Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
Such conjurations to confirm of old, Some drinking others bloods; swore on their swords, And cursing those that did their course unfold, Used imprecations, execrable words. And yet then this though voluntarily vowed, Free from all bonds, save that which virtue binds, More constantly no course was still allowed. Till now that th'end must manifest our minds. And since so many frankly keep their faith, Still what they first designed t'accomplish bent: No doubt in spite of fickle fortune's wrath, But the success shall yield our souls content. Might some few Thebans from the Spartans pride, By divers tyrants' deaths redeem their town? And one Athenian that his virtue tried, By thirty Tyrants ruins win renown? And to the Greeks are we inferior grown, That where they have so many tyrants spoiled, There cannot one be by us all o'erthrown, Whose state yet brangling may be soon embroiled? O I'm resolved, and with my thoughts decree, whatever fortune either sweet or sour, I shall my soil from tyranny set free, Or then myself free from the tyrant's power. By Lepidus invited this last night, Whilst Caesar went to sup, and I with him, Of all death's shapes to talk we took delight, So at the table to beguile the time. And whilst our judgements all about were tried, Straight Caesar (as transported) to the rest With a most sudden exclamation cried, O, of all deaths unlooked for death is best. For from ourselves it steals ourselves so fast, That even the mind no fearful form can see, Then is the pain ere apprehended past, All sours ere tasted would digested be. The threatened destiny thus he divined, It would appear divinely being inspired, For now I hope that he shall shortly find, That form of death which he himself desired. Whilst of our band the fury flames most hot, And that their will t'achieve this work is such, Lest Caesar's absence disappoint the plot, Which would of some abate the courage much, It (Decius) were exceedingly well done, That to his lodging you addressed your way, Him by some means to further forward soon, Lest by some sudden chance allured to stay. There where the Senate minds this day to sit, Stand all prepared t'approach where danger dwells, And for the sacrifice when all is fit, I'll bring an offering consecrated else. Long-looked for time that should the glory yield, Which I through Neptune's trustless reign have sought, And through the dust of many a bloody field, As by all dangers worthy to be bought. Thy coming now those lowering shadows clears, That did th'horizon of my hopes o'ercast, This day defrays the toils of many years, And brings the harvest of all my labours past. The Senators a messenger have sent, Most earnestly entreating me to come, And hear myself discerned by their consent, To wear a crown over all excepting Rome. Thus they devise conditions at this hour, For him, of whom Mars hath made them the prey; As subjects limit could their sovereign's power, That must have mind of nought but to obey.
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)
Such coniurations to confirme of olde, Some drinking others bloods; ſwore on their ſwords, And curſing thoſe that did their courſe vnfold, Vſde imprecations, execrable words. And yet then this though voluntarily vow'd, Free from all bonds, ſaue that which vertue bindes, More conſtantly no courſe was ſtill allow'd. Till now that th'end muſt manifeſt our minds. And ſince ſo many frankly keepe their faith, Still what they firſt deſign'd t'accompliſh bent: No doubt in ſpight of fickle fortunes wrath, But the ſucceſſe ſhall yeeld our ſoules content. Might ſome few Thebans from the Spartans pride, By diuers tyrants deaths redeeme their towne? And one Athenian that his vertue tryde, By thirtie Tyrants ruins win renowne? And to the Greekes are we inferiour growne, That where they haue ſo many tyrants ſpoild, There cannot one be by vs all orethrowne, Whoſe ſtate yet brangling may be ſoone imbroyld? O I'm reſolu'd, and with my thoughts decree, What euer fortune either ſweet or ſowre, I ſhall my ſoyle from tyrannie ſet free, Or then my ſelfe free from the tyrants powre. By Lepidus inuited this laſt night, Whilſt Caeſar went to ſuppe, and I with him, Of all deaths ſhapes to talke we tooke delight, So at the table to beguile the time. And whilſt our iudgements all about were tride, Straight Caeſar (as tranſported) to the reſt With a moſt ſodaine exclamation cride, O, of all deaths vnlookt for death is beſt. For from our ſelues it ſteales our ſelues ſo faſt, That euen the mind no fearefull forme can ſee, Then is the paine ere apprehended paſt, All ſowres ere taſted would diſgeſted be. The threatned deſtinie thus he diuinde, It would appeare diuinely being inſpirde, For now I hope that he ſhall ſhortly finde, That forme of death which he himſelfe deſirde. Whilſt of our band the fury flames moſt hot, And that their will t'atchiue this worke is ſuch, Leſt Caeſars abſence diſappoint the plot, Which would of ſome abate the courage much, It (Decius) were exceedingly well done, That to his lodging you addreſſd your way, Him by ſome meanes to further forward ſoone, Leſt by ſome ſodaine chaunce allur'd to ſtay. There where the Senate minds this day to ſit, Stand all prepar'd t'approach where danger dwells, And for the ſacrifice when all is fit, Ile bring an offring conſecrated elſe. LOng-lookt for time that ſhould the glory yeeld, Which I through Neptunes truſtleſſe raigne haue ſought, And through the duſt of many a bloodie field, As by all dangers worthy to be bought. Thy comming now thoſe lowring ſhadowes cleares, That did th'horizon of my hopes ore-caſt, This day defrayes the toyles of many yeares, And brings the haru'ſt of all my labors paſt. The Senators a meſſenger haue ſent, Moſt earneſtly entreating me to come, And heare my ſelfe diſcernd by their conſent, To weare a crowne ouer all excepting Rome. Thus they deuiſe conditions at this houre, For him, of whom Mars hath made them the prey; As ſubiects limite could their ſoueraignes powre, That muſt haue minde of nought but to obey.