Anonymous · published 1594 · first performed or written 1588 [1587-1594] (Annals) tragedy · Children of the Chapel (first) (Oxford's Boys) T17 Eastern conquest: Persians, Turks and so typicality 0.69 · 492 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
YE Persians, Medians, and Hyrcanians, Trusty assistants, assisters in this happy war, Ye see the banded power of Asia, Whose number overspread the Assyrian fields And in their passage drank main rivers dry, By favour of the gods, and our devoir, Are overthrown and scattered through the plains, Like Autumn leaves before a Northern wind. Croesus is foiled, and fled to Lydia, The Arabian prince is whelmed amidst the sands, And last, the old Assyrian king is slain. Now triumph in the fortune of your hands, Whose fame hath directed these affairs. O Cyrus when I saw the Lydian king, Croesus that dastard and reproach of Asia, Shining in armour forged of Indian gold. Brave mounted on a prancer of Eperus, So shamefully to forsake the field and fly, I envied that so cowardly a king, Should use so good an armour and a horse. Chrisandas, like to Croesus be our foes, Glorious in show, but cowardly in mind. Cyrus those arms which dastard Croesus were, And horse of pride and courage past compare, What heart so base that would deem to fight, Might I but live to back so brave a steed. Croesus is gone, and gone with him his steed, This wish of yours Chrisantas is in vain, But of two hundred horses of mine own, Of gallant race and courage singular, Take you the choice and furniture withal, The bridles bit of massy silver wrought, The bosses gold, the reins of Persian silk, The saddles all embroidered purple work, Armed through with plates, with fine engraven gold, And golden trappers dangling to the ground. So live my Lord and flourish still, As I regard this honourable gift. Now Lords we have gotten the honour of the day And with our feet trod down the Thracian pride, While I do sacrify for victory, and chose the holy altars of the gods, Do you betwixt the armies part the spoils, and glad our men with fruits of our conquest. What portion of the gold shall we reserve To be employed in your highness use? Araspas none for me, divide it all, It pleaseth me to see my soldiers rich. The Persian horsemen that did give the charge Shall have five hundred talents for their share. The Medians that did enforce the fight, and seconded the Persian men at arms, Allot to them six hundred arming coats. The archers of Hercania served so well, as not to give them payment with the rest, Were open wrong to their approved deserts. You know that in the sacking of Assyrians tents we found three thousand Scythians bows in store, finished with quivers ready to the field, Let them be lotted to the Hyrcanians part. And truth Chrisantas you know well, That bows and quivers 'gree with archers best, Cyrus himself you see refuseth gold, And only seeks to make his fellows rich, what rests amidst the conquered spoils, wherein his highness may be gratified?
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T18 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
YE Perſians, Medians, and Hircanians, Truſtie aſsiſtans, aſsiſters in this happie war, Ye ſee the banded power of Aſia, Whoſe number ouerſpread the Aſsirian fields And in their paſſage dranke maine riuers drie, By fauour of the gods, and our deuoire, Are ouerthrowne and ſcattred through the plaines, Like Autumne leaues before a Northren winde. Creſus is foild, and fled to Lydia, The Arabian prince is whelmde amidſt the ſands, And laſt, the old Aſsyrian king is ſlaine. Now triumph in the fortune of your hands, Whoſe fame hath directed theſe affaires. O Cyrus when I ſaw the Lydian king▪ Creſus that daſtard and reproch of Aſia, Shining in armour forgde of Indian gold. Braue mounted on a prauncer of Eperus, So ſhamefully to forſake the field and flie, I enuied that ſo cowardly a king, Should vſe ſo good an armour and a horſe. Chriſandas, like to Creſus be our foes, Glorious in ſhew, but cowardly in minde. Cyrus thoſe armes which daſtard Creſus were, And horſe of pride and courage paſt compare, What heart ſo baſe that would deme to fight, Might I but liue to backe ſo braue a ſteed. Creſus is gone, and gone with him his ſteed, This wiſh of yours Chriſantas is in vaine, But of two hundred horſes of mine owne, Of gallant raſe and courage ſingular, Take you the choiſe and furniture withall, The bridles bit of maſsie ſiluer wrought, The boſſes golde, the reynes of Perſian ſilke, The ſaddles all embrodered purple worke, Armde through with plates, with fine ingrauen golde, And golden trappers dangling to the ground. So liue my Lord and flouriſh ſtill, As I regard this honourable gift. Now Lords we haue gotten the honor of the day And with our feet trod downe the Thraſian pride, While I doe ſacrifie for victorie, and choſe the holy aultars of the gods, Doe you betwixt the armies part the ſpoiles, and glad our men with fruits of our conqueſt. What portion of the golde ſhall we reſerue To be employed in your highneſſe vſe? Araſpas none for me, diuide it all, It pleaſeth me to ſee my ſouldiers rich. The Perſian horſ-men that did giue the charge Shall haue fiue hundred talents for their ſhare. The Medians that did enforce the fight, and ſeconded the Perſian men at armes, Allot to them ſix hundred arming coates. The archers of Hercania ſerued ſo well, as not to giue them paiment with the reſt, Were open wrong to their approude deſerts. You know that in the ſacking of Aſſyrians tents we found three thouſand Scithians bowes in ſtore, finiſht with quiuers readie to the field, Let them be lotted to the Hercanians part. And truth Chriſantas you know well, That bowes and quiuers gree with archers beſt, Cyrus himſelfe you ſee refuſeth golde, And onely ſeekes to make his fellowes rich, what reſtes amidſt the conquered ſpoiles, wherein his highneſſe may be gratified?