The Wonder of Women, or Sophonisba · chunk 1 of 26
Marston, John · published 1606 · first performed or written 1605 [1605-1606] (Annals) tragedy · Children of the Queen's Revels · Blackfriars unassigned nearest T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi · 425 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
THe Scene is Lybia, and the subject thus. Whilst Carthage stood the only awe of Rome, As most imperial seat of Lybia, Governed by Statesmen each as great as Kings (For 17. Kings were Carthage feodars) Whilst thus she flourished, whilst her Hannibal Made Rome to tremble, and the Walls yet pale: Then in this Carthage Sophonisba lived The far famed daughter of great Asdrubal! For whom ('mongst others) potent Syphax sues And well graced Massinissa rivals him Both Princes of proud Sceptres: but the lot Of doubtful favour Massinissa graced At which Syphax grows black: For now the night Yields loud resoundings of the nuptial pomp: Apollo strikes his Harp: Hymen his Torch Whilst lowering Iuno with ill-boding eye Sits envious at too forward Venus: Lo The instant night: And now ye worthier minds To whom we shall present a female glory (The wonder of a constancy so fixed That Fate itself might well grow envious) Be pleased to sit such as may merit oil And holy dew styled from diviner heat, For rest thus knowing, what of this you hear, The Author lowly hopes, but must not fear. For just worth never rests on popular frown, To have done well is fair deeds only crown. Syphax, Syphax, why wast thou cursed a King? What angry God made thee so great, so vile? contemned, disgraced, think, wert thou a slave Though Sophonisba did reject thy love Thy low neglected head unpointed at Thy shame unrumoured and thy suit unscoffed Might yet rest quiet: Reputation Thou awe of fools and greatmen: thou that chok'st Freest addictions, and mak'st mortals sweat Blood and cold drops in fear to lose, or hope To gain thy never certain seldom worthy gracings. Reputation! Wert not for thee Syphax could bear this scorn Not spouting up his gall among his blood In black vexations: Massinissa might Enjoy the sweets of his preferred graces Without my dangerous Envy or Revenge Wert not for thy affliction all might sleep In sweet oblivion: But (O greatness scourge!) We cannot without Envy keep high name Nor yet disgraced can have a quiet shame. Scipio:— Some light in depth of hell: Vangue what hope? I have received assured intelligence That Scipio Rome's sole hope hath raised up men Drawn troops together for invasion— Of this same Carthage. With this policy To force wild Hannibal from Italy— And draw the war to Afric. Right. And strike This secure country with unthought of arms My letters bear he is departed Rome Directly setting course and sailing up.—
seed 43: T1 · seed 44: T2 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
THe Sceane is Lybia, and the subiect thus. Whilst Carthage stoode the onely awe of Rome, As most imperiall seate of Lybia, Gouernd by Statsmen each as great as Kings (For 17. Kings were Carthage feodars) Whilst thus she florishd, whilst hir Hannibal Made Rome to tremble, and the Wals yet pale: Then in this Carthage Sophonisba liu'd The farre fam'd daughter of great Asdruball▪ For whom (mongst others) potent Syphax sues And well grac'd Massinissa riuals him Both Princes of proud Scepters: but the lot Of doubtfull fauour Massinissa grac'd At which Syphax grows blacke: For now the night Yeelds loud resoundings of the nuptiall pompe: Apollo strikes his Harpe: Hymen his Torch Whilst lowring Iuno with ill-boding eye Sits enuious at too forward Venus: Loe The instant night: And now ye worthier minds To whom we shall present a female glory (The wonder of a constancie so fixt That Fate it selfe might well grow enuious) Be pleasd to sit such as may merrit oile And holy dew stil'd from diuiner heat, For rest thus knowing, what of this you heare, The Author lowly hopes, but must not feare. For iust worth neuer rests on popular frowne, To haue done well is faire deeds onely crowne. Syphax, Syphax, why wast thou cursd a King? What angry God made thee so great, so vile? Contemd, disgraced, thinke, wert thou a slaue Though Sophonisba did reiect thy loue Thy low neglected head vnpointed at Thy shame vnrumord and thy sute vnskoffd Might yet rest quiet: Reputation Thou awe of fooles and greatmen: thou that choakst Freest addictions, and makst mortals sweat Bloud and cold drops in feare to loose, or hope To gaine thy neuer certaine seldome worthy gracings. Reputation! Wert not for thee Syphax could beare this skorne Not spouting vp his gall among his bloud In blacke vexations: Massinissa might Inioy the sweets of his preferred graces Without my dangerous Enuy or Reuenge Wert not for thy affliction all might sleepe In sweete obliuion: But (O greatnes skourge!) We cannot without Enuie keepe high name Nor yet disgrac'd can haue a quiet shame. Scipio:— Some light in depth of hell: Vangue what hope? I haue receaud assur'd intelligence That Scipio Romes sole hope hath raisd vp men Drawne troupes together for inuasion— Of this same Carthage. With this pollicie To force wild Hannibal from Italy— And draw the war to Affricke. Right. And strik This secure countrey with vnthought of armes My letters beare he is departed Rome Directly setting course and sayling vp.—