Seneca, Lucius Annaeus / Neville, Alexander · published 1581 · first performed or written 1563 (Annals) tragedy T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla typicality 0.72 · 491 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
Except that I myself forthwith this bloody monster find, To wreak the wrath of God some way with solemn oath I bind. And so my father, Polybius his happy days out live. And so my mother Merope, no marriage new contrive: As he shall die that did this deed, and none shall him excuse. Whoso he be here I protest for that he shortly rues: But where this wicked deed was don Creon now tell me plain: Both by what means? & where: and how Ring Laius was slain. Creon. Passing through Castalia woods & mountains heaped with snow Where groves and scrubs, and bushes thick & brambles sharp do grow. A three-pathed crooked way there is that diversly doth go. One unto Bacchus' city bends that Phoce doth height, The other to Olenius, forth stretcheth out aright: The third that reacheth through the vales and by the rivers lies Tends down unto the Banks whereby Eleia, water plies There unawares (O piteous chance) a troop of thieves entraps The noble prince, and murders him hence spring these great mishaps which heap you realms with hideous woes and plagues on every side, By just decree of heavenly powers which can no murder bide. But see Tiresias where he comes with old and trembling pace. I think Apollo's heavenly might have brought him to this place. See where he comes: and Manto too, his steps directing stays 'tis he who for your grace (O king) and for your country prays COme holy priest (to Phoebus next) these doubtful answers lose: And whom that destinies will to die, Straightways to me disclose. Renowned Prince, though still I stand in silence dumb dismayed: And though by inward fear of mind my lingering tongue is stayed: Yet pardon me (O noble Prince,) and give me leave a while. From lack of sight springs Ignorance which power hath to exile Unspotted Truth from doubtful breasts. This thing full well you knows, But whither God and Country calls, with willing mind I go. Let deadly fatal destentes, be bolted out at length. O King if I of greener years had now my wonted strength: This matter soon discussed should be, and I would take in hand, myself in presence of the Gods, in temple for to stand. A mighty Ox all coloured white, up on the Altars rear, Which never yet on wearied neck, the crooked yoke did bear. And Manto thou, O daughter mine, mine only prop and stay: The secret hidden mysteries, and sacred signs out say. M A. The beast before the Altar stands. To Gods a prayer make, And on the holy Altars cke, some pleasant odours shake. 'tis done. And all the fierce fierce, with incense bright do flame. O Manto now what signs seest thou? how do thy matters frame? What? doth the fire, the Sacrifice encompass round about? Not so. But first it mounts aloft, and straight it flasheth out.
seed 43: T30 · seed 44: T33 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Except that I my ſelfe forthwith this bloudy monſter find, To wreake the wrath of God ſome way with ſolemyne oth I bynde. And ſo my father, Polybius his happy dayes out lyue. And ſo my mother Merope, no mariage new contriue: As he ſhall dye that did this deede, and none ſhal him excuſe. Whoſo he be here I proteſt for that he ſhortly rues: But where this wicked deede was don Creon now tell me playne: Both by what meanes? & where: and how Ring Laius was ſlayne. Creon. Paſſing through Caſtalia woods & mountayns heapt with ſuoe Where groues and ſcrubs, and buſhes thicke & brambles ſharp do groe. A threepathd crooked way there is that diuerſly doth goe. One vnto Bacchus citty bends that Phoce doth hight, The other to Olenius, forth ſtretcheth out aright: The third that reacheth through the vales and by the riuers lyes Tends downe vnto the Bancks wherby Elea, water plyes There vnawares (O piteous chaunce) a troup of theues entraps The noble prince, and murders him hence ſpring theſe great miſhaps which heape you realms with hideous woes and plagues on euery ſide, By iuſt decree of heauenly powers which can no murder bide. But ſee Tireſias where he coms with old and trembling pace. I thincke Apolloes heauenly might haue brought him to this place. See where he comes▪ and Manto too, his ſteps directing ſtayes Tis he who for your grace (O king) and for your countrie prayes COme holy prieſt (to Phoebus next) theſe doubtfull aunſwers Ioſe: And whom that deſtnies will to dye, Straightwayes to me diſcloſe. Renowmed Prince, though ſtill I ſtand in ſilence dūme diſmayde: And though by inwarde feare of mynde my lingring tonge is ſtayde: Yet pardon me (O noble Prince,) and geue me leaue a while. From lack of ſight ſprings Ignoraunce which powre hath to exile Vnſpotted Truth frō doubtfull breaſts. This thing ful well you knoes, But whither God and Countrey calles, with willing minde I goe. Let deadly fatall deſtentes, be boulted out at length. O King if I of greener yeares had now my wonted ſtrength: This matter ſoone diſcuſt ſhould be, and I would take in hande, My ſelfe in preſence of the Gods, in temple for to ſtande. A mighty Oxe all coulourd white, vp on the Aulters reare, Which neuer yet on weried necke, the croked yoake did beare. And Manto thou, O daughter mine, mine onely prop and ſtay: The ſecret hidden miſteries, and ſacred ſignes out ſay. M A. The beaſt before the Aulter ſtands. To Gods a prayer make, And on the holy Aulters cke, ſome pleaſaunt odors ſhake. Tis done. And all the fiers fieice, with incence bright doe flame. O Manto now what ſignes ſeeſt thou? how doe thy matters frame? What? doth the fire, the Sacrifice encompas rounde about? Not ſo. But firſt it mounts aloſt, and ſtreight it flaſheth out.