Daniel, Samuel · published 1599 · first performed or written 1593 [revised 1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T1 Death, grief and revenge · 512 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
Look how a strayed perplexed travailer, When chased by thieves, & even at point of taking, Descrying suddenly some town not far, Or some unlookt-for aid to himward making; Cheers up his tired spirits, thrusts forth his strength To meet that good, that comes in so good hour: Such was her joy, perceiving now at length, Her honour was t'escape so proud a power, Forth from her seat she hastes to meet the present, And as one overjoyed, she caught it strait. And with a smiling cheer in action pleasant, Looking among the figs, finds the deceit. And seeing there the ugly venomous beast, Nothing dismayed, she stays and views it well. At length th' extremest of her passion ceased, When she began with words her joy to tell. O rarest beast (saith she) that Africa breeds, How dearly welcome art thou unto me? The fairest creature that fair Nilus feeds Me thinks I see, in now beholding thee. What though the ever-erring world doth deem That angered Nature framed thee but in spite? Little they know what they so light esteem, That never learned the wonder of thy might. Better than Death, Death's office thou dischargest, That with one gentle touch can free our breath: And in a pleasing sleep our soul enlargest, Making ourselves not privy to our death. If Nature erred, o then how happy error, Thinking to make thee worst, she made thee best: Sith thou best freest us from our lives worst terror, In sweetly bringing souls to quiet rest. When that inexorable Monster Death That follows Fortune, flies the poor distressed, Tortures our bodies ere he takes our breath, And loads with pains th' already weak oppressed. How oft have I begged, prayed, entreated him To take my life, and yet could never get him? And when he comes, he comes so ugly grim, That who is he (if he could choose) would let him? Therefore come thou, of wonders wonder chief, That open canst with such an easy key The door of life, come gentle cunning thief, That from ourselves so stealest ourselves away. Well did our Priests discern something divine Shadowed in thee, and therefore first they did Offerings and worships due to thee assign, In whom they found such mysteries were hid. Comparing thy swift motion to the Sun, That movest without the instruments that move: And never waxing old, but always one, Dost sure thy strange divinity approve. And therefore to, the rather unto thee In zeal I make the offering of my blood, Calamity confirming now in me A sure belief that piety makes good. Which happy men neglect, or hold ambiguous. And only the afflicted are religious. And here I sacrifice these arms to Death, That Lust late dedicated to Delights: Offering up for my last, this last of breath, The complement of my loves dearest rites. With that she bears her arm, and offer makes To touch her death, yet at the touch withdraws, And seeming more to speak, occasion takes, Willing to die, and willing to to pause.
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)
Looke how a stray'd perplexed trauailer, When chas'd by theeues, & euē at point of taking, Descrying suddainly some towne not far, Or some vnlookt-for aid to him-ward making; Cheers vp his tired sp'rits, thrusts forth his strēgth To meet that good, that comes in so good houre: Such was her ioy, perceiuing now at length, Her honour was t'escape so proude a powre, Forth from her seat she hastes to meet the present, And as one ouer-ioy'd, she caught it straight. And with a smiling cheere in action pleasant, Looking among the figs, findes the deceite. And seeing there the vgly venemous beast, Nothing dismaid, she stayes and viewes it well. At length th' extreamest of her passion ceast, When she began with words her ioy to tell. O rarest beast (saith she) that Affrick breedes, How deerly welcome art thou vnto me? The fairest creature that faire Nylus feedes Me thinks I see, in now beholding thee. What though the euer-erring worlde doth deeme That angred Nature fram'd thee but in spight? Little they know what they so light esteeme, That neuer learn'd the wonder of thy might. Better then Death, Deaths office thou dischargest, That with one gentle touch can free our breath: And in a pleasing sleepe our soule inlargest, Making our selues not priuie to our death. If Nature err'd, ô then how happy error, Thinking to make thee worst, she made thee best: Sith thou best freest vs from our liues worst terror, In sweetly bringing soules to quiet rest. When that inexorable Monster Death That followes Fortune, flies the poore destressed, Tortures our bodies ere he takes our breath, And loads with paines th' already weak oppressed. How oft haue I begg'd, prayd, intreated him To take my life, and yet could neuer get him? And when he comes, he comes so vgly grim, That who is he (if he could chuse) would let him? Therefore come thou, of wonders wonder chiefe, That open canst with such an easie key The doore of life, come gentle cunning thiefe, That from our selues so steal'st our selues away. Well did our Priests discerne something diuine Shadow'd in thee, and therefore first they did Offrings and worships due to thee assigne, In whom they found such mysteries were hid. Comparing thy swift motion to the Sunne, That mou'st without the instruments that moue: And neuer waxing olde, but alwayes one, Doost sure thy strange diuinitie approue. And therefore to, the rather vnto thee In zeale I make the offring of my blood, Calamitie confirming now in me A sure beliefe that pietie makes good. Which happy men neglect, or hold ambiguous. And onely the afflicted are religious. And heere I sacrifice these armes to Death, That Lust late dedicated to Delights: Offring vp for my last, this last of breath, The complement of my loues dearest rites. With that she bares her arme, and offer makes To touch her death, yet at the touch with-drawes, And seeming more to speake, occasion takes, Willing to die, and willing to to pause.