The Wounds of Civil War, or Marius and Scilla · chunk 34 of 38
Lodge, Thomas · published 1594 · first performed or written 1588 [1586-1591] (Annals) tragedy · Admiral's (Nottingham's) Men unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 519 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
What constancy and but a very boy, Why then I see he was his father's son, But let us have this constancy described. After our fierce assaults, and their resist, Our siege, their sallying out to stop our trench: Labour and hunger raining in the town, The younger Marius on the cities wall, vouchsafed an interparle at the last: Wherein with constancy and courage too, He boldly armed his friends himself to death: And spreading of his colours on the wall, For answer said he could not brook to yield, Or trust a tyrant such as Sulla was. What did the brainsick boy upbraid me so? But let us hear the rest Lucretius. And after great persuasions to his friends And worthy resolution of them all: He first did sheathe his poniard in his breast, And so in order died all the rest. Now by my sword this was a worthy jest, Yet silly boy I needs must pity thee, Whose noble mind could never mated be, Believe me countrymen a sudden thought, A sudden change in Sulla now hath wrought. Old Marius and his son were men of name, Nor Fortune's laughs, nor lours their minds could tame, And when I count their fortunes that are past, I see that death confirmed their fames at last. Then he that strives to manage mighty things, Amidst his triumphs gains a troubled mind. The greatest hope the greater harm it brings: And poor men in content their glory find. If then content be such a pleasant thing, Why leave I country life to live a king? Yet Kings are Gods and make the proudest stoop, Yee but themselues are still pursude with ha And men were made to mount and then to droop, Such chances wait upon incertain fate, That where she kisseth once she quelleth twice, Then who so lives content is happy wise. What motion moveth this Philosophy? Oh Sulla see the Ocean ebbs and floats. The spring-time wanes when winter draweth nigh. ay, these are true and most assured notes. Inconstant chance such tickle turns hath left. As who so fears no fall, must seek content. Whilst graver thoughts of honour should allure thee What maketh Sulla muse and mutter thus? I that have passed amidst the mighty troops Of armed legions through a world of war, Do now bethink me Flaccus on my chance, How I alone where many men were slain, In spite of Fate am come to Rome again, And so I wield the reverend styles of state, Yea, Sulla with a beck could break thy neck, What Lord of Rome hath dared as much as I? Yet Flaccus know'st thou not that I must die? The labouring sisters on the weary Looms, Have drawn my web of life at length, I know: And men of wit must think upon their tombs. For beast's wit careless steps to Lethe: Where men whose thoughts and honours, climb on high, Living with fame, must learn, with fame to die. What let's my Lord in governing this state, To live in rest, and die with honour too?
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)
VVhat constancie and but a verie boy, VVhy then I see he was his fathers sonne, But let vs haue this constancie describde. After our fearce assaults, and their resist, Our seige, their salying out to stop our trench: Labor and hunger rayning in the towne, The yonger Marius on the Citties wall, Vouchsafte an interparle at the last: VVherein with constancie and courrage too, He boldly armed his freends him selfe to death: And spreading of his coloures on the wall, For answere saide he could not brooke to yeeld, Or trust a tyrant such as Scilla was. VVhat did the bransicke boy vpbraid me so? But let vs heare the rest Lucretius. And after great perswsasions to his freends And worthy resolution of them all: He first did sheath his ponyard in his breast, And so in order dyed all the rest. Now by my sword this was a worthy iest, Yet silly boy I needs must pittie thee, VVhose noble minde could neuer mated bee, Beleeue me countrymen a sodaine thought, A sodaine change in Scilla now hath wrought. Old Marius and his sonne were men of name, Nor Fortunes laughes, nor lowers their minds could tame, And when I count their fortunes that are past, I see that death confirmde their fames at last. Then he that striues to manage mightie things, Amidst his triumphes gaines a troubled minde. The greatest hope the greater harme it bringes: And pore men in content their glory finde. If then content be such a pleasant thing, VVhy leaue I country life to liue a king? Yet Kings are Gods and make the proudest stoope, Yee but themselues are still pursude with ha And men were made to mount and then to droope, Such chances wait vpon incertaine fate, That where she kisseth once shee quelleth twice, Then who so liues content is happy wise. VVhat motion moueth this Philosophy? Oh Scilla see the Ocean ebbs and floats. The spring-time wanes when winter draweth nie. I, these are true and most assured notes. Inconstant chance such tickle turnes hath let. As who so feares no fall, must seeke content. VVhilst grauer thoughts of honor shuld allure thee VVhat maketh scilla muse and mutter thus? I that haue past amidst the mightie troopes Of armed legions through a world of warre, Doo now bethinke me Flaccus on my chance, How I alone where manie men were slaine, In spite of Fate am come to Rome againe, And o I wield the reuer end stiles of state, Yea, Scilla with a becke could breake thy necke, VVhat Lo of Rome hath dre as much as I? Yet Flaccus knwst thou not that I must die? The laboring sisters on the weary Loombs, Haue drawne my webb of life at length, I know: And men of witt must thinke vpon their tombes. For beasts witt careles steps to : Where men whose thoughts and honors, clime on hie, Liuing with fame, must learne, with fame to die. What les my Lord in gouerning this state, To liue in rest, and die with honor too?