Seneca, Lucius Annaeus / Neville, Alexander · published 1581 · first performed or written 1563 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T36 Hell, Furies and the language of punishm · 502 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T36: hell, earth, gods, death, ghosts, blood, bloody, heaven, night, ghost.
And ghastly shapes of men besides, to wander on the ground. And wood, and trees on every side, did fearfully resound. Besides all this strange Ghosts were seen in places where they stood. And Rivers more than one or two, that ran all black goorb blood. O cruel plague, O vile disease, far worse than speedy death. O we unhappy thrice and more, who do prolong our breath. In these accursed days and times. But hark to me a while. When first this loathsome plague begins these Misers to defile, It takes them thus. A fearful Cold through all their bones doth run,] And Cold and Heat together mixed, their senses all benumb. Than little loathsome marks appear, and all their bodies spot. And all their members flaming glow, and burning fast do rot. The Lights, the Lungs, the heart, the Guts, and all that inward lies. And all the secret parts yscorched, with deadly, I fire fries. The blood all clottered in their Cheeks, in cluster lies by lumps. And it and heat together makes, great, strange, and ruddy bumps. And blood and flesh congealed stands, in Face as stiff as stake. And Eyes in head fast fixed set, and often trickling make. And down apace whole floods they steam, and clots & drops do trill, And all the skin from of their Face, by flakes and scales doth pill. A thousand fearful sounds at once, into their ears do rush. And loathsome blood out of their Nose, by stilling streams doth gush. The very anguish of their heart doth cause them for to shake. And what with pain & heal, and fear, their wearied limbs do quake. Then some the running Rivers haunt, and some on ground And some again their thirst to slake, cold water gulping swallow. Thus all our country tossed with plague in grief it weltering lies. And still desiring for to die, a thousand deaths it dies. But God to hear them then is priest: and death to none denies. Besides all this, the church some do frequent: but not to pray, But only for to glut the Gods, with that that they do say. But who is this that comes to Court in haste with posting pace? What? is't Creon that noble Prince (for deeds and stately race?) Or doth my mind oppressed with care things false for true contrive? Creon it is long looked for, his sight doth me revive. FOr fear my body chills, alas, and trembling all I stand In quaking dread. I seek and toil, these mischiefs to withstand. But all in vain I spend my thoughts it will not be, I see, As long as all my senses thus by cares distracted be. My mind desirous still (Oh God,) the truth for to unfold, With doubtful Dread is daunted so, that it can scant uphold itself. O Brother bear, if way or mean of health thou know, Declare it out and stick not all the truth to me to show.
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)
And gaſtly ſhapes of men beſides, to wander on the ground. And wood, and trees on euery ſyde, did fearefully reſound. Beſides all this ſtraūg Ghoſts were ſeene in places where they ſtoode. And Ryuers more then one or two, that ran all blacke goorb bloode. O cruell plague, O vile diſcaſe, farre worſe then ſpeedy death. O wee vnhappy thriſe and more, who doe prolonge our breath. In theſe accurſed dayes and tymes. But harke to mee a while. When firſt this Iothſome plague begins theſe Myſers to defile, It takes them thus. A feareful Cold through al their bones doth rn,] And Cold and Heate togeather mixt, their ſees all benome. Than litle lothſome markes appeare, and all their bodies ſpot. And all their members ſlaming glow, and burning faſt doe rot. The Lights, the Lungs, the heart, the Guts, and all that inwarde lies. And all the ſecret partes iſcorcht, with deadly, I fier fries. The bloud all clotterd in their Cheekes, in cluſter lies by lumps. And it and heate together makes, great, ſtraung, and ruddy bumps. And bloud and fleſh congeled ſtands, in Face as ſtiffe as ſtake. And Eyes in head faſt fixed ſet, and often trickling make. And downe apace whole fluds they ſteame, and clots & drops doe trill, And all the ſkin from of their Face, by flakes and ſcales doth pill. A thouſand fearefull ſounds at once, into their eares doe ruſh. And lothſome bloud out of their Noſe, by ſtilling ſtreames doth guſh. The very anguiſh of their heart doth cauſe them for to ſhake. And what with payne & heale, and feare, their weried lims doe quake. Then ſome the rūning Ryuers haunt, and ſome on grond ce . And ſome agayne their thirſt to ſlake, cold water gulping . Thus all our country oſt with plague in Griefy it waltering . And ſtill deſiring for to dye, a thouſand deathes it dyes. But God to heare them then is preſt: and death to none . Beſydes al this, the church ſome do frequent: but not to pray, But onely for to glut the Gods, with that that they do ſay. But who is this that comes to Court in haſt with poaſting pace? What? iſt Creon that noble Prince (for deedes and ſtately race?) Or doth my mynd oppreſt with care thinges falſe for true contriue? Creon it is long looked for, his ſight doth me reuyue. FOr feare my body chilles, alas, and trembling all I ſtand In quakinge dread. I ſeke and toyle, theſe miſchiefes to withſtand. But al in vayne I ſpend my thoughtes it wil not be, I ſee, As long as all my ſences thus by cares diſtracted bee. My mynd deſyrous ſtil (Oh God,) the truth for to vnfold, With doubtful Dread is daunted ſo, that it can ſcant vpholde It ſelfe. O Brother beare, if way or meane of health thou know, Declare it out and ſticke not all the truth to me to ſhow.