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 0.72 · 485 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
Histaspis there is a proud Assyrian tent, Wherein the king was wont to sleep and banquet in, I think if that were offered to his hands, Cyrus would take it in most gracious part. But is the pride and bravery thereof, worthy to be presented to our Lord? Asia hath not seen a richer prize, The covering is of blue Sydoman silk, Embroidered all with pearl and precious stones, They glimmer brighter than the Sun itself, On every point of the pavilion, There stands a princely top of Phoenix plumes, which tricked with spangles and with silver bells, And every gentle murmur of the wind, delights the day with every harmony. The stakes wherewith 'tis fastened to the ground, are massy silver of the purest proof, The ropes are all of crimson silk and gold, Hung from the top with wrists of ivory, Under a Vine where Bacchus bruiseth grapes, and twenty cubits hover in the leaves, Believe me Lords, when I behold the thing, The work appeared so glorious to the eye. Araspas you describe a princely thing, Worthy to be presented to a king. And here is a tent, though far from such a tent, This shall be mine, the owner's fled or slain, O beauty rare and more than mortal shape, What goddess oweth this earthly tabernacle. Nicasia sings while Panthra sits and sighs. But singing sings of Panthra's wretchedness. What are ye Lady? What I would not be. Fair you are, what would ye more? I would be free. Ye Persian Lords I am a woeful dame. Exposed to wretchedness and fortune's wrath, And thus I have resolved you what I am. Lady, the graces that adorn your presence, Deserves a fortune mild as it your face. But howsoever Fortune envies you, Yet we will use you honourable still. You use me then but as you ought to do. Nay Lady we may use you otherwise, For voluntary favours be no debt. But Lords whate'er you ought is debt, you ought to use me well, and therefore debt. Madam, you are a captive in our hands, And captives are not to command the conquerors. No Lords if captives might command the conquerors, I would command you to release me hence. But captive as I am, honour commands, That you entreat and use me honourably. Such honour as to captives doth belong, Such honour Lady we intend to you. My sex requireth more than common grace. And eke so doth that lively face. Let be my usage as shall please my conqueror, And now I'll learn to crave with servile terms. My lords, though captive, yet I am a Queen, And wife unto the absent Susan king. My lord and hear Assyrian Abradate, And noble prince and mighty man at arms. Upon embassage of the king of Batria. But madam what persuasion moved your mind, To thrust yourself unto the Assyrian camp.
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)
Hiſtaſpis there is a proud Aſſyrian tent, Wherein the king was wont to ſleepe and banket in, I thinke if that were offered to his hands, Cyrus would take it in moſt gracious part. But is the pride and brauerie thereof, worthie to be preſented to our Lord? Aſia hath not ſeene a richer priſe, The couering is of blew Sydoman ſilke, Imbrodered all with pearle and precious ſtones, They glimmer brighter than the Sunne it ſelfe, On euerie point of the pauilion, There ſtandes a princely top of Phenix plumes, which trickt with ſpangles and with ſiluer belies, And euerie gentle murmur of the winde, delights the day with euerie harmonie. The ſtakes wherewith t'is faſtened to the ground, are maſsie ſiluer of the pureſt proofe, The ropes are all of chrimſon ſilke and golde, Hung from the top with wreſts of Iuorie, Vnder a Vine where Bacchus bruſeth grapes, and twentie cubits houer in the leaues, Beleeue me Lords, when I behold the thing, The worke appearde ſo glorious to the eie. Araſpas you deſcribe a princely thing▪ Worthie to be preſented to a king. And here is a tent, though far from ſuch a tent, This ſhall be mine, the owner's fled or ſlaine, O beautie rare▪ and more than mortall ſhape, What goddeſſe oweth this earthly tabernacle. Nicaſia ſings while Panthra ſits and ſighes. But ſinging ſings of Panthras wretchednes. What are ye Ladie? What I would not be. Faire you are, what would ye more? I would be free. Ye Perſian Lords I am a wofull dame. Expoſed to wretchedneſſe and fortunes wrath, And thus I haue reſolude you what I am▪ Ladie, the graces that adorne your preſence, Deſerues a fortune milde as it your face. But howſoeuer Fortune enuies you, Yet we will vſe you honourable ſtill. You vſe me then but as you ought to doe. Nay Ladie we may vſe you otherwiſe, For voluntarie fauours be no debt. But Lords what ere you ought is debt, you ought to vſe me well, and therefore debt. Madam, you are a captiue in our hands, And captiues are not to command the conquerours. No Lords▪ if captiues might command the conquerors, I would command you to releaſe me hence. But captiue as I am▪ honour commands, That you intreate and vſe me honourably. Such honour as to captiues doth belong, Such honour Ladie we intend to you. My ſex requireth more then common grace. And eke ſo doth that liuely face. Let be my vſage as ſhall pleaſe my conqueror, And now Ile learne to craue with ſeruile tearmes. My lords, though captiue, yet I am a Queene, And wife vnto the abſent Suſan king. My lord and heare Aſſyrian Abradate, And noble prince and mightie man at armes. Vpon ambaſſage of the king of Batria. But madam what perſuaſion moou'd your mind, To thruſt your ſelf vnto the Aſsyrian campe.