Thyestes (Seneca's Second Tragedy) · chunk 8 of 24
Heywood, Jasper / Seneca, Lucius Annaeus · published 1560 · first performed or written 1560 (Annals) tragedy T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi typicality 0.81 · 553 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
THe noble house at length of high renown, the famous stock of ancient Inathus, Appeasoe and laid the threats of brethren down. but now what fury 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 you thus, Each one to thirst the o●…hers blood again, or get by gyl●… the golden ma●… in hand? Ye little wo●…e that so desire to ●…ne, in what estate or place doth kingdom stand. Not 〈◊〉 make a king or high renown, not 〈◊〉 weed with purple ●…an ●…ie, Not 〈◊〉 looks, or head 〈◊〉 with crown, not g●…yng 〈◊〉 with gold and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. king he is, that fear hath laid aside, and all 〈◊〉 that in the breast are bred: ●…home impotent ambition doth not guide, nor fickle favour ●…he of people led. Nor all that west in metals mines hath found, or ●…hanell 〈◊〉 of golden Tagus' shows, Nor all the grain that 〈◊〉 is on ground, that with the heat of 〈◊〉 ●…uest glows. Nor whom the 〈◊〉 of lightning flame shall beat, nor eastern wind that 〈◊〉 upon the seas, Nor swelling surge with rage of wind replete, or gr●…edie 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 displease. Whom not the prick of soldiers sharpest spear, or pointed pike in hand hath made to ●…ue, Nor whom the glimpse of sword might cause to fear, or bright drawn blade of glittering steel subdue. Who in the seat of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his feet, beholds all haps how under him they lie, And gladly runs his fatal day to meet, nor aught complains or grudgeth for to die. Though present were the princes every chone, the scattered Dakes to chase that wonted be, That shining seas beset with precious stone, and red sea coasts do hold, like blood to see: Or they which else the ●…an mountains high, from Sarmats strong with all their power withhold: Or he that on the flood of Danuby. in frost a foot to travail dare be bold: Or Seres in what ever place they lie, renounde with fleece that there of silk doth spring, They never might the truth hereof deny, it is the mind that only makes a king. There is no need of sturdy steeds in war, no need with arms or arrows else to fight, That Parthus woontꝭ with bow to fling from far, while from the field he falsely feigneth flight. Nor yet to siege no need it is to bring, great goons in cartis to ouer●… we the wall, That from far of their battering pellets 〈◊〉. a king he is that feareth nought at all. man himself this kingdom gives at hand. let who so list with mighty mace to ●…ygne, In ●…yckle top of court delight to stand. let me the sweet and quiet rest obtain. So set in place obscure and low degree, of pleasant rest I shall the sweetness kno●…. My life unknown to them that noble be, shall in the step of secret silence go. Thus when my da●…es at length are 〈◊〉, and time without all troublous tumult spent, An aged man I shall depart at l●…, In mean estate, to die ●…ull well content. But grievous is to him the death, that when so farr●… abroad the ●…ruyte of him is blown, That known he is to much to other men: departeth yet vnt●… himself unknown.
seed 43: T25 · seed 44: T6 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
THe noble house at lengthe of highe renowne, the famous stocke of auncient Inathus, Appeasoe and layde the threats of brethern downe. but now what furie and you thus, Eche one to thyrst the ohers bloud agayne, or get by gyl the golden ma in hande? Ye litle woe that so desyre to ne, in what estate or place dothe kyngdome stande. Not make a kyng or highe renowne, not weede with purple an ie, Not lookes, or head with crowne, not gyng with golde and . kyng he is, that feare hath layde asyde, and all that in the brest are bred: home impotent ambition dothe not guyde, nor fickle fauour he of people led. Nor all that west in metalls mynes hath founde, or hanell of golden Tagus showes, Nor all the grayne that is on grounde, that with the heate of uest glowes. Nor whome the of lightnyng flame shall beate, nor eastern wynde that vppon the seas, Nor swellyng surge with rage of wynde repleate, or gredie of displease. Whome not the pricke of souldiers sharpest speare, or poynted pyke in hand hath made to ue, Nor whome the glympse of swoorde myght cause to feare, or bright drawen blade of glyttryng steele subdue. Who in the seate of his feete, beholdes all happs how vnder him they lye, And gladlie runs his fatall daie to meete, nor ought complaynes or grudgeth for to dye. Though present were the prynces euery chone, the scattered Dakes to chase that woonted be, That shynyng seas beset with precious stone, and red sea coastes doe holde, lyke bloude to see: Or they which els the an mountaynes hye, from Sarmats strong with all theyr power withholde: Or he that on the floude of Danubye. in frost a foote to trauayle dare be bolde: Or Seres in what euer place they lye, renounde with fleece that there of sylke dothe spryng, They neuer myght the truthe hereof denye, it is the mynde that onely makes a kyng. There is no neede of sturdie steedes in warre, no neede with armes or arrowes els to fyght, That Parthus woontꝭ with bowe to fling from farre, while from the feelde he falsely fayneth flight. Nor yet to siege no neede it is to brynge, great goons in cartꝭ to ouer we the wall, That from far of the yr battryng pellettes . a kyng he is that feareth nought at all. man him selfe this kyngdome geeues at hande. let who so lyst with myghtie mace to ygne, In yckle toppe of court delyght to stande. let me the sweete and quiet rest obtayne. So sette in place obscure and lowe degree, of pleasaunt rest I shall the sweetnes kno. My lyfe vnknowne to them that noble be, shall in the steppe of secret sylence goe. Thus when my daes at length are , and tyme without all troublous tumulte spent, An aged man I shall departe at l, In meane estate, to dye ull well content. But greuous is to him the deathe, that when so farr abrode the ruyte of him is blowne, That knowne he is to muche to other men: departeth yet vnt him selfe vnknowne.