Peele, George · published 1594 · first performed or written 1589 [1588-1589] (Annals) tragedy · Unknown T17 Eastern conquest: Persians, Turks and so typicality 0.70 · 518 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
Now tell me Celybin, what doth the enemy? The enemy dread lord, hath left the town Of Arzil, with a thousand soldiers armed, To guard his fleet of thirteen hundred sail, And mustering of his men before the walls, He found he had two thousand armed horse, And fourteen thousand men that serve on foot, Three thousand pioneers, and a thousand coachmen, Besides a number almost numberless Of drudges, Negroes, slaves and muleteers, horseboys, laundresses and courtesans, And fifteen hundred wagons full of stuff For noble men, brought up in delicate. Alas good king, thy foresight hath been small To come with women into Barbarie, With laundress, with baggage, and with trash, Numbers unfit to multiply thy host. Their payment in the camp is passing slow, And victuals scarce, that many faint and die. But whether marcheth he in all this haste? Some thinks he marcheth hitherward, And means to take this city of Alcazar. Unto Alcazar, O unconstant chance! The brave and valiant king of Portugal Quarters his power in four batallions, A-front the which, to welcome us withal, Are six and thirty roaring pieces placed, The first consisting of light armed horse, And of the garrisons from Tangier brought Is led by Alvaro Peres de Tavero, The left or middle battle of Italians, And German horsemen Stukeley doth command, A warlike Englishman sent by the pope, That vainly calls himself marquess of Ireland. Alonjo Aquilaz conducts the third, That wing of German soldiers most consists. The fourth legion is none but Portugals, Of whom Lodevico Caesar hath the chiefest charge, Besides there stand six thousand horse Bravely attired, priest where need requires. Thus have I told your royal majesty, How he is placed to brave his fight. But where's our nephew Muly Mahamet? He marcheth in the middle, guarded about With full five hundred harquebus on foot, And twice three thousand needless armed pikes. Great sovereign, vouchsafe to hear me speak, And let Zareo's counsel now prevail, Whilst time doth serve, and that these Christians dare Approach the field with warlike Ensigns spread, Let us in haste with all our forces meet, And hem them in, that not a man escape, So will they be advised another time, How they do touch the shore of Barbarie. Zareo, hear our resolution, And thus our forces we will first dispose, Hamet my brother with a thousand shot On horseback, and choice harquebusiers all, Having ten thousand with spear and shield, Shall make the right wing of the battle up, Zareo you shall have in charge the left, Two thousand argolets and ten thousand horse, The main battle of harquebus on foot, And twenty thousand horsemen in their troops, myself environed with my trusty guard Of janissaries, fortunate in war, And toward Arzil will we take our way, If then our enemy will baulk our force, In God's name let him, it will be his best, But if he level at Alcazar walls, Then beat him back with bullets as thick as hail, And make him know and rue his oversight, That rashly seeks the ruin of this land.
seed 43: T18 · seed 44: T18 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Now tell mee Celybin, what doeth the enemie? The enemie dread lord, hath left the towne Of Areil, with a thousand souldiers armde, To gard his fleet of thirteene hundred saile, And mustering of his men before the wals, He found he had two thousand armed horse, And foureteene thousand men that serue on foot, Three thousand pioners, and a thousand cochmen, Besides a number almost numberlesse Of drudges, Negroes, slaues and Muliters, Horse-boies, landresses and curtizans, And fifteene hundred waggons full of stuffe For noble men, brought vp in delicate. Alas good king, thy fore-sight hath bin small To come with women into Barbarie, With landresse, with baggage, and with trash, Numbers vnfit to multiplie thy hoast. Their paiment in the campe is passing slow, And victuals scarce, that many faint and die. But whether marcheth he in all this hast? Some thinkes he marcheth hetherward, And meanes to take this citie of Alcazar. Vnto Alcazar, O vnconstant chance! The braue and valiant king of Portugall Quarters his power in foure batalians, A front the which, to welcome vs withall, Are sixe and thirtie roaring peeces plast, The first consisting of light armed horse, And of the garisons from Tangar brought Is lead by Aluaro Peres de Tauero, The left or middle battell of Italians, And Germane horse-men Stukley doth command, A warlike Englishman sent by the pope, That vainly cals himselfe Marques of Ireland. Alonjo Aquilaz conducts the third, That wing of Germaine souldiers most consists. The fourth legion is none but Portugals, Of whom Lodeuico Caesar hath the chiefest charge, Besides there stand sixe thousand horse Brauely attirde, prest where need requires. Thus haue I tolde your roiall maiestie, How he is plac'd to braue his fight. But where's out nephew Muly Mahamet? He marcheth in the middle, garded about With full fiue hundred hargubuze on foote, And twice three thousand needlesse armed pikes. Great soueraigne, vouchsafe to heare me speak, And let Zareos counsell now preuaile, Whilst time doth serue, and that these Christians dare Approch the field with warlike Ensignes spread, Let vs in hast with all our forces meete, And hemme them in, that not a man escape, So will they be aduisde another time, How they doo touch the shore of Barbarie. Zareo, heare our resolution, And thus our forces we will first dispose, Hamet my brother with a thousand shot On horse-backe, and choice harguebuziers all, Hauing ten thousand with speare and shield, Shall make the right wing of the battell vp, Zareo you shall haue in charge the left, Two thousand argolets and ten thousand horse, The maine battell of harguebuze on foot, And twentie thousand horse-men in their troupes, My selfe inuirond with my trustie'gard Of Ianizaries, fortunate in warre, And toward Arzil will we take our waie, If then our enemie will balke our force, In Gods name let him, it will be his best, But if he leuell at Alcazar wals, Then beate him backe with bullets as thicke as haile, And make him know and rue his ouersight, That rashly seekes the ruine of this land.