Daniel, Samuel · published 1594 · first performed or written 1593 [revised 1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 527 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
And CLEOPATRA now, Well sees the dangerous way She took, and cared not bow, Which led her to decay. And likewise makes us pay For her disordered lust, Th' interest of our blood: Or live a servile prey, Under a band unjust, As others shall think good. This hath her riot won. And thus she hath her state, herself and us undone. Now every mouth can tell, What close was muttered: How that she did not well, To take the course she did. For now is nothing hid, Of what fear did restrain. No secret closely done, But now is uttered: The text is made most plain That flattery glossed upon, The bed of sin revealed, And all the luxury that shame would have concealed. The scene is broken down, And all uncovered lies, The purple Actors known Scarce men, whom men despise. The complots of the wise, Prove imperfections smoke: And all what wonder gave To pleasure-gazing eyes, Lies scattered, dashed, all broke. Thus much beguiled have Poor unconsider at wights, These momentary pleasures, fugitive delights. KIngdoms I see we win, we conquer Climates, Yet cannot vanquish hearts, nor force obedience, Affections kept in close-concealed limits, Stand far without the reach of sword or violence. Who forced do pay us duty, pay not love: Free is the heart, the temple of the mind, The Sanctuary sacred from above, Where nature keeps the keys that lose and bind. No mortal hand force open can that door, So close shut up, and locked to all mankind: I see men's bodies only ours, no more, The rest, another's right, that rules the mind. Behold, my forces vanquished have this Land, subdued that strong Competitor of mine: All Egypt yields to my all-conquering hand, And all their treasure and themselves resign. Only this Queen, that hath lost all this all, To whom is nothing left except a mind: Cannot into a thought of yielding fall, To be disposed as chance hath her assigned. But Proculei, what hope doth she now give, Will she be brought to condescend to live? My Lord, what time being sent from you to try, To win her forth alive, (if that I might) From out the Monument, where woefully She lives enclosed in most afflicted plight; No way I found, no means how to surprise her, But through a Grate at th'entry of the place, Standing to treat, I laboured to advise her, To come to Caesar, and to sue for grace. she said, she craved not life, but leave to die, Yet for her children, prayed they might inherit, That Caesar would vouchsafe (in clemency,) To pity them, though she deserved no merit. So leaving her for then; and since of late, With Gallus sent to try another time, The whilst he entertains her at the grate, I found the means up to the Tomb to climb. Where in descending in the closest wise, And silent manner as I could contrive: Her woman me descried, and out she cries, Poor Cleopatra, thou art ta'en alive. With that the Queen raught from her side her knife, And even in act to stab her martyred breast,
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
And CLEOPATRA now, Well sees the dangerous way Shee tooke, and car'd not bow, Which led her to decay. And likewise makes vs pay For her disordred lust, Th' int'rest of our blood: Or liue a seruile pray, Vnder a band vniust, As others shall thinke good. This hath her riot wonne. And thus shee hath her state, her selfe and vs vndunne. Now euery mouth can tell, What close was muttered: How that shee did not well, To take the course shee did. For now is nothing hid, Of what feare did restraine. No secrete closely done, But now is vttered: The text is made most plaine That flattry glos'd vpon, The bed of sinne reueal'd, And all the luxurie that shame would haue concealed. The scene is broken downe, And all vncou'red lyes, The purple Actors knowne Scarce men, whom men despise. The complots of the wise, Proue imperfections smoake: And all what wonder gaue To pleasure-gazing eyes, Lyes scattered, dasht, all broke. Thus much beguiled haue Poore vnconsider at wights, These momentary pleasures, fugitiue delights. KIngdoms I see we winne, we conquere Climates, Yet cannot vanquish harts, nor force obedience, Affections kept in close-concealed limits, Stand farre without the reach of sword or violence. Who forc'd doe pay vs duety, pay not loue: Free is the hart, the temple of the minde, The Sanctuarie sacred from aboue, Where nature keepes the keyes that loose and bind. No mortall hand force open can that doore, So close shut vp, and lockt to all mankind: I see mens bodies onely ours, no more, The rest, anothers right, that rules the minde. Behold, my forces vanquisht haue this Land, Subdu'de that strong Competitor of mine: All Egipt yeelds to my all-conquering hand, And all theyr treasure and themselues resigne. Onely this Queene, that hath lost all this all, To whom is nothing left except a minde: Cannot into a thought of yeelding fall, To be dispos'd as chaunce hath her assign'd. But Proculei, what hope doth shee now giue, Will shee be brought to condiscend to liue? My Lord, what time being sent from you to try, To win her foorth aliue, (if that I might) From out the Monument, where wofully Shee liues inclos'd in most afflicted plight; No way I found, no meanes how to surprize her, But through a Grate at th'entry of the place, Standing to treate, I labour'd to aduise her, To come to Caesar, and to sue for grace. Shee saide, shee crau'd not life, but leaue to die, Yet for her children, prayd they might inherite, That Caesar would vouchsafe (in clemency,) To pitty them, though shee deseru'd no merite. So leauing her for then; and since of late, With Gallus sent to try another time, The whilst hee entertaines her at the grate, I found the meanes vp to the Tombe to climbe. Where in discending in the closest wise, And silent manner as I could contriue: Her woman mee descri'd, and out shee cryes, Poore Cleopatra, thou art tane aliue. With that the Queene raught frō her side her knift, And euen in acte to slab her martred brest,