Seneca, Lucius Annaeus / Neville, Alexander · published 1581 · first performed or written 1563 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T36 Hell, Furies and the language of punishm · 490 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T36: hell, earth, gods, death, ghosts, blood, bloody, heaven, night, ghost.
By this unhappy Sacrifice, great fears within me rise. But tell me now: In the inner parts, what secret hidden lies? O Father what means this (alas) that more than wonted guise The innards stir? and shake my hands, and heaving oft arise, The blood by streams out of the veins, full strangely skips aloft. The heart all scorched and hidden lies, and strikes are seen full oft, Of Colour very wan and pale: The chiefest parts do want. The Liver blackish gall out spurts, and somewhat rising pants. And that, that mischiefs great, to kingdoms doth foreshow: Two heads are seen, and yet both heads one skin doth overgrow And overheals them quite, But yet the skin, it is so thin That easily one may discern what lieth hid therein. And that which horror doth increase, a man may plainly see How both the heart, the Lights, and Lungs, and all disturbed be. The fearful noise and sound you here is not of beasts, but fire That roaring on the Altars makes, presaging wreakful ire Of angry Gods who do foretell some purpose that they have, For to revenge some foul misdeed that vengeance just doth crave. No part his proper place observes, nor keeps his order due: But altogether quite disguised, with an unwonted hue. misshapen, out of frame, transformed, displaced quite (alas) What thing is that the Gods intend ere long to bring to pass? Why than declare from whence, and why these deadly signs arise, With courage stout I will it hear, it shall not once aggrise By valiant mind. Extremest ills have power to banish fear. You will wish that unheard which you so much desire to hear. Yet sense the Gods will have him known tell me (I say) his name That sive your King. Nor wing, nor womb of Bird or beast that same Can tell (O king) new sacrifice, new means we must invent. From dreadful dark infernal damps some Fury must be sent These mischiefs great for to unfold. Or else King Ditis he, That Empire keeps on grisly Ghosts, entreated needs must be These things forthwith for to disclose. Tell who shall have the charge, A King thou art, than mayst not thou go through those kingdoms large. Than noble Creon thou shalt go, this pain is first for thee: Who must this crown and kingdom great enjoy after me. THough that thy Face where sadness sits in heavy mourning guise, Nought else portend, but deadly griefs, and mischiefs still to rise: Yet tell some means whereby at length the Gods we may appease, And purchase to our kingdoms waste, some hope of health and ease. Alas you bid me that disclose which fear doth bid me hide. It that the Theban cities great, by doleful plagues destroyed. pierce not thy heart: yet oughtest thou. these Kingdoms for to rue, Which were unto thy brother's house, of ancient title due.
seed 43: T30 · seed 44: T26 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
By this vnhappy Sacrifice, great feares within mee riſe. But tell mee now: In the inner parts, what ſecret hidden lies? O Father what meanes this (alas) that more then wonted guiſe The Inwards ſtir? and ſhake my hands, and heauing oft ariſe, The bloud by ſtreames out of the vaynes, full ſtraungly ſkips aloft. The heart all ſchorcht and hidden lies, and ſtrykes are ſeene full oft, Of Colour very wan and pale: The chiefeſt parts doe want. The Lyuer blakiſh gall out ſpurts, and ſomwhat ryſing pants. And that, that myſchiefes great, to kingdoms doth foreſhow: Tw heads are ſeene, and yet both heads one ſkin doth ouergow And ouerheales them quight, But yet the ſkin, it is ſo thin That eaſely one may diſcerne what lieth hid therein. And that which horror doth encreaſe, a man may plainly ſee How both the heart, the Lights, and Lungs, and all diſturbed bee. The fearefull noyſe and ſound you heere is not of beaſts, but fier That roaring on the Alters makes, preſaging wrekefull yre Of angry Gods who doe foretell ſome purpoſe that they haue, For to reuenge ſome foule miſdeede that vengeance iuſt doth craue. No part his proper place obſerues, nor keepes his order due: But altogether quight diſguiſde, with an vnwonted hue. Miſhapen, out of frame, tranſformde, diſplaced quight (alas) What thing is that the Gods entend ere long to brng to pas? Why than declare from whēce, and why theſe deadly ſignes ariſe, With courage ſtout I will it heare, it ſhall not once aggriſe By valiaunt mynd. Extremeſt ils haue power to baniſh feare. You will wiſhe that vnhard which you ſo much deſyre to heare. Yet ſence the Gods wil haue him known tell me (I ſay) his name That ſiue your King. Nor wing, nor womb of Bird or beaſt ye ſame Can tell (O king) new ſacrifice, new meanes we muſt inuent. From dredfull darke infernall damps ſome Fury muſt be ſent Theſe miſchifes great for to vnfolde. Or els King Ditis hee, That Empyre keepes on griſly Ghoſts, entreated needes muſt bee Theſe things forthwith for to diſcloſe. Tell who ſhall haue the charge, A King thou art, than maiſt not thou go through thoſe kingdoms large. Than noble Creon thou ſhalt goe, this payne is firſt for thee: Who muſt this crown and kingdome great enioy after mee. THough that thy Face where ſadnes ſits in heauy mourning guiſe, Nought els portend, but dedly griefes, and miſchiefes ſtil to ryſe: Yet tel ſome meanes wherby at length the Gods we may appeaſe, And purchaſē to our Kingdomes waſt, ſome hope of health and eaſe. Alas you byd me that diſcloſe which feare doth byd me hyde. It that the Thebane Citties great, by doleful plagues deſtryde. Perce not thy hart a: et oughteſt thou▪ theſe Kingdomes for to rue, Which were vnto thy brothers houſe, of auncient title due.