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 · 489 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
Assyrian I have captains worthy here, She shall be matched as beseems a princess borne, And for revenge upon the Assyrian king, We will girt in Babylon with our high host, Or either starve them with a lingering siege, Or rip his bowels with our Persian swords, But in the mean time frolic in our tent, Histaspis lead the Assyrian to our camp. And entertain him as beseemeth a prince, Armuchus and Chrisantus follow him. Araspas, as I lately gave in charge Is all the spoil divided equally? It is my Lord, and every soldier pleased, Where is enclosed a jewel of such worth, As Asia hardly can afford the like. The Susian king stout Abradates Queen, A woman so richly embellished with beauty and perfection of the mind, As never any mortal creature was. Her hair as radiant as is Tagis sand, And softer than the stream on which it runs. Her lily cheeks all died with ruddy blush, Casts such reflection to the standers by, As doth the union of ten thousand suns. Through her transparent neck the air doth play, And makes it fairer than a Crystal glass, And from her eyes it seems nature herself, Bids every star receive his proper light. For with her glance she casteth such a brightness, As makes the night more brighter than the day. And day more fairer than is Eliziur. But when she talks so pleasant is her voice, As were she blacker than the pitchy night, She would entice the hardest Massagete. Or wildest Scythian in your highness camp. And when she looks upon you, were she dumb Her beauty were in stead of eloquence. And had she neither loveliness nor wit, The harmony she makes would ravish you, She weeps and plays while both her handmaids sing. And sighs at every strain using that note, Which Orpheus sings for Eruditus. with wringed hands her waiting maids keep time, Upon their mournful breasts, as were we flint, we could not choose but melt to hear their songs, wherefore my lord comfort this captive dame. And with your presence comfort her distress. Araspas wouldest thou have me visit her, when by her beauty I may be enthralled? Your Grace may look on her, and yet not love. Dost thou not think that love is violent? Nay rather voluntary my gracious lord, you know that woman's beauty is like fire, And fire doth always burn each thing alike, Therefore if nature were of such great power, Should every man by beauty be inflamed? But beauteous things are not in equal powers, For some love that which others do abstain. Either for fear or love, to prove this true, The sister of the brother is not loved, The daughter of the father not desired, And yet some one loves any of them both. If love be voluntary as thou sayest, why cannot lovers leave it when they will? They may.
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)
Aſſirian I haue captaines worthie here, She ſhall be matched as beſeemes a princes borne, And for reuenge vpon the Aſsirian king, We will girt in Babylon with our high hoſt, Or either ſtarue them with a lingring ſiege, Or rip his bowels with our Perſian ſwords, But in the meane time ſrolicke in our tent, Hiſtaſpis lead the Aſsyrian to our campe. And entertaine him as beſeemeth a prince, Armuchus and Chriſantus follow him. Araſpas, as I lately gaue in charge Is all the ſpoile diuided equally? It is my Lord, and euerie ſouldier pleaſed, Where is encloſed a iewell of ſuch worth, As Aſia hardly can affoord the like▪ The Suſian king ſtout Abradates Queene, A woman ſo richly imbelliſhed with beautie and perfection of the minde, As neuer any mortall creature was. Her haire as radiant as is Tagis ſand, And ſofter than the ſtreame on which it runnes. Her lillie cheekes all died with ruddie bluſh, Caſtes ſuch reflection to the ſtanders by, As doth the vnion of ten thouſand ſunnes. Through her tranſparant necke the aire doth play, And makes it fairer then a Chriſtall glaſſe, And from her eyes it ſeemes nature herſelfe, Bids euerie▪ ſtarre receiue his proper light. For with her glaunce ſhe caſteth ſuch a brightneſſe, As makes the night more brighter than the day. And day more fairer than is Eliziur. But when ſhe talkes ſo pleaſant is her voice, As were ſhe blacker then the pitchie night, She would entiſe the hardeſt maſſagite. Or wildeſt Scythian in your highneſſe campe. And when ſhe lookes vpon you, were ſhe dumbe Her beautie were in ſtead of eloquence. And had ſhe neither louelineſſe nor wit, The harmonie ſhe makes would rauiſh you, She weepes and plaies while both her handmaids ſing. And ſighes at euerie ſtraine vſing that note, Which Orpheus ſings for Eruditus. with wringed hands her waiting maids keepe time, Vpon their mournefull breaſts, as were we flint, we could not chuſe but melt to heare their ſongs, wherefore my lord comfort this captiue dame. And with your preſence comfort her diſtreſſe. Araſpas wouldeſt thou haue me viſit her, when by her beautie I may be enthralled? Your Grace may looke on her, and yet not loue. Doſt thou not thinke that loue is violent? Nay rather voluntarie my gracious lord, you know that womans beautie is like fire, And fire doth alwayes burne each thing alike, Therefore if nature were of ſuch great power, Should euerie man by beautie be enflamed? But beautious things are not in equall powers, For ſome loue that which others do abſtaine. Either for feare or loue, to proue this true, The ſiſter of the brother is not loued, The daughter of the father not deſired, And yet ſome one loues any of them both. If loue be voluntarie as thou ſaieſt, why cannot louers leaue it when they will? They may.