, We said the taske might easilie be performd, But that we lackt such drugs to mixe with powder, As were not in his gallyes to be got, At this he lept for ioy, swearing and promisiug, That our reward should be redoubled: We came aland not minding for to returne, And as our duty and aleageance bound vs, We made all knowne vnto great Soliman, But ere we could summon him a land, His ships were past a kenning from the shore, Belike he thought we had bewrayd his treasons.