The Wounds of Civil War, or Marius and Scilla · chunk 13 of 38
Lodge, Thomas · published 1594 · first performed or written 1588 [1586-1591] (Annals) tragedy · Admiral's (Nottingham's) Men T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi typicality 0.75 · 481 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
Why then the senate's name (whose reverence Hath blazed our virtues midst the Western I'll) Must be observed by Cinna's forced power. O Citizens, are laws of Country left? Is justice banished from this Capitol? Must we poor fathers see your trooping bands Enter the sacred synod of this state. Oh brutish fond presumptions of this age, Rome would the mischiefs might obscure my life, So I might counsel Consuls to be wise. Why Countrymen wherein consists this strife? Forsooth the younger Citizens will rule, The old men's heads are dull and addle now: And in elections youth will bear the sway? O Cinna, see I not the woeful fruits Of these ambitious stratagems begun, Each flattering tongue that dallieth pretty words, Shall change our fortunes and our states at once. Had I ten thousand tongues to talk the care, So many eyes to weep their woeful miss, So many pens to write these many wrongs: My tongue your thoughts, my eyes your tears should move, My pen your pains by reasons should approve. Why Anthonie, seal up those sugared lips, For I will bring my purpose to effect. Doth Cinna like to interrupt me then? I Cinna sir, will interrupt you now, I tell thee Mark, old Marius is at hand, The very patron of this happy law, Who will revenge thy cunning eloquence. I talk not I to please or him or thee, But what I speak, I think and practise too: 'twere better Sulla learned to mend in Rome, Than Marius come to tyrannize in Rome. Nay Marius shall not tyrannize in Rome, Old Citizens, as Sulla late ordained, King Tullius laws shall take their full effect, The best and aged men shall in their choice, Both bear the day and firm election. Oh brave Octavius you will beard me then, The elder Consul and old Marius' friend, And these Italian freemen must be wronged. First shall the fruit of all thine honours fail, And this my poniard shall dispatch thy life. Such insolence was never seen in Rome: Nought wanteth here but name to make a King. Strike villain if thou list, for I am priest, To make as deep a furrow in thy breast. The young men's voices shall prevail my lords. And we will firm our honours by our bloods. O false ambitious pride in young and old: Hark how the heavens our follies hath controlled. What shall we yield for this religious fear? If not religious fear, what may repress These wicked passions, wretched Citizens. O Rome, poor Rome, unmeet for these misdeeds, I see contempt of heavens will breed a cross: Sweet Cinna govern rage with reverence. O fellow Citizens, be more advised. We charge you Consuls now dissolve the Court The Gods contemn this brawl and civil jars. We will submit our honours to their wills: You ancient Citizens come follow me.
seed 43: T1 · seed 44: T2 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Why then the Senates name (whose reuerence Hath blazd our vertues midst the Westerne Ile) Must be obseurde by Cynnas forced powre. O Citizens, are lawes of Countrey left? Is iustice banisht from this Capitoll? Must we poore fathers see your trooping bands Enter the sacred Synode of this state. Oh brutish fond presumptions of this age, Rome would the mischiefes might obscure my life, So I might counsaile Consulls to be wise. VVhy Countri-men wherein consists this strife? Forsooth the yonger Citizens will rule, The old mens heads are dull and addle now: And in elections youth will beare the sway? O Cynna, see I not the wofull fruits Of these ambitious stratagems begun, Each flattring tongue that dallieth pretie words, Shall change our fortunes and our states at once. Had I ten thousand tongues to talke the care, So manie eyes to weepe their wofull misse, So manie pennes to write these manie wrongs: My tongue your thoughts, my eyes your teares shuld moue, My pen your paines by reasons should approue. VVhy Anthonie, seale vp those sugred lips, For I will bring my purpose to effect. Doth Cynna like to interrupt me then? I Cynna sir, will interrupt you now, I tell thee Marke, old Marius is at hand, The verie patron of this happie law, VVho will reuenge thy cunning eloquence. I talke not I to please or him or thee, But what I speake, I thinke and practice too: Twere better Scilla learnt to mend in Rome, Than Marius come to tyrannize in Rome. Nay Marius shall not tyrannize in Rome, Old Citizens, as Scilla late ordaind, King Tullius lawes shall take their full effect, The best and aged men shall in their choice, Both beare the day and firme election. Oh braue Octauius you will beard me then, The elder Consull and old Marius frend, And these Italian freemen must be wrongd. First shall the frute of all thine honors faile, And this my ponyard shall dispatch thy life. Such insolence was neuer seene in Rome: Nought wanteth here but name to make a King. Strike villaine if thou list, for I am prest, To make as deepe a surrow in thy brest. The yong mens voices shal preuaile my lords. And we will firme our honors by our blouds. O false ambitious pride in yong and old: Harke how the heauens our follies hath contrould. What shall we yeeld for this religious feare? If not religious feare, what may represse These wicked passions, wretched Citizens. O Rome, poore Rome, vnmeet for these misdeedes, I see contempt of heauens will breed a crosse: Sweete Cynna gouerne rage with reuerence. O fellow Citizens, be more aduisde. VVe charge you Consulls now disslu the Court The Gods contemne this brawle and ciuil irres. We will submit our honors to their wills: You ancient Citizens come follow mee.