Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
A deadly rancour reconciled again, Must sealed with consanguinity remain. He since his father's age-worn course was ended. Hath ruled his people free from blood or strife, Till now a Viper of his loins descended, Would by his ruin make himself a life. I mean by Cyrus' base Cambises brood, Who by a Bitch nursed with the country swains, Degenered far from any princely blood, The doggish nature of his nurse retains. He come against his Grandfather to field, And unexpected with a mighty power, Overthrew his forces, forced himself to yield, Who captive kept now waits for death each hour. That you may see now what my interest is, I made recital of this ruthful story, Those circumstances show that shame of his Tends to the derogation of our glory: That any dare presume to trouble thus One whom our kingdoms favour should defend, In strict affinity combined with us, Yet not respected for so great a friend. My joyless soul with this will be rejoiced, Whilst I to war against that rebel go: I hope that both shall know how they have choiced, Th'one a kind friend, and th'other a fierce fo. Though Nature's law you cared not to transgress, And this your wronged ally would not repair, Yet the regard t'a Monarch in distress, Should move the mighty with a mutual care. These terrors to that thunder in your ear, I think the Lydians will not well allow, For when the Cedar falls, the Oak may fear, Th' Assyrians o'erthrow may astonish you. And when we see our neighbour's house afire, Than we may judge our own to be in danger, It's better first with others to conspire, Or we be forced ourselves t'invade that stranger. Ah this is but the outside of your course, A dangerous ambush by ambition planted, There may come raging rivers from this source, To drown your state whilst fancies are undaunted. I know these new-born monsters of your mind, Have armed your ravished thoughts with fair conceits, Yet may these wonders that you have divined, Prove traitorous projects painted for deceits. And (pardon Sir) it is not good to be Too rashly stout nor curiously wise, Lest that you from that which is certain flee, And not attain to that which you devise. I grant indeed which very few shall know, Though I design but to relieve my friend, My thoughts are aimed (this unto you I'll show,) And not without great cause, t'a greater end. You see how Fortune nought but change affects, Some are reproached that others may be praised, And every age brings forth some strange effects, Some must be ruined, others must be raised. I doubt not you have heard who was the first Whom fame for warring with the world revives, Who had of sovereignty so great a thirst, That it could not be quenched with thousands lives.
seed 43: T30 · seed 44: T33 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
A deadlie rancour reconcil'd againe, Muſt ſeal'd with conſanguinitie remaine. He ſince his fathers age-worne courſe was ended. Hath rulde his people free from blood or ſtrife, Till now a Viper of his loynes diſcended, Would by his ruine make himſelfe a life. I meane by Cyrus baſe Cambiſes brood, Who by a Bitch nurſt with the countrey ſwaines, Degener'd farre from any princely blood, The doggiſh nature of his nurſe retaines. He come againſt his Grandfather to feeld, And vnexpected with a mightie powre, Ouerthrew his forces, forc'd himſelfe to yeeld, Who captiue kept now waits for death each howre. That you may ſee now what my intereſt is, I made recitall of this ruthfull ſtorie, Thoſe circumſtances ſhew that ſhame of his Tends to the derogation of our glorie: That any dare preſume to trouble thus One whome our kingdomes fauour ſhould defend, In ſtrict affinitie combind with vs, Yet not reſpected for ſo great a friend. My ioyleſſe ſoule with this will be reioyc'd, Whilſt I to warre againſt that rebell go: I hope that both ſhall know how they haue choyc'd, Th'one a kind friend, and th'other a fearce fo. Though Natures law you car'd not to tranſgreſſe, And this your wrong'd allye would not repare, Yet the regard t'a Monarch in diſtreſſe, Should moue the mightie with a mutuall care. Theſe terrours to that thunder in your eare, I thinke the Lidians will not well allow, For when the Cedar falls, the Oake may feare, Th' Aſsirians ore-throw may aſtoniſh you. And when we ſee our neighbours houſe afire, Then we may iudge our owne to be in danger, It's better firſt with others to conſpire, Or we be forc'd our ſelues t'inuade that ſtranger. Ah this is but the out-ſide of your courſe, A dangerous ambuſh by ambition planted, There may come raging riuers from this ſource, To drowne your ſtate whilſt fancies are vndanted. I know theſe new-borne monſters of your mind, Haue arm'd your rauiſh'd thoughts with faire conceates, Yet may theſe wonders that you haue diuin'd, Proue traiterous proiects painted for deceates. And (pardon Sir) it is not good to be Too raſhlie ſtout nor curiouſlie wiſe, Leſt that you from that which is certaine flee, And not attaine to that which you deuiſe. I grant indeed which very few ſhall know, Though I deſigne but to relieue my friend, My thoughts are aym'd (this vnto you ile ſhow,) And not without great cauſe, t'a greater end. You ſee how Fortune nought but change affects, Some are reproach'd that others may be praiſd, And euery age brings forth ſome ſtrange effects, Some muſt be ruin'd, others muſt be raiſd. I doubt not you haue heard who was the firſt Whom fame for warring with the world reuiues, Who had of ſoueraigntie ſo great a thirſt, That it could not be quenchd with thouſands liues.