Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
Would Death had steeped his date in Lerna's blood, That I were drowned in the Tartarean deeps. I am an offering fit for Acheron. A match more equal never could be made, Than I, and Pompey, in th'elysian shade. " Death's always ready, and our time is known To be at heavens dispose, and not our own. Can we be overhasty to good hap? What good expect we in a fiery gap? To scape the fears that follows Fortune's glances. " A noble mind doth never fear mischances. " A noble mind disdaineth servitude. Can bondage true nobility exclude? How if I do, or suffer that I would not? " True noblesse never doth the thing it should not. Then must I die. Yet dying think this still; " No fear of death should force us to do ill. If death be such, why is your fear so rife? My works will show I never feared my life. And yet you will not that (in our distress,) We ask Death's aid to end life's wretchedness. " We neither ought to urge nor ask a thing, Wherein we see so much assurance lies. " But if perhaps some fierce offended King, (To fright us) set pale death before our eyes, " To force us do that goes against our heart; 'twere more than base in us to dread his dart. " But when for fear of an ensuing ill, We seek to shorten our appointed race, " Then 'tis (for fear) that we ourselves do kill, So fond we are to fear the world's disgrace. 'tis not for frailty or faint cowardice, That men (to shun mischances) seek for death. But rather he that seeks it, shows himself, Of certain courage, 'gainst incertain chance. " He that retires not at the threats of death, Is not as are the vulgar, slightly saied. " For heaven itself, nor hell's infectious breath, The resolute at any time have stayed. " And (sooth to say) why fear we when we see, The thing we fear, less than the fear to be. Then let me die my liberty to save, For 'tis a death to live a tyrant's slave. Daughter, beware how you provoke the heavens, Which in our bodies (as a tower of strength) Have placed our souls, and fortified the same; As discreet Princes set their Garrisons, In strongest places of their Provinces. " Now, as it is not lawful for a man, At such a king's departure or decease, " To leave the place, and falsify his faith, So in this case, we ought not to surrender " That dearer part, till heaven itself command it. For as they lent us life to do us pleasure, " So look they for return of such a treasure.
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)
Would Death had steept his date in Lerna-s blood, That I were drown'd in the Tartarean deepes. I am an offring fit for Acheron. A match more equall neuer could be made, Then I, and Pompey, in th'Elisian shade. "Death's alwaies ready, and our time is knowne "To be at heauens dispose, and not our owne. Can wee be ouer-hastie to good hap? What good expect wee in a fiery gap? To scape the feares that followes Fortunes glaunces. "A noble minde doth neuer feare mischaunces. "A noble minde disdaineth seruitude. Can bondage true nobility exclude? How if I doe, or suffer that I would not? "True noblesse neuer doth the thing it should not. Then must I dye. Yet dying thinke this stil; "No feare of death should force vs to doe ill. If death be such, why is your feare so rife? My works will shew I neuer feard my life. And yet you will not that (in our distresse,) We aske Deaths ayde to end lifes wretchednes. "We neither ought to vrge nor aske a thing, "VVherein we see so much assuraunce lyes. "But if perhaps some fierce offended King, "(To fright vs) sette pale death before our eyes, "To force vs doe that goes against our hart; "T'were more then base in vs to dread his dart. "But when for feare of an ensuing ill, "We seeke to shorten our appointed race, "Then t'is (for feare) that we our selues doe kill, "So fond we are to feare the worlds disgrace. T'is not for frailtie or faint cowardize, That men (to shunne mischaunces) seeke for death. But rather he that seeks it, showes himselfe, Of certaine courage, gainst incertaine chaunce. "He that retyres not at the threats of death, "Is not as are the vulgar, slightly faied. "For heauen it selfe, nor hels infectious breath, "The resolute at any time haue stayed. "And (sooth to say) why feare we when we see, "The thing we feare, lesse then the feare to be. Then let me die my libertie to saue, For t'is a death to lyue a Tyrants slaue. Daughter, beware how you prouoke the heauens, Which in our bodies (as a tower of strength) Haue plac'd our soules, and fortefide the same; As discreet Princes sette theyr Garrisons, In strongest places of theyr Prouinces. "Now, as it is not lawfull for a man, "At such a Kings departure or decease, "To leaue the place, and falsefie his faith, "So in this case, we ought not to surrender "That deerer part, till heauen it selfe commaund it. "For as they lent vs life to doe vs pleasure, "So looke they for returne of such a treasure.