Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
Now therefore let us first devoutly go And lose our vows, the gods detest th'ingrate, And who delight t'adore their deities so, Do never fail t'establish their estate. Go load the Altars, smoke the sacred places With Bullocks, Incense, Odours of all kinds, Though none can give the gods that flow in graces A sweeter Sacrifice then thankful minds. Though all that endenized in this Vale Walk here confined within this fertile Round, And are tapestried with this azure Pale, T'adore the gods by many means are bound. Yet there are some particularly, I find, Whose names are written in their dearest scrolls, Whom extraordinary favours bind, Even to prefer them to their very Souls. Of which (Sir) you are one, your deeds declare, Of you amidst innumerable broils, Even from your cradle they have had a care, And led you safe through all your greatest toils. Though of the dangers of your youth I see The thought no more with grief your mind importunes; Yet I think on who had the hap to be An Actor in your Tragic-comic fortunes. The accidents that in our Nonage chance, whenas our years grow ripe, slide out of thought Like fabulous dreams that Darkness doth advance, And are by Day disdained as things of nought. For our Conceptions are not then so strong As for to leave th'impression long behind, Yet mix (dear Friend) old griefs new joys among, And call afflicted Infancy to mind. Who would not wonder at thy wondrous Fate, Whose ruin ere thy Birth appeared conspired? Who unbegun, seemed to expire that date, Which now begun, shall never be expired. Your Mother first her Sire with cares did sting, While as he dreamt, which yet his soul confounds, That from her womb there did a Vine-tree spring, Which did o'ershadow all great Asia's bounds. Then to the Magies straight he gave in charge, To try what this strange Vision did presage, Who having studied their dark Art at large, Gave this response with a prophetic rage. That once his Daughter should bring forth a Son, For glorious Acts exceedingly renowned, By whom th'Empire of Asia should be won; By whom his Grandfather should be uncrowned. This to Astyages a terror bred, Who labouring to annul the heavens decree, Advised as best his Daughter for to wed T'a powerless stranger, but of base degree. Then of Cambises he by chance made choice, And for his barbarous country's cause the rather, Whom by your birth the Princess did rejoice, And further than before affright her Father. Thus tyranny by feeble sprites begun, Doth force the Parents in despair to fall, A dastard to attempt, proud having won, Which being feared of all, doth still fear all. And tyrants no security can find, For every shadow frights a guilty mind. This Monarch, whom scarce Armies could surprise, Whom gallant Guards and stately Courts delighted, Who triumphed o'er th'Earth, threatened the Skies, A Babe scarce borne, come of himself, affrighted.
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)
Now therefore let vs firſt deuoutly go And loſe our vowes, the gods deteſt th'ingrate, And who delight t'adore their deities ſo, Do neuer faile t'eſtabliſh their eſtate. Goe load the Altars, ſmoke the ſacred places With Bullocks, Incenſe, Odours of all kinds, Though none can giue the gods that flow in graces A ſweeter Sacrifice then thankefull minds. Though all that indenized in this Vale Walke here confinde within this fertile Round, And are tapeſtred with this azure Pale, T'adore the gods by many meanes are bound. Yet there are ſome particularly, I find, Whoſe names are written in their deareſt ſcrowles, Whom extraordinary fauours bind, Euen to prefer them to their very Soules. Of which (Sir) you are one, your deeds declare, Of you amidſt innumerable broyles, Euen from your cradle they haue had a care, And led you ſafe through all your greateſt toyles. Though of the dangers of your youth I ſee The thought no more with griefe your mind importunes; Yet I thinke on who had the hap to be An Actor in your Tragick-Comick fortunes. The accidents that in our Nonage chance, When as our yeers grow rype, ſlide out of thought Like fabulous dreames that Darkneſſe doth aduance, And are by Day diſdaind as things of nought. For our Conceptions are not then ſo ſtrong▪ As for to leaue th'impreſſion long behind, Yet mixe (deare Friend) old griefes new Ioyes among, And call afflicted Infancy to mind. Who would not wonder at thy wondrous Fate, Whoſe ruine ere thy Birth appeard conſpir'd? Who vnbegun, ſeemd to expire that date, Which now begun, ſhall neuer be expir'd. Your Mother firſt her Syre with cares did ſting, While as he dreamd, which yet his ſoule confounds, That from her wombe there did a Vine-tree ſpring, Which did o're-ſhadow all great Aſiaes bounds. Then to the Magies ſtrait he gaue in charge, To trie what this ſtrange Viſion did preſage, Who hauing ſtudied their darke Art at large, Gaue this reſponſe with a prophetick rage. That once his Daughter ſhould bring forth a Sonne, For glorious Acts exceedingly renownd, By whom th'Empire of Aſia ſhould be wonne; By whom his Grandfather ſhould be vncrownd. This to Astiages a terrour bredde, Who labouring to anull the heau'ns decree, Aduiſde as beſt his Daughter for to wedde T'a powreleſſe ſtranger, but of baſe degree. Then of Cambiſes he by chance made choyce, And for his barb'rous Countries cauſe the rather, Whom by your birth the Princeſſe did reioyce, And further then before affright her Father. Thus tyrannie by feeble ſprites begun, Doth force the Parents in deſpaire to fall, A daſtard to attempt, prowd hauing wonne, Which being feard of all, doth ſtill feare all. And tyrants no ſecuritie can find, For euery ſhadow frights a guiltie mind. This Monarch, whom ſcarce Armies could ſurpriſe, Whom gallant Guards and ſtately Courts delighted, Who triumphd o're th'Earth, threatned the Skies, A Babe ſcarce borne, come of himſelfe, affrighted.