The Wounds of Civil War, or Marius and Scilla · chunk 17 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 0.83 · 497 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
Tut my Lucretius, fortune's ball is tossed, To form the story of my fatal power: Rome shall repent, babe, mother, shall repent, Air weeping cloudy sorrows shall repent, wind breathing many sighings shall repent To see those storms concealed in my breast, Reflect the hideous flames of their unrest: But words are vain, and cannot quell our wrongs, Brief periods serve for them that needs must post it. Lucullus since occasion calls me hence, And all our Roman senate think it meet, That thou pursue the wars I have begun, As by their letters I am certified, I leave thee Fimbrias Legions to conduct, with this proviso, that in ruling still, You think on Sulla and his courtesies. The weighty charge of this continued war, Though strange it seem, and over great to wield, I will accept it so the Army please. Happy & fortunate be Lucullus our General. If he be Sulla's friend, else not at all: For otherwise the man were ill bested, That gaining glories straight should lose his head. But soldiers since I needly must to Rome, Basillus virtues shall have recompense. Lo here the wreath Valerius for thy pains, Who first didst enter Archilous' trench: This pledge of virtue sirrah shall approve, Thy virtues, and confirm me in thy love. Happy be Sulla, if no foe to Rome. I like no iffs from such a simple groom, I will be happy in despite of state, And why? because I never feared fate. But come Arcathius for your father's sake, Enjoin your fellow Princes to their tasks, And help to succour these my weary bones. Tut blush not man, a greater state than thou, Shall pleasure Sulla in more baser sort. Aristion is a jolly timbered man, Fit to conduct the chariot of a King. Why be not squeamish, for it shall go hard, But I will give you all a great reward. Humbled by fate like wretched men we yield Arcathius these are fortunes of the field. Believe me these brave captives draw by art, And I will think upon their good desert. But stay you strangers, and respect my words, Fond heartless men, what folly have I seen: For fear of death can Princes entertain Such bastard thoughts, that now from glorious arms Vouchsafe to draw like oxen in a plough. Arcathius I am sure Mithridates Will hardly brook the scandal of his name: 'twere better in Picaeo to have died Aristion, than amidst our legions thus to draw. I tell thee Sulla, captives have no choice, And death is dreadful to a caitiff man. In such imperfect metals as is yours. But Romans that are still allured by fame, Choose rather death than blemish of their name, But I have haste, and therefore will reward you. Go soldiers, with as quick dispatch as may be, Hasten their death, and bring them to their end, And say in this that Sulla is your friend. Oh ransom thou our lives sweet conqueror.
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)
Tut my Lucretius, fortunes ball is tost, To forme the storie of my fatall powre: Rome shall repent, babe, mother, shall repent, Aire weeping clowdie sorrowes shall repent, vvind breathing many sighings shall repent To see those stormes concealed in my brest, Reflect the hideous flames of their vnrest: But words are vaine, and cannot quell our wrongs, Briefe periods serue for them that needs must postit. Lucullus since occasion calls me hence, And all our Romaine senate thinke it meete, That thou pursue the warres I haue begun, As by their letters I am certified, I leaue thee Fimbrias Legions to conduct, vvith this prouiso, that in ruling still, You thinke on Scilla and his curtesies. The waightie charge of this continued warre, Though strange it seeme, and ouer great to wield, I will accept it so the Armie please. Happie & fortunate be Lucullus our Generall. If he be Scillas friend, els not at all: For otherwise the man were ill bested, That gaining glories straight should lose his head. But souldiers since I needly must to Rome, Basillus vertues shall haue recompence. Lo here the wreath Valerius for thy paines, VVho first didst enter Archilous trench: This pledge of vertue sirrha shall approue, Thy vertues, and confirme me in thy loue. Happie be Scilla, if no foe to Rome. I like no iffs from such a simple groome, I will be happie in despite of state, And why? because I neuer feared fate. But come Arcathius for your fathers sake, Enioyne your fellow Princes to their taskes, And helpe to succour these my wearie bones. Tut blush not man, a greater state than thou, Shall pleasure Scilla in more baser sort. Aristion is a iolly timberd man, Fit to conduct the chariot of a King. VVhy be not squeamish, for it shall goe hard, But I will giue you all a great reward. Humbled by fate like wretched men we yeeld Arcathius these are fortunes of the field. Beleeue me these braue Captyues draw by art, And I will thinke vpon their good desart. But stay you strangers, and respect my words, Fond hartles men, what folly haue I seene: For feare of death can Princes entertaine Such bastard thoughts, that now from glorious armes Vouchsafe to draw like oxen in a plough. Arcathius I am sure Mithridates VVill hardly brooke the scandall of his name: Twere better in Picaeo to haue died Aristion, than amidst our legions thus to draw. I tell thee Scilla, captiues haue no choice, And death is dreadfull to a caytiue man. In such imperfect mettals as is yours. But Romanes that are still allurde by fame, Chuse rather death than blemish of their name, But I haue hat, and therefore will reward you. Goe souldiers, with as quicke dispatch as may be, Hasten their death, and bring them to their end, And say in this that Scilla is your frend. Oh ransome thou our liues sweet conquero ▪