Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
Then, dear Parmenio, since the fates afford So fair an entry to our first designs, Let us go prosecute with dint of sword That fortune, which the heavens our hopes assigns. This high attempt, as we would wish succeeds. What hosts have we overthrown? what cities razed? Lo, populous Asia trembles at our deeds, And martial Europe doth remain amazed. Proud Greece, whose spirits oft priest to scorn the skies, A prostrate supplicant before thee falls: Rebellious Thebes, that durst thy power despise, Lies now entombed within her broken walls. That sea-empiring tire, reposing much In liquid Castles, and a waving main, Hath ratified thy forces to be such, That nothing can resist thy just disdain. No doubt the ancient Grecians ghosts are glad To see the fierce Barbarians brought so low; Yet are for envy of thy fortune sad, And though unbodied blush at this overthrow. Miltiades by all men was admired, Who once in Greece their flying troops pursued: And he that with a stratagem retired, And Salamina's straits with blood imbrued. But yet for all the Captains of that age The Eastern monarchs empire was enlarged, Who coming to their country, wars to wage, The sea with ships, the land with armies charged. He with more swarms of men, than th'autumn's clusters, Dried rivers up, & marched on Neptune's back; By measure, not by number made his musters, And did attempt the mountains plain to make. Then Europe feared for to be forced to bow, whilst th'earth did groan to bear so great an host? But thou hast come, seen, and overcomed them now Even in the bounds wherein their might was most. That haughty foe, who vilipended oft Our predecessors armies, and our own, Now laid as low, as he was once aloft, With his disgrace must make thy valour known. He cannot but acknowledge his distress In labouring first to have his friends restored: This message (potent Prince) imports no less: By his request thy conquest is decored. For the recovery of his captived Queen He offered hath innumerable gold; And would present a treasure to be seen More, as they say, than Macedon may hold. My counsel is that you accept those offers, And render her, as th'ancient custom binds; Who would make war must not have empty coffers: For hope of gain moves mercenary minds. And further, if those Princesses do tarry, It sumptuous is to entertain their state. Women, and babes are cumbersome to carry; Th'one young in years, and th'other in conceit. If I were come to traffic in this land, And like a greedy merchant to embrace Before all hope of glory gain in hand, This your inuild opinion might have place. But soon I surfeit of such melting things, And famish but for fame, and crowns of Kings. So, were I Alexander, would I do. If I Parmenio were, so would I to. Their ransom would defray your soldiers fee. I'll rather without ransom set them free.
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)
Then, deere Parmenio, ſince the fates afforde So faire an entrie to our firſt deſignes, Let vs goe proſecute with dint of ſworde That fortune, which the heauens our hopes aſſignes. This high attempt, as we would wiſh ſucceeds. What hoſtes haue we ouerthrow'n? what citties raz'd? Loe, populous Aſia trembles at our deedes, And martiall Europe doth remaine amaz'd. Proud Greece, whoſe ſpirits oft preaſt to skorne the skyes, A proſtrate ſupplicant before thee falles: Rebellious Thebes, that durſt thy power diſpyſe, Lyes now entomb'd within her broken walles. That ſea-impyring Tyre, repoſing much In liquide Caſtels, and a wauing maine, Hath ratified thy forces to be ſuch, That nothing can reſiſt thy iuſt diſdaine. No doubt the auncient Graecians ghoſts are glad To ſee the fierce Barbarians brought ſo lowe; Yet are for enuy of thy fortune ſad, And though vnbo-died bluſh at this ouerthrowe. Miltiades by all men was admir'd, Who once in Greece their flying troupes purſued: And he that with a ſtratageme retir'd, And Salaminaes ſtraites with blood imbrued. But yet for all the Captaines of that age The Eaſterne Monarckes empire was enlarg'd, Who comming to their countrie, warres to wage, The ſea with ſhippes, the land with armies charg'd. He with moe ſwarmes of mē, then th'Autumns cluſters, Dry'd riuers vp, & march'd on Neptunes backe; By meaſure, not by nomber made his muſters, And did attempt the mountaines plaine to make. Then Europe fear'd for to beforc'd to bowe, Wil'ſt th'earth did groane to beare ſo great an hoſt? But thou haſt come, ſeene, and ouercom'd them nowe Euen in the boundes wherein their might was moſt. That hautie foe, who vilipended oft Our predeceſſours armies, and our owne, Now laide as lowe, as he was once aloft, With his diſgrace muſt make thy valour knowne. He cannot but acknowledge his diſtreſſe In labouring firſt to haue his friends reſtor'd: This meſſage (potent Prince) imports no leſſe: By his requeſt thy conqueſt is decor'd. For the recouerie of his captiu'd Queene He offred hath innumerable golde; And would preſent a treaſure to be ſeene More, as they ſay, then Macedon may holde. My counſell is that you accept thoſe offers, And render her, as th'auncient cuſtome bindes; Who would make warre muſt not haue empty coffers: For hope of gaine moues mercenarie mindes. And further, if thoſe Princeſſes doe tarrie, It ſumptuous is to entertaine their ſtate. Wemen, and babes are cumberſome to carrie; Th'one young in yeares, and th'other in conceat. If I were come to traffick in this land, And like a greedie merchant to embrace Before all hope of glorie gaine in hand, This your inuild opinion might haue place. But ſoone I ſurfet of ſuch melting things, And famiſh but for fame, and crownes of Kings. So, were I Alexander, would I do. If I Parmenio were, ſo would I to. Their ranſome would defray your ſouldiers fee. I'le rather without ranſome ſet them free.