The Wounds of Civil War, or Marius and Scilla · chunk 31 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 · 510 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
Oh endless course of needy man's avail, What silly thoughts, what simple policies makes man presume upon this traitorous life? Have I not seen the depth of sorrow once, And then again have kissed the Queen of chance, Oh Marius thou Tillitius and thy friends, Hast seen thy foe discomfited in fight. But now the stars have formed my final harms, My father Marius lately dead in Rome, My foe with honour doth triumph in Rome, My friends are dead and banished from Rome, I Marius' father friends more blessed then thee: They dead, I live, I thralled they are free, Here in Preneste am I cooped up, Amongst a troup of hunger starved men. Set to prevent false Sulla's fierce approach. But now exempted both of life and all. Well Fortune since thy fleeting change, hath cast Poor Marius from his hopes and true desires, My resolution shall exceed thy power, Thy coloured wings steeped in purple blood, Thy blinding wreath distained in purple blood, Thy royal Robes washed in my purple blood Shall witness to the world thy thirst of blood, And when the tyrant Sulla shall expect To see the son of Marius stoop for fear, Then then, Oh then my mind shall well appear, That scorn my life and hold mine honour dear. Hark how these murderous Roman viperlike, Seek to betray their fellow Citizens, Oh wretched world from whence with speedy slight, True love, true zeal, true honour late is fled. What makes my Lord so careless and secure, To leave the breach and here lament alone? Not fear my friend for I could never fly, But study how with honour for to die, I pray thee call the chiefest Citizens. I must advise them in a weighty cause, Here shall they meet me and until they come, I will go view the danger of the breach. Say Tuditanus, didst thou ever see So desperate defence as this hath been: As in Numidia Tigers wanting food, Or as in Libya Lions full of ire, So fare these Romans on Preneste walls. Their valour Tuditanus and resist, The man like fight of younger Marius, Makes me amazed to see their miseries, And pity them although they be my foes. What said I foes? O Rome with ruth I see Thy state consumed through folly and dissension. Well sound a parle, I will see if words Can make them yield, which will not fly for strokes? What seeks this Roman warrior at our hands? That seeks he Marius, that he wisheth thee: An humble heart, and then a happy peace. Thou seest thy fortunes are depressed and down, Thy victuals spent, thy soldiers weak with want, The breach laid open ready to assault, Now since thy means and maintenance are done, Yield Marius, yield, Prenestians be advised, Lucretius is advised to favour you. I pray thee Marius mark my last advice. Relent in time, let Sulla be thy friend: So thou in Rome mayst lead a happy life, And those with thee shall pray for Marius still.
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)
Oh endles course of needy mans auaile, VVhat sillie thoughts, what simple pollicies makes man presume vpon this traiterous life? Haue I not seene the depth of sorrow once, And then againe haue kist the Queene of chaunce, Oh Marius thou Tilliius and thy frends, Hast seene thy foe discomfetted in fight. But now the starres haue formde my finll harmes, My father Marius lately dead in Rome, My foe with honour doth triumph in Rome, My freends are dead and banished from Rome, I Marius father freends more blest then thee: They dead, I liue, I thralled they are free, Here in Preneste am I cooped vp, Amongst a troope of hunger staued men. Set to preuent false Scillaes fierce approach. But now exempted both of life and all. VVell Fortune since thy fleeting change, hath cast Pore Marius from his hopes and true desiers, My resolution shall exceed thy power, Thy coloured wings steeped in purple blood, Thy blinding wreath distainde in purple blood, Thy royall Robes washt in my purple blood Shall witnes to the world thy thirst of blood, And when the tyrant Scilla shal expect To see the sonne of Marius stoope for feare, Then then, Oh then my minde shal well appeare, That scorne my life and hold mine honour deare. Harke how these murtherous Romaine viperlike, Seeke to betray their fellow Citizens, Oh wretched world from whence with speedie slight, True loue, true zeale, true honour late is fled. VVhat makes my Lord so carelesse and secure, To leaue the breach and here lament alone? Not feare my frend for I could neuer flie, But studdy how with honor for to die, I pray thee cal the cheefest Citizens. I must aduise them in a waightie cause, Here shal they meete me and vntill they come, I wil goe view the danger of the breach. Say Tuditanus, didst thou euer see So desperate defence as this hath been: As in Numidia Tygers wanting food, Or as in Libia Lions full of yre, So fae these Romanes on Preneste wals. Their valure Tuditanus and resist, The man like fight of yonger Marius, Makes me amazd to see their miseries, And pitie them although they be my foes▪ VVhat said I foes? O Rome with ruth I see Thy state consumde through folly and dissention. VVell sound a prle, I will see if words Can make them yeeld, which will not flie for strokes? What seeks this Romane warrior at our hands? That seekes he Marius, that he wisheth thee: An humble hart, and then a happie peace. Thou seest thy fortunes are deprest and downe, Thy vittels spent, thy souldiers weake with want, The breach laid open readie to assault, Now since thy meanes and maintenance are done, Yeeld Marius, yeeld, Prenestians be aduisde, Lucretius is aduisde to fauor you. I pre thee Marius marke my last aduice. Relent in time, let Scilla be thy frend: So thou in Rome maist lead a happie life, And those with thee shall pray for Marius still.