The Wounds of Civil War, or Marius and Scilla · chunk 20 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 0.89 · 506 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
Midst these confusions mighty men of Rome, Why waste we out these troubles all in words, Weep not your harms, but wend we straight so arms, Lo Distia spoiled, see Marius at our gate: And shall we die like milksops dreaming thus? A bootless war to see our country spoiled. fruitless is dalliance whereas dangers be. My Lord, may courage wait on conquered men? I even in death most courage doth appear. Then waiting death I mean to seat me here, Hoping that consuls name and fear of laws, Shall justify my conscience and my cause, Now sirrah, what confused looks are these, What tidings bringest thou of dreariment? My Lords, the Consull Cynna with his fre Have let in Marius by Via Appia, Whose soldiers waste and murder all they meet, Who with the Consul and his other friends With expedition hasteth to this place. Then to the downfall of my happiness, Then to the ruin of this City Rome. But if mine inward ruth were laid in sight, My streams of tears should drown my foe's despite. Courage Lord Anthony, if Fortune please, She will and can these troubles soon appease. But if her backward frowns approach us nigh, Resolve with us with honour for to die. No storm of fate shall bring my sorrows down, But if that Fortune list, why let her frown. Where state's oppressed by cruel tyrants be, Old Anthony, there is no place for thee. Hark, by this thundering noise of threatening drums, Marius with all his faction hither comes. Then like a traitor he shall know ere long, In levying arms he doth his country wrong. And have we got the goal of honour now, And in despite of Consuls entered Rome? Then rouse thee Marius, leave thy ruthful thoughts: And for thy many toils and cares sustained, Afflict thy foes with twice as many pains. Go soldiers seek out Bebius and his friends, Attilius, Munitorius with the rest, Cut off their heads, for they did cross me once: And if your care can compass my decree, Remember that same fugitive Mark Anthony, Whose fatal end shall be my fruitful peace. I tell thee Cinna, nature armeth beasts With just revenge, and lendeth in their kinds Sufficient warlike weapons of defence: If then by nature beasts revenge their wrong, Both heavens and nature grant me vengeance now, Yet whilst I live and suck this subtle air That lendeth breathing coolness to my lights, The register of all thy righteous acts, Thy pains, thy toils, thy travels for my sake, Shall dwell by kind impressions in my heart, And I with links of true unfeigned love Will lock these Roman favourites in my breast, And live to hazard life for their relief. My Lord, your safe and swift return to Rome, Makes Cinna fortunate and well apaid, Who through the false suggestions of my foes, Was made a coffer of a Consul here: Lo where he sits commanding in his throne, That wronged Marius, me, and all these Lords.
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)
Midst these confusions mighty men of Rome, VVhy wast we out these troubles all in words, VVeepe not your harmes, but wend we straight so armes, Loe Disia spoyld, see Marius at our gate▪ And shall we die like milksops dreaming thus? A bootles warre to see our o ntrey spoild. Fruteles is dalliance whereas dangers bee. My Lord, may courage wait on conquered men? I euen in death most courage doth appeare. Then wating death I meane to seate me here, Hoping that Consulls name and feare of lawes, Shall iustifie my conscience and my cause, Now sirrha, what confused lookes are these, VVhat tidings bringest thou of dreriment? My Lords, the Consull Cynna with his fre Haue let in Marius by Via Appia, VVhose souldiers wast and murther all they meete, VVho with the Consull and his other frends VVith expedition hasteth to this place. Then to the downfall of my happines, Then to the ruine of this Citie Rome. But if mine inward ruth were laid in sight, My streames of teares should drowne my foes despight. Courage Lord Anthony, if Fortune please, She will and can these troubles soone appease. But if her backward frownes approch vs nie, Resolue with vs with honor for to die. No storme of fate shall bring my sorrowes downe, But if that Fortune list, why let her frowne. VVhere state's opprest by cruell tyrants bee, Old Anthony, there is no place for thee. Harke, by this thundring noyse of threatning drums, Marius with all his faction hether comes. Then like a traitor he shall know ere long, In leuying armes he doth his countrey wrong. And haue we got the goale of honor now, And in despight of Consulls entred Rome? Then rouze thee Marius, leaue thy ruthfull thoughts: And for thy manie toiles and cares sustaind, Afflict thy foes with twice as many paines. Goe souldiers seeke out Bebius and his frends, Attilius, Munitorius with the rest, Cut off their heads, for they did crosse me once: And if your care can compasse my decree, Remember that same fugitiue Marke Anthony, VVhose fatall end shall be my frutefull peace. I tell thee Cynna, nature armeth beasts With iust reuenge, and lendeth in their kindes Sufficient warlike weapons of defence: If then by nature beasts reuenge their wrong, Both heauens and nature grant me vengeance now, Yet whilst I liue and sucke this subtill aire That lendeth breathing coolenes to my lights, The register of all thy righteous acts, Thy paines, thy toiles, thy trauells for my sake, Shall dwell by kinde impressions in my hart, And I with linkes of true vnfained lone VVill locke these Romane fauorites in my brest, And liue to hazard life for their releefe. My Lord, your safe and swift returne to Rome, Makes Cynna fortunate and well appaid, Who through the false suggestions of my foes, VVas made a coffer of a Consull here: Lo where he sits commanding in his throue, That wronged Marius, me, and all these Lords.