A Larum for London, or The Siege of Antwerp · chunk 2 of 25
Anonymous · published 1602 · first performed or written 1599 [c.1594-1600] (Annals) history · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T10 England and France: war, embassy and pea · 546 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T10: france, french, england, king, lord, english, edward, talbot, peace, lords.
ay, but they are remiss and negligent, Their bodies used to soft effeminate silks, And their nice minds set all on dalliance; Which makes them fat for slaughter, fit for spoil: But say 'twere otherwise that in their peace And days of plenty, whilst they flourished They had foreseen the danger might ensue, And exercise themselves in feats of arms; Yet we being sole commander of the Castle, And that commanding them, what let is there, (Were we much weaker) but we might prevail? When once the A 'larum sounds (like silly mice) They'll hide them in the crevice of their walls, And some for ignorance, will stand amazed; And some will be so tender of their flesh, As they will scorn to bear the weight of steel, No, no brave Almaigne if men ever had A fit occasion to enrich themselves, And fill the vast world with their echoing fame; Now is that instant put into our hands; And now may we be Lords of this proud town: My mind divines no less, and till my feet Tread a venturous measure in their streets, I shall be sick to think upon the deed. I wish my Lord as much as you detain, But such an enterprise must be well grounded, lest in performance there be found defect. What patient eye can look upon yond Turrets, And see the beauty of that flower of Europe, And in't be ravished with the sight of her? Oh she is amorous as the wanton air. And must be Courted: from her nostrils comes A breath, as sweet as the Arabian spice. Her garments are embroidered with pure gold; And every part so rich and sumptuous, As India's not to be compared to her, She must be Courted, mary herself invites, And beckons us unto her sportful bed; What is he then more lumpish than rude Iron, By such a lodestar may not be attempted? Oh brave Cornelius, if within thy veins, There be that heat of vallout? I presume; Let us forslow no time till we obtain To Revel in that bower of earthly bliss. My Lord, what lies in me ye shall dispose, My Regiment of Almains, and myself, Will on the first assault revolt to you; Mean space I'll give you close intelligence, Of any thing the Citizens pretend: But as I said, what makes this to the spoil, Of such a might City as this is, Unless we be confirmed with more supply? Behold this scroll and be resolved in that, From Mastricht first there comes a thousand horse, Beside five hundred foot: under the guiding Of Don Alonzo de Verdugo: Then From Loyre doth Iulian de Romero, bring Five hundred foot; From Aelst two thousand more Follow the conduct of Emanuel; The Duke of Alva likewise brings his power, And for a better colour, to delude These credulous inhabitants of Antwerp, He causeth it be published he is dead, And that his Soldiers guard his body hither, To have it shipped for Spain to be interred: Which well may serve to shadow his approach, The rest by night shall have their entrance; So that within two days I make account, We shall be gathered to a perfect head, Of (at the least) six thousand Spaniards.
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)
I, but they are remisse and negligent, Their bodies vs'd to soft effeminate silkes, And their nice mindes set all on dalliance; Which makes them fat for slaughter, fit for spoile: But say twere otherwise that in their peace And daies of plenty, whilst they flourished They had fore-seene the daunger might ensue, And exercise themselues in feates of armes; Yet wee being sole commaunder of the Castle, And that commaunding them, what let is there, (Were we much weaker) but we might preuaile? When once the A larum soundes (like silly mice) They'll hyde them in the creuice of their walles, And some for ignorance, will stand amaz'd; And some will be so tender of their flesh, As they will scorne to beare the weight of steele, No, no braue Almaigne if men euer had A fit occasion to inrich themselues, And fill the vast world with their ehoing fame; Now is that instant put into our hands; And now may we be Lords of this proude towne▪ My minde deuines no lesse, and till my feete Tread a venturous measure in their streetes, I shall be sicke to thinke vpon the deed. I wish my Lord as much as you detaine, But such an enterprise must be well grounded, Least in performance there be found defect. What patient eye can looke vpon yond Turets, And see the beauty of that flower of Europe, And in't be rauisht with the sight of her? Oh she is amorous as the wanton ayre. And must be Courted: from her no comes A breath, as sweete as the Arabian spice. Her garments are imbrodered with puregolde; And euery part so rich and sumpous, As Indias not to be compar'd to her, She must be Courted, ary her self inuites, And beckons vs vnto her sportfull bed; What is he then more umpish than rude Iron, By such a load-farre may not be attempted? Oh braue Corneliu, if within thy vaines, There be that heate of vallout? I presume; Let vs for-slowe no time till wee obtaine To Reuell in that bower of earthly blisse. My Lord, what lyes in me yee shall dispose, My Regiment of Almaignes, and my selfe, Will on the first assault reuolt to you; Meane space Ile giue you close intelligence, Of any thing the Cittizens pretend: But as I said, what makes this to the spoile, Of such a might Citty as this is, Vnlesse we be confirm'd with more supply? Beholde this scroule and be resolu'd in that, From Nastricht first there comes a thousand horse, Beside fiue hundred foote: vnder the guiding Of Don Alzo de Verdugo: Then From Lyre doth de Romero, bring Fiue hundred foote; From Alst two thousand more Follow the conduct of Emanuell; The Duke of Ala likewise brings his power, And for a better cullour, to delude These credulous inhabitants of Antwerpe, He causeth it be publisht he is dead, And that his Soldiers guard his body hyther, To haue it shipt for Spaine to be interd: Which well may serue to shaddow his approach, The rest by night shall haue their entraunce; So that within two daies I make account, We shall be gathered to a perfect head, Of (at the least) sixe thousand Spaniards.