The Wars of Cyrus, King of Persia · chunk 24 of 26
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 · 477 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
But Abradates I will arm thee first, Seest thou these pouldrons they are gold, These vanbraces and cuirasses massy gold, The gorget and thy helmet beaten gold, The belt embroidered gold, yet all to base, For Abradate lovelier than the gold, May never spear be broken on this breast, But that the point thereof may soon return, And strike him dead that durst to give that charge, This helmet shun thee from the sling sand darts, This kiss make thee turn with victory, As for this garland made of lofty palm, Panthea reserves it for her conquering Lord, Upon whose head will Panthea fasten it, And hanging on hit neck like Hector's wife, Inquire the manner of the battle past. Fair be my fortune for my Panthea, My Lord Araspas in th' Assyrian arms, Doth crave success unto your Majesty. Araspas, let him come, he is our friend. And brings us tidings from our enemies. Health unto the person of my gracious lord. Welcome Araspas, brings thou cheerful news? Is Antiochus resolved to fight? This day he means to encounter with your host. What is the number of his fighting men? In all two hundred thousand at the least, And thus in order lies his noble camp. The forefront is ten chariots, Of purpose to disrank the approaching so. Next them are fifty thousand horsemen placed, To break in where the chariots break the way, Next them five thousand staves being lightly laden with spears, helmet, naked swords, To go along to serve the horsemen's use. Then twenty thousand Scythians runagates, with venomed darts, whose heads are tipped with steel, And last the battle of th' Assyrians, Being hedged with lances, as a wood with briars. On whose heads the cross bows and the slings, will shoot and throw bullets of massy iron, Whose very fall would strike Aclipos down, In midst whereof Antiochus will march, Before whom do a thousand bondmen draw A brazen wall built upon turning wheels, To guard him sure and his concubine, All these upon my honour I a duer. If every soldier had a wall of brass, It could not daunt us, we are resolute, And vowed and sworn unto our swords, which teacheth us to scorn a brazen wall. Renowned Cyrus, honour me thus far, To have the leading of your vanguard forth. Nay it belongs unto a Persian. If to a Persian, it belongs to me. I served Astyages your highness sire. But if a stranger may deserve the place, I hope my serving merits it my lord. My husband is a king, Cyrus I hope will therefore grant it, if not for desert, Had I four to encounter with, you all should lead the vanguard of the field, But only one must have the charge, Though all deserve it, therefore draw you all. Content. Crysantas make the lots.
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)
But Abradates I will arme thee firſt, Seeſt thou theſe pouldrons they are golde, Theſe vanbraces and currets maſsie golde, The gorget and thy helmet beaten golde, The belt imbrodered golde, yet all to baſe, For Abradate louelier then the golde, May neuer ſpeare be broken on this breaſt, But that the point thereof may ſoone returne, And ſtrike him dead that durſt to giue that charge, This helmet ſhunne thee from the ſling sand darts, This kiſle make thee turne with victorie, As for this garland made of loſtie palme, Panthea reſerues it for her conquering Lord, Vpon whoſe head will Panthea faſten it, And hanging on hit necke like Hectors wife, Inquire the maner of the battell paſt. Faire be my fortune for my Panthea, My Lord Araſpas in th' Aſſyrian armes, Doth craue ſucceſſe vnto your Maieſtie. Araſpas, let him come, he is our friend. And brings vs tidings from our enimies. Health vnto the perſon of my gracious lord. Welcome Araſpas, brings thou chearful newes? Is Antiochus reſolued to fight? This day he meanes to encounter with your hoſt. What is the number of his fighting men? In all two hundred thouſand at the leaſt, And thus in order lies his noble campe. The foreſtont is ten chariots, Of purpoſe to diſranke the approching ſo. Next them are fiftie thouſand horſmen placde, To breake in where the chariots breake the way, Next them fiue thouſand ſtaues being lightly laden with ſpeares, helmet, naked ſwordes, To go along to ſerue the horſmens vſe. Then twentie thouſand Scythians runagates, with venomde darts, whoſe heades are tipt with ſteele, And laſt the battell of th' Aſſyrians, Being hedgde with launces, as a wood with Briers. On whoſe heades the croſſe bowes and the ſlings, will ſhoote and throw bullets of maſsie yron, Whoſe verie fall would ſtrike Aclipos downe, In middeſt whereof Antiochus will march, Before whom doe a thouſand bondmen draw A brazen wall built vpon turning wheles, To gard him ſure and his concubine, All theſe vpon my honour I a duer. If euery ſouldier had a wall of braſſe, It could not daunt vs, we are reſolute, And vowed and ſworne vnto our ſwordes, which teacheth vs to ſcorne a brazen wall. Renowmed Cyrus, honour me thus farre, To haue the leading of your vauntgard forth. Nay it belongs vnto a Perſian. If to a Perſian, it belongs to me. I ſerued Aſtiages your highneſſe ſire. But if a ſtranger may deſerue the place, I hope my ſeruing merits it my lord. My husband is a king, Cyrus I hope will therefore grant it, if not for deſert, Had I foure to encounter with, you all ſhould lead the vauntgard of the field, But onely one muſt haue the charge▪ Though all deſerue it, therefore draw you all. Content. Cryſantas make the lots.