The Devil's Charter, or Pope Alexander the Sixth · chunk 32 of 45
Barnes, Barnabe · published 1607 · first performed or written 1606 (Annals) tragedy · King's Men · before the Court T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi typicality 0.78 · 505 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
Poor boys, in heart unlike Riario's race, Or Sforza's warlike lineage by the mother Know what it is die with liberty, And live with ignominious servitude. If you your lives buy with the loss of states It were of all extremities the vilest But in extremity to die resolved Preserving state and reputation: Is said to die within the bed of honour, This is an honour for Riario's children, And for my part, it never shall be said, That Katherine being strong upon her guard, Having good forces able to defend, In brutish feat should give away your states, I rather will obtrude myself unarmed, And meet the thickest ranks that enter breach, To be tossed up upon their soldiers pikes, Sooner I will set all the town on fire, And with my soldiers sacrifice myself, Rather than render up your heritage, Oh bravely spoken warlike Amazon. Mother we scorn death in respect of honour Let him perform his worst, we fear him not, Courage sweet brother, think upon my father, I will die first, be not afraid of death. Why then you are resolved to die? I to die Caesar. Bring hither both their heads. God's blessing rest with you my dearest sons And if I lose your states, my life shall follow, Nothing but violence shall force it from us, Ere long this quarrel twixt us will stand even: Farewell dear boys, till we three meet in heaven. Ah dear Mother, sweet mother, good Uncle Iulio save our lives. Away with him. Let me before I die, but kiss my mother. What wouldst thou run again into my womb? If thou wert here thou shouldst be Posthumus, And ripped out of my sides with soldier's swords, Before I would yield up thine heritage. Come brother let us bravely die together. I tell thee when that these have lost their heads, I will make sack and pillage of your state, Man, women, Orphans, all put to the sword, This hath your obstinacy wrought in us, Carry them hence, bring hither both their heads. And then a charge upon this valiant Lady, This Thamyris, this proud Semeramis, Whose valour Barbarossa by these heavens, Is very wonderful and glorious. Had he more force, what would this tyrant do? A chage a charge. For God's sake charge, a charge let us to sight. A spirit full of vengeance, wrath, and spite, Assaut, assault, chrge noble hearts a charge. Courageous Kate, you that would throw defiance Into the face and throat of fate and Caesar, Such are the fruits of pride and wilfulness. Have I performed my word? are you surprised? Is not your life and living in my power? Now that my sons first by insidious means, bereaved of their lives, and their states lost, The date of my calamities is out, Go forward with thy tyranny, strike Caesar, And take away the Mother with her sons: This done, recount what is thy victory. A woman with two children vanquished, A prize befitting the renown of Caesar.
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)
Poore boies, in heart vnlike Riarioes race, Or Sforzaes warlike linnage by the mother Know what it is die with liberty, And liue with ignomineous seruitude. If you your liues buy with the losse of states It were of all extreameties the vilest But in extreamety to die resolu'd Preseruing state and reputation: Is said to dye within the bed of honour, This is an honor for Riarioes children, And for my part, it neuer shall be sayd, That Katherine being strong vpon hir guarde, Hauing good forces able to defend, In brutish feate should giue away your states, I rather will obtrude my selfe vnarm'd, And meete the thickest ranckes that enter breach, To be tost vp vpon their souldiers pikes, Sooner I will set all the towne on fire, And with my soldiers sacrifice my selfe, Rather then render vp your heritage, Oh brauely spoken warlike Amazn. Mother we scorne death in respect of honor Let him performe his worst, we feare him not, Courage sweete brother, thinke vpon my father, I will dye first, be not affraid of death. Why then you are resolu'd to dye? I to dye Caesar. Bring hether both their heads. Gods blessing rest with you my deerest sonnes And if I loose your states, my life shall follow, Nothing but violence shall force it from vs, Ere long this quarrell twixt vs will stand euen: Farewell deere boyes, till we three meete in heauen. Ah deere Mother, sweete mother, good Vncle Inlio saue our liues. Away with him. Let me before I dye, but kisse my mother. What wouldst thou runne againe into my wombe? If thou wet here thou shouldst be Posthumus, And ript out of my sides with soldiers swords, Before I would yeeld vp thine heritage. Come brother let vs brauely dye together. I tell thee when that these haue lost their heads, I will make sacke and pillage of your state, Man, women, Orphanes, all put to the sword, This hath your obstinacie wrought in vs, Carry them hence, bring hether both their heads. And then a charge vpon this valiant Lady, Thi , this proud Semeramis, Whse valou Brbarssa by these heauens, Is very wonderfull and gloious. Had he more force, what would this tirant do? A chage a charge. Fr Gods sake charge, a charge let vs to sight. A spiit full of vengeance, wrah, and spite, Assaut, assault, chrge noble hearts a charge. Couragious Kate, you that would throw defiance Into the face and throate of fate and Caesar, Such are the fruites of pride and wilfulnesse. Haue I perform'd my word? are you surpriz'd? Is not your life and liuing in my power? Now that my sonnes first by insidious meanes, Bereaued of their liues, and their states lost, The date of my calamities is out, Goe forward with thy tyrannie, strike Caesar, And take away the Mother with her sonnes: This done, recount what is thy victory. A woman with two children vanquished, A prize befitting the renowne of Caesar.