The Wonder of Women, or Sophonisba · chunk 5 of 26
Marston, John · published 1606 · first performed or written 1605 [1605-1606] (Annals) tragedy · Children of the Queen's Revels · Blackfriars unassigned nearest T60 Imperial Rome: rulers, favour and politi · 463 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T60: caesar, rome, emperor, empire, honour, lord, lucius, great, palsgrave, kings.
Carthage thou straight shalt know Thy favours have been done unto a king. My Lords t, is most unusual such sad haps Of sudden horror, should intrude 'mong beds Of soft and private loves; but strange events Excuse strange forms. O you that know our blood Revenge if I do feign: I here protest Though my Lord leave his wife a very maid, Even this night instead of my soft arms Clasping his well strong limbs with glossful steel, What's safe to Carthage shall be sweet to me. I must not, nor I am once ignorant My choice of love hath given this sudden danger To yet strong Carthage: 'twas I lost the fight, My choice vexed Syphax enraged Syphax struck Arms fate: yet Sophonisba not repents, O we were Gods if that we knew events. But let me Lord leave Carthage, quit his virtue I will not love him, yet must honour him, As still good Subjects must bad Princes: Lords From the most ill-graced Hymeneal bed That ever Iuno frowned at, I entreat That you'll collect from our loose formed speech This firm resolve: that no lo Appetite Of my sex weakness, can or shall o'ercome Due grateful service unto you, or virtue. Witness ye Gods I never until now Repined at my creation; now I wish I were no woman, that my arms might speak My heart to Carthage: but in vain, my tongue Swears I am woman still: I talk to long. Ye Carthage Lords: know Massinissa knows Not only terms of honour: but his actions Nor must I now enlarge how much my cause Hath dangered Carthage but how I may show myself most priest to satisfaction The loathsome stain of king's Ingratitude From me O much be far, and since this torrent wars rage admits no Anchor: since the billow Is risen so high we may not hull but yield This ample state to stroke of speedy swords What you with sober haste hath well decreed we'll put to sudden arms: no not this night These dainties this first fruits of nuptials That well might give excuse for feeble lingerings Shall hinder Massivissa. Appetite Kisses, loves, dalliance and what softer joys The Venus of the pleasingst ease can minister I quit you all: Virtue perforce is Vice But he that may, yet holds, is manly wise Lo then ye Lords of Carthage, to your trust I leave all Massinissa's treasure by the oath Of right good men stand to my fortune just. Most hard it is for great hearts to mistrust. We vow by all high powers. No do not swear. I was not borne so small to doubt or fear. Worthy my Lord. Peace my ears are steel I must not hear thy much enticing voice.
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)
Carthage thou straight shalt know Thy fauoures haue beene done vnto a king. My Lords t,is most vnusuall such sad haps Of suddeine horror, should intrude mong beds Of soft and priuate loues; but strange euents Excuse strāge form's. O you that know our bloud Reuenge if I doe faine: I here protest Though my Lord leaue his wife a very mayde, Euen this night instead of my soft armes Clasping his well strong lims with glossfull steele, Whats safe to Carthage shall be sweete to me. I must not, nor I am once ignorant My choyse of loue hath giuen this suddein dāger To yet strong Carthage: t'was I lost the fight, My choice vext Syphax inrag'd Syphax struk Armes fate: yet Sophonisba not repents, O we were Gods if that we knew euents. But let me Lord leaue Carthage, quit his virtue I will not loue him, yet must honor him, As still good Subjects must badd Princes: Lords From the most ill-grac'd Hymeneall bedde That euer Iuno frown'd at, I intreat That you'le collect from our loose form'd speach This firme resolue: that no loe Appetite Of my sex weaknes, can or shall orecome Due gratefull seruice vnto you, or virtue. Witnesse ye Gods I neuer vntill now Repin'd at my creation; now I wish I were no woman, that my armes might speake My hart to Carthage: but in vaine, my tongue Sweares I am woman still: I talke to long. Ye Carthage Lords: know Massinissa knowes Not only terms of honor: but his actions Nor must I now inlarge how much my cause Hath dangerd Carthage but how I may show My selfe most prest to satisfaction The loathsome staine of Kings Ingratitude From me O much be farre, and since this torrent Warres rage admits no Ancor: since the billow Is risen so high we may not hull but yeelde This ample state to stroke of speedy swords What you with sober hast hath well decreed Weele put to suddaine armes: no not this night These dainties this first fruits of nuptials That well might giue excuse for feeble lingrings Shall hinder Massiuissa. Appetite Kisses, loues, dalliance and what softer ioyes The Venus of the pleasingst ease can minister I quit you all: Vertue perforce is Vice But he that may, yet holds, is manly wise Loe then ye Lords of Carthage, to your trust I leaue all Massinissas treasure by the oath Of right good men stand to my fortune iust. Most hard it is for great harts to mistrust. We vow by all high powers. No doe not sweare. I was not borne so small to doubt or feare. Worthy my Lord. Peace my eares are steele I must not heare thy much inticing voice.