The Wonder of Women, or Sophonisba · chunk 24 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 · 508 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
March to the Palace. So. whate'er man thou art Of Libya, thy fair arms speak: give heart, To amazed weakness, hear her, that for long time, Hath seen no wished light. Sophonisba, A name for misery much known, 'tis she, entreats of thy graced sword, this only boon, Let me not kneel to Rome, for though no cause, Of mine deserves their hate, though Massinissa, Be ours to heart, yet Roman Generals Make proud their triumphs, with whatever captives O 'tis a Nation which from soul I fear, As one well knowing the much grounded hate, They bear to Asdrubal and Carthage blood, Therefore with tears that wash thy feet, with hands Unused to beg I clasp thy manly knees, O save me from their fetters and contempt, Their proud insults, and more than insolence, Or if it rest not in thy grace of breath, To grant such freedom, give me long wished death, For 'tis not much loathed life, that now we crave, Only an unshamed death, and silent grave We will now deign to bend for. Rarity By thee and this right hand thou shalt live free. We cannot now be wretched. Stay the sword. Let slaughter cease, Sounds soft as Leda's breast, Soft Music. Slide through all ears, this night be loves high feast, o'er whelm me not with sweets, let me not drink, Till my breast burst, O love thy Nectar, think She is o'ercome with joy. Help, help to bear Some happiness ye powers, I have joy to spare, Enough to make a God, O Massinissa. Peace, A silent thinking makes full joys increase. Massinissa. Lelius. Thine ear. Stand off From Scipio thus: by thy late vow of faith, And mutual league of endless amity, As thou respects his virtue or Rome's force, Deliver Sophonisba to our hand, Sophonisba? Sophonisba. My Lord, Looks pale, and from his half burst eyes a flame, Of deep disquiet breaks, the Gods turn false, My sad presage. Sophonisba? even she, she killed not Scipio's father nor his uncle, Great Cneius. Carthage did. to her what's Carthage? Know 'twas her father Asdrubal struck off His father's head, give place to faith and fate, 'tis cross to honour. But 'tis just to state, So speaketh Scipio, do not thou detain, A Roman prisoner, due to this great triumph, As thou shalt answer Rome and him. Lelius. We now are in Rome's power, Lelius, View Massinissa do, a loathed act, Most sinking from that state his heart did keep, Look Lelius look, see Massinissa weep, Know I have made a vow more dear to me, Than my soul's endless being: she shall rest, Free from Rome's bondage. But dost thou forget, Thy vow yet fresh thus breathed: When I desist: To be commanded by thy virtue: Scipio, Or fall from friend of Rome, Revenging Gods, Afflict me with your torture. Lelius enough: Salute the Roman, tell him we will act What shall amaze him. Wilt thou yield her then? She shall arrive there straight. Best fate of men, To thee.
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)
March to the Pallace. So▪ What ere man thou art Of Libea, thy faire armes speake: giue hart, To amazde weakenes, heare her, that for long time, Hath seene no wished light. Sophonisba, A name for misery much knowne, tis she, Intreates of thy gracd sword, this onely boone, Let me not kneele to Rome, for though no cause, Of mine deserues their hate, though Massinissa, Be ours to hart, yet Roman Generals Make proud their triumphs, with what euer captiues O tis a Nation which from soule I feare, As one well knowing the much grounded hate, They beare to Asdrubal and Carthage bloud, Therefore with teares that wash thy feet, with hands Vnusde to beg I claspe thy manlie knees, O saue me from their fetters and contempt, Their proud insultes, and more then insolence, Or if it rest not in thy grace of breath, To grant such freedome, giue me long wishd death, For tis not much loathde life, that now we craue, Onely an vnshamd death, and silent graue We will now daine to bend for. Rarity By thee and this right hand thou shalt liue free. We cannot now be wretched. Stay the sword. Let slaughter cease, Soundes soft as Ledas breast, Soft Musique. Slide through all eares, this night be loues high feast, O're whelme me not with sweetes, let me not drinke, Till my breast burst, O loue thy Nectar, thinke She is orecome with ioy. Helpe, helpe to beare Some happinesse yee powers, I haue ioy to spare, Inough to make a God, O Massinissa. Peace, A silent thinking makes full ioyes increase. Massinissa. Lelius. Thine eare. Stand off From Scipio thus: by thy late vow of faith, And mutuall league of endles amity, As thou respects his vertue or Romes force, Deliuer Sophonisba to our hand, Sophonisba? Sophonisba. My Lord, Lookes pale, and from his halfe burst eyes a flame, Of deepe disquiet breakes, the Gods turne false, My sad presage. Sophonisba? Euen she, Shee kilde not Scipios father nor his vnkle, Great Cneius. Carthage did. to her whats Carthage? Know twas her father Asdrubal strooke off His fathers head, giue place to faith and fate, Tis crosse to honor. But tis iust to state, So speaketh Scipio, doe not thou detaine, A Roman prisoner, due to this great triumph, As thou shalt answere Rome and him. Lelius. We now are in Romes power, Lelius, View Massinissa do, a loathed act, Most sinking from that state his hart did keepe, Looke Lelius looke, see Masinissa weepe, Know I haue made a vow more deere to me, Then my soules endles being: she shall rest, Free from Romes bondage. But dost thou forget, Thy vow yet fresh thus breathd: When I desist: To be commaunded by thy vertue: Scipio, Or fall from friend of Rome, Reuenging Gods, Afflict me with your torture. Lelius enough: Salute the Roman, tell him wee will act What shall amaze him. Wilt thou yeeld her then? Shee shall ariue there straight. Best fate of men, To thee.