Norton, Thomas / Sackville, Thomas · published 1570 · first performed or written 1562 [Jan 18] (Annals) tragedy · before the Court unassigned nearest T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla · 508 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
The mighty Gods forbidden that ever I Should once conceive such mischief in my heart. Although my brother hath bereft my realm, And bear perhaps to me an hateful mind: Shall I revenge it, with his death therefore? Or shall I so destroy my father's life That gave me life? the Gods forbidden, I say. Cease you to speak so any more to me. Ne you my friend with answer once repeat So foul a tale. In silence let it die. What lord or subject shall have hope at all, That under me they safely shall enjoy Their goods, their honours, lands and liberties, With whom, neither one only brother dear, Ne father dearer, could enjoy their lives? But sigh, I fear my younger brothers rage, And sith perhaps some other man may give Some like advise, to move his grudging head At mine estate, which counsel may perchance Take greater force with him, than this with me, I will in secret so prepare myself, As if his malice or his lust to reign Break forth in arms or sudden violence, I may withstand his rage and keep mine own. I fear the fatal time now draweth on, When civil hate shall end the noble line Of famous Brutus and of his royal seed. Great Ioue defend the mischiefs now at hand. O that the Secretaries wise advise Had erst been heard when he besought the king Not to divide his land, nor sand his sons To further parts from presence of his court, Ne yet to yield to them his governance. Lo such are they now in the royal throne As was rash Phaeton in Phoebus' car. Ne then the fiery steeds did draw the flame With wilder random through the kindled skies, Than traitorous counsels now will whirl about The youthful heads of these unskilful kings. But I here of their father will inform. The reverence of him perhaps shall stay The growing mischiefs, while they yet are green. If this help not, than woe unto themselves, The prince, the people, the divided land. And is it thus? And doth he so prepare, Against his brother as his mortal foe? And now while yet his aged father lives? Neither regards he him? nor fears he me? War would he have? and he shall have it so. I saw myself the great prepared store Of horse, of armour, and of weapon there, Ne bring I to my lord reported tales Without the ground of seen and searched troth. Lo secret quarrels run about his court, To bring the name of you my lord in hate. Each man almost can now debate the cause, And ask a reason of so great a wrong, Why he so noble and so wise a prince, Is as unworthy rest his heritage? And why the king, misseledde by crafty means, Divided thus his land from course of right? The wiser sort hold down their griefful heads. Each man withdraws from talk and company, Of those that have been known to favour you.
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)
The mightie Goddes forbid that euer I Should once conceaue such mischiefe in my hart. Although my brother hath bereft my realme, And beare perhappes to me an hatefull minde: Shall I reuenge it, with his death therefore? Or shall I so destroy my fathers life That gaue me life? the Gods forbid, I say. Cease you to speake so any more to me. Ne you my frend with answere once repeate So foule a tale. In silence let it die. What lord or subiect shall haue hope at all, That vnder me they safely shall enioye Their goods, their honours, landes and liberties, With whom, neither one onely brother deare, Ne father dearer, could emoye their liues? But sith, I feare my yonger brothers rage, And sith perhappes some other man may geue Some like aduise, to moue his grudging head At mine estate, which counsell may perchaunce Take greater force with him, than this with me, I will in secrete so prepare my selfe, As if his malice or his lust to reigne Breake forth in armes or sodeine violence, I may withstand his rage and keepe mine owne. I feare the fatall time now draweth on, When ciuil hate shall end the noble line Of famous Brute and of his royall seede. Great Ioue defend the mischiefes now at hand. O that the Secretaries wise aduise Had erst bene heard when he besought the king Not to diuide his land, nor send his sonnes To further partes from presence of his court, Ne yet to yelde to them his gouernaunce. Lo such are they now in the royall throne As was rashe Phaeton in Phebus carre. Ne then the fiery stedes did draw the flame With wilder rando through the kindled skies, Than traitorous counse now will whirle abou The youthfull heades of these vnskilfull kinges. But I here of their father will enforme. The reuerence of him perhappes shall stay The growing mischiefes, while they yet are greene. If this helpe not, then woe vnto them selues, The prince, the people, the diuided land. And is it thus? And doth he so prepare, Against his brother as his mortall foe? And now while yet his aged father liues? Neither regardes he him? nor feares he me? Warre would he haue? and he shall haue it so. I saw my selfe the great prepared store Of horse, of armour, and of weapon there, Ne bring I to my lorde reported tales Without the ground of seen and fearched trouth. Loe secrete quarrels runne about his court, To bring the name of you my lorde in hate. Ech man almost can now debate the cause, And aske a reason of so great a wrong, Why he so noble and so wise a prince, Is as vnworthy rest his heritage? And why the king, misseledde by craftie meanes, Diuided thus his land from course of right? The wiser sort holde downe their griefull heades. Eche man withdrawes from talke and company, Of those that haue bene knowne to fauour you.