Seneca, Lucius Annaeus / Neville, Alexander · published 1581 · first performed or written 1563 (Annals) tragedy T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi typicality 0.89 · 498 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
And dost thou me exhort thou slave my kingdom for to leave? O faithless head. O shameless heart, that could such treasons weave? darest thou attempt thou villain vile this thing, to me to break? And fearest thou not in such a cause so boldly for to speak. I would persuade them so (O King) who freely might possess Their Realms such piteous cares I see, do princes hearts oppress: But as for you of force you must your Fortune's change abide. The surest way for them that gape for kingdoms large, & wide, Is first things mean, and rest, and peace, and base estate to praise: And yet with Tooth and Nail, to toil to mount aloft always. So often times, most restless beasts do chiefly rest commend. Shall not my service long suffice my truth for to defend? Time is the only means for such, as thou to work their will. It is so sir, but as for me, of goods I have my fill. A great resort. A pleasant life: from Princely cares exempt. All these might (surely) me dissuade from such a foul attempt. There is no day almost (O King) the whale year thorough out, Where in some royal gifts are not from countries round about Unto me sent, both Gold, and pearls, and things of greater cost, Which I let pass, lest I should seem but vainly for to boast. Besides the life of many a man hath been preserved by me. In such a blissful state (O King) what can there wanting be? (Good Fortune can no mean observe, but still she presseth higher.) Shall I then guiltless die (alas,) my cause and all untried? Were unto you at any time my life, my deeds descried? Did any man defend me yet? or else my causes plead? And guiltless yet I am condemned to this you do me lead, And me express example give, which I intend to take. What measure you do meat to me, like measure must I make. The mind which causeless dread appalls, true cause of fear bewrays That conscience is not guiltless sure, which every blast dismates. He that in midst of perils deep, and dangers hath been cast, Doth seek all means to shun like ills as he hath overpast. So hatreds rise. He that to much doth use ill will to fear, Unskilful is: and knows not how, he ought himself to bear In king's estate. For fear alone doth Kingdoms chiefly keep. Than he that thus doth arm himself from fear all free may sleep. Who so the cruel tyrant plays, and guiltless men doth smite, He dreadeth them that him do dread, so fear doth chiefly light On causers chief. A just revenge for bloody minds at last. Come take this traitor vile away, In dungeon deep him fast Enclose. There for his due deserts, let him abide such pain And scourge of mind (as meet it is) false traitors to sustain.
seed 43: T25 · seed 44: T6 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
And doſt thou me exhort thou laue my kingdome for to leaue? O ſaythleſſe head. O ſhameleſſe heart, y• could ſuch treaſons weaue? Darſt thou attempt thou villayae vile this thing, to me to breake? And fearſt thou not in ſuch a cauſe ſo boldly for to ſpeake. I would perſwade them ſo (O King) who freely might poſſeſſe Their Realmes ſuch piteous cares I ſee, do Prynces hearts oppreſſe: But as for you of force you muſt your Fortunes chainge abyde. The ſureſt way for them that gape for kingdoms large, & wyde, Is firſt things meane, and reſt, and peace, and baſe eſtate to prayſe: And yet with Tooth and Nayle, to toyle to mount aloft alwayes. So often times, moſt reſtleſſe beaſtes doe chiefly reſt commend. Shall not my ſeruice long ſuffice my truth for to defend? Time is the onely meanes for ſuch, as thou to worke theyr will. It is ſo ſyr, but as for mee, of goods I haue my fill. A great reſort. A pleaſaunt life: from Princely cares exempt. All theſe might (ſurely) mee diſſwade from ſuch a foule attempt. There is no day almoſt (O King) the whale yeare thorow out, Where in ſome royall gyfts are not from countreys round about Vnto mee ſent, both Golde, and pearles, and things of greater coſt, Which I let paſſe, leaſt I ſhould ſeeme but vainly for to boſt. Beſides the life of many a man hath bin preſerude by mee. In ſuch a bliſull ſtate (O King) what can there wanting bee? (Good Fortune can no meane obſerue, but ſtil ſhe preaſeth higher.) Shall I than guiltleſſe die (alas,) my cauſe and all vntryde? Were vnto you at any time my life, my deedes diſcride? Did any man defend mee yet? or els my cauſes pleade? And guiltleſſe yet I am condemn'de to this you doe mee leade, And mee expreſſe example giue, which I entend to take. What meaſure you doe meat to mee, lyke meaſure muſt I make. The minde which cauſeleſſe dred appawls, true cauſe of feare bewraies That cōſciēce is not guiltles ſure, which euery blaſt diſmates. Hee that in midſt of perilles deepe, and daūgers hath bene caſt, Doth ſeeke all meanes to ſhun like ills as hee hath ouerpaſt. So hatreds ryſe. Hee that to much doth vſe ill will to feare, Unſkilfull is: and knowes not how, hee ought him ſelfe to beare In kings eſtate. For feare alone doth Kingdomes chiefly keepe. Than hee that thus doth arme himſelfe from feare all free may ſleepe. Who ſo the cruell tyrant playes, and guiltleſſe men doth ſmight, Hee dreadeth them that him doe dread, ſo feare doth chiefly light On cauſers chiefe. A iuſt reuenge for bloudy mindes at laſt. Come take this traytor vile away, In dongeon deepe him faſt Encloſe. There for his due deſerts, let him abide ſuch payne And ſcourge of minde (as meete it is) falſe traytors to ſuſtayne.