Seneca, Lucius Annaeus / Neville, Alexander · published 1581 · first performed or written 1563 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 490 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
Were any slain in his defence? Of one report is rife, Who constant in his PRINCE's cause full stoutly lost his life. It is enough, I know the man that hath this mischief done. The number and the place agrees. The time untried alone Remains: Than tell what time he died, and when that he was slain. 'tis ten years since: you now revive my chiefest cares again. THe Corinth people all (O King) in Father's place to rain Do call your Grace: Polybius doth eternal rest obtain. O God what Fortune vile doth me oppress on every side? How do my sorrows still increase? Tell how my Father died. No sickness (sir) but very age did of his life him reave. And is he dead: in deed? not slain? what joy may I conceive? How may I now triumph? the Gods to witness I do call, To whom are known my hidden thoughts and secret workings all: Now may I lift to skies my hands, my hands from mischief free. But yet the chiefest cause of fear remaineth still to me. Your Father's kingdom ought all dread out of your mind to drive. That I confess. But secret thoughts my trembling heart do rive With inward doubt of deep distress, my Mother I do fear. This grudge is that continually my heart doth rent and tear. Do you your Mother fear? on your return that only slays. I fear not her: but from her sight, a godly zeal me frays. What will you her a Widow leave? Now, now, thou wfist heart. This, this, and only this (alas,) is cause of all my smart. Tell me (O king) what doubtful fear? doth press thy princely breast: Kings counsels I can well conceal that ben with Cares oppressed. lest as Apollo hath foretold, I should a Marriage make With mine own Mother: only this foul fear doth make me quake. Such vain & peevish fears, at length from out your breast exile. Merope your Mother is not in deed, you do yourself beguile. What vantage should it be to her adopted Sons to have? A kingdom she shall gain thereby. Her Husband laid in grave. The chiefest prop to stay her Realms from present confusion, In children for to have: and hope of lawful succession. What are the means whereby thou dost these secrets understand. myself (your grace) an Infant gave into your father's hand. Didst thou me to my Father give? Who than gave me to thee? A Shepherd str; that wanted on Cithaeron Hills to be. What made thee in those woods to range? what hadst thou there to do? Upon those Hills my Beasts I kept, sometime a shepherd to. What notes, what privy marks hast thou, whereby thou dost me know? The holes that through your feet are board from whence your name did grow. Declare forthwith what was his name that gave me unto thee.
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)
Were any ſlayne in his defence? Of one report is rife, Who coſtant in his princes cauſe full ſtoutly loſt his lyfe. It is enough, I knowe the man that hath this miſchiefe done. The number and the place agrees. The time vntried alone Remaynes: Than tell what time hee died, and when that he was ſlaine. Tis ten yeares ſince: you now reuiue my chifeſt cares againe. THe Corinth people all (O King) in Fathers place to rayn Doe call your Grace: Polybius doth eternall reſt obtayn. O God what Fortune vyle doth mee oppreſſe on euery ſide? How doe my ſorrowes ſtill encreaſe? Tell how my Father dide. No ſickneſſe (ſir) but very age did of his life him reaue. And is hee dead: in deede? not ſlayne? what ioy may I tonceaue? How may I now triumph? the Gods to witneſſe I doe call, To whom are known my hidden thoughts and ſecret workings al: Now may I li to ſkyes my hands, my hands from miſchiefe free. But yet the chiefeſt aſe of feare remayneth ſtill to mee. Your Fathers kingdom ought al dred out of your mind to driue. That I cōfeſſe. But ſecret thoughts my trembling heart do riue With inward doubt of deepe diſtreſſe, my Mother I do feare. This grudge is that continually my heart doth rent and teare. Do you your Mother feare? on your return that onely ſlayes. I feare not her: but from her ſight, a godly zeale mee frayes. What will you her a Wydow leaue? Now, now, thou wfiſt heart. This, this, and onely this (alas,) is cauſe of all my ſmart. Tell me (O king) what doubtfull feare? doth preſſe thy princely breſt: Kings coūcels I can well cōceale that en with Cares oppreſt. Leaſt as Apollo hath forefolde, I ſhould a Mariage make With myne owne Mother: only this fowle feare doth make me quake. Such vayne & peuyſh feares, at length from out your breaſt exyle. Meropa your Mother is not in deede, you do your ſelfe beguil. What vauntage ſhould it be to her adopted Sonnes to haue? A kingdom ſhe ſhall gayne thereby. Her Husband layde in graue. The chiefeſt prop to ſay her Realmes from preſent confuſion, In children for to haue: and hope of lawfull ſucceſſion. What are the meanes whereby thou doſt theſe ſecrets vnderſtād. My ſelfe (your grace) an Infant gaue into your fathers hand. Didſt thou me to my Father geue? Who than gaue me to thee? A Sheparde ſtr; that wnted on Cytheron Hills to bee. What made thee in thoſe woods to raūge? what hadſt thou there to do? Vpon thoſe Hils my Beaſts I kept, ſomtime a Sheepeherde to. What nots, what priuy marks haſt thou, wherby thou doſt me kno? The holes y• through your feete are borde frō whēce your name did gro. Declare forthwith what was his name y• gaue me vnto thee.