The Wonder of Women, or Sophonisba · chunk 7 of 26
Marston, John · published 1606 · first performed or written 1605 [1605-1606] (Annals) tragedy · Children of the Queen's Revels · Blackfriars unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 480 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
Politique Lord, speak low though heaven bears A face far from us, Gods have most long ears, Ioue has a hundred marble marble hands O ay, in Poetry or Tragic scene. I fear Gods only know what Poets mean. Yet hear me: I will speak close truth and cease, Nothing in Nature is unserviceable, No, not euen Inutility it selse, Is then for nought dishonesty in being, And if it be sometimes of forced use, Wherein more urgent than in saving nations State shapes are soldered up, with base, nay faulty Yet necessary functions; some must lie, Some must betray, some murder, and some all, Each hath strong use, as poison in all purges Yet when some violent chance shall force a state, To break given faith, or plot some stratagems, Princes ascribe that vile necessity Unto heavens wrath: and sure though't be no vice, Yet 'tis bad chance: states must not stick to nice For Massinissa's death sense bids forgive Beware to offend great men and let them live For 'tis of empire's body the mayne arm, He that will do no good shall do no harm: yow have my mind Although a stagelike passion & weak heat Full of an empty wording might suit age Know I'll speak strongly truth: Lords near mistrust That he who'll not betray a private man For his country, will near betray his country For private men; then give Gelosso faith If treachery in state be serviceable, Let hangmen do it: I am bound to lose My life but not my honour for my country; Our vow, our faith, our oath, why theyare ourselves And he that's faithless to his proper self, May be excused if he break faith with princes: The Gods assist just hearts, & states that trust, Plots before Providence are tossed like dust. For Massinissa: (O let me slake a little Austere discourse and feel Humanity) methinks I hear him cry. O fight for Carthage, Charge home, wounds smart not, for that so just so great So good a City: methinks I see him yet Leave his fair bride even on his nuptial night To buckle on his arms for Carthage: Hark- Yet, yet, I hear him cry— Ingratitude Vile stain of man. O over be most far From Massinissa's breast: up, march amain, Fame got with loss of breath, is godlike gain. And see by this he bleeds in doubtful fight: And cries for Carthage, whilst Carthage— Memory Forsake Gelosso, would I could not think: Nor hear, nor be, When Carthage is So infinitely vile: see see look here, Who speaks? what mute? fair plot: what? blush to break it? How lewd to act when so shamed but to speak it. Is this the senate's firm decrees It is. Is this the senate's firm decree? It is Hath Syphax entertained the stratagem? No doubt he hath, or will.
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)
Politique Lord, speake low tho heauen beares A face far from vs, Gods haue most long eares, Ioue has a hundred marble marble hands O I, in Poetry or Tragique sceane. I feare Gods onely know what Poets mean. Yet heare me: I will speake close truth and cease, Nothing in Nature is vnseruisable, No, not euen Inutility it selse, Is then for nought dishonesty in beeing, And if it be somtines of forced vse, Wherein more vrgent then in sauing nations State shapes are sodderd vp, with base, nay faulty Yet necessary functions; some must lie, Some must betray, some murder, and some all, Each hath strong vse, as poyson in all purges Yet when some violent chance shall force a state, To breake giuen faith, or plot some stratagems, Princes ascribe that vile necessity Vnto Heauens wrath: and sure tho't be no vice, Yet t'is bad chance: states must not stick to nice For Massinissas death sence bids forgiue Beware to offend greate men and let them liue For tis of empires body the mayne arme, He that will do no good shall doe no harme: yow haue my mind Although a stagelike passion & weake heate Full of an empty wording might sute age Know Ile speake strongly truth: Lordes neere mistrust That he who'le not betray a priuate man For his country, will neer betray his country For priuate men; then giue Gelosso faith If treachery in state be seruiceable, Let hangmen doe it: I am bound to loose My life but not my honour for my country; Our vow, our faith, our oath, why th'are our selues And he thats faithlesse to his proper selfe, May be excusd if he breake faith with princes: The Gods assist just hearts, & states that trust, Plots before Prouidence are tost like dust. For Massinissa: (O let me slake a little Aust discourse and feele Humanitie) Me thnkes I heare him cry. O fight for Carthage, Charge home, wounds smart not, for that so just so great So good a Citty: me thinks I see him yet Leaue his faire bride euen on his nuptiall night To buckle on his armes for Carthage: Harke- Yet, yet, I heare him cry—Ingratitude Vile staine of man. O ouer be most far From Massinissas breast: vp, march amaine, Fame got with losse of breath, is godlike gaine. And see by this he bleedes in doubtfull fight: And cries for Carthage, whilst Carthage—Memory Forsake Gelosso, would I could not think: Nor heare, nor bee, When Carthage is So infinitely vile: see see looke here, Who speakes? what mute? fair plot: what? blush to breake it? How lewd to act when so sham'd but to speake it. Is this the Senates firme decrees It is. Is this the Senates firme decree? It is Hath Syphax entertaind the stratagem? No doubt he hath, or will.