Heywood, Thomas · published 1613 · first performed or written 1611 [1610-1611] (Annals) classical legend or myth · Queen Anne's Men T20 Hercules: labours, suffering and virtue typicality 0.76 · 487 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T20: hercules, hercles, ioue, deianeira, alcides, hand, lo, death, skies, hell.
AS the world grows in years ('tis the heavens curse) Men's sins increase; the pristine times were best: The Ages in their growth wax worse & worse. The first was precious, full of golden rest. Silver succeeded; good, but not so pure: Then love and harmless lusts might currant pass: The third that follows we find more obdure, And that we title by the Age of Brass. In this more gross and courser metalled Age, Tyrants and fierce oppressors we present. nephews that 'gainst their Uncles wreak their rage, Mothers against their children discontent, A sister with her brother at fierce war, (Things in our former times not seen or known) But vice with virtue now begins to jar, And sins (though not at height) yet great are grown. Still with our history we shall proceed, And Hercules victorious acts relate: His marriage first, next many a noble deed Performed by him: last how he yields to Fate. And these, I hope, may (with some mixtures) pass, So you sit pleased in this our Age of Brass. Thus midst our brothers, daughter, Queen and son, Sits Oeneus crowned in fertile Calidon Whose age and weakness is supported only, In those ripe joys that I receive from you. May we long stand supporters of your royalties, And glad spectators of your age and peace. The like I wish. We have found you brothers royal, And subjects loyal. They are of our line, Of which no branch did ever perish yet, By Cankers, blastings, or dry barrenness. But Meleager let me turn to thee, Whose birth the Fates themselves did calculate, Pray mother how was that? I have heard you say Somewhat about my birth miraculous, But never yet knew the true circumstance. 'Twas thus: the very instant thou wast borne, The sisters, that draw, spin, and clip our lives, Entered my chamber with a fatal brand, Which hurling in the fire, thus said: One day, one date, Betide this brand and child, even be their fate. So parted they, the brand begins to burn: And as it wasted, so didst thou consume; Which I perceiving, leapt unto the flame, And quenching that, stayed thy consumption. The brand I (as a jewel) have reserved, And keep it in a casket, locked as safe As in thy bosom thou maintainst thy heart. Pray keep it well: for if not with my mother, With whom dare Meleager trust his life? But sister Deianeira, now to you. Two worthy Champions must this day contend, And try their eminence in Arms for you, Great Achelous, and strong Hercules. We know it: my love must be bought with blows, Not Oratory wins me, but the sword: He that can braveliest in the lists contend, Must Deianeira's nuptial bed ascend. Brothers, conduct these Champions to the lists, Mean time Althaea state thee on that hand, On this side Deianeira the rich prize Of their contention.
seed 43: T17 · seed 44: T19 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
AS the world growes in yeares ('tis the Heauens curse) Mens sinnes increase; the pristine times were best: The Ages in their growth wax worse & worse. The first was pretious, full of golden rest. Siluer succeded; good, but not so pure: Then loue and harmelesse lusts might currant passe: The third that followes we finde more obdure, And that we title by the Age of Brasse. In this more grosse and courser mettal'd Age, Tyrants and fierce oppressors we present. Nephewes that 'gainst their Vnckles wreake their rag, Mothers against their children discontent, A sister with her brother at fiere warre, (Things in our former times not seene or knowne) But vice with vertue now begins to iarre, And sinnes (though not at height) yet great are growne. Still with our history we shall proceed, And Hercules vistorious acts relate: His marriage first, next many a noble deed Perform'd by him: last how he yeelds to Fate. And these, I hope, may (with some mixtures) passe, So you sit pleas'd in this our Age of Brasse. Thus midst our brothers, daughter, Queene and sonne, Sits Oeneus crown'd in fertll Cadon Whose age and weakenesse is supported only, In those ripe ioyes that I receiue from you. May we long ftand supporters of your royaltyes, And glad spectators of your age and peace. The like I wish. We haue found you brothers royall, And subiects loyall. They are of our line, Of which no branch did euer perish yet, By Cankers, blastings, or dry barrennesse. But Meleager let me turne to thee, Whose birth the Fates themselues did calculate, Pray mother how was that? I haue heard you say Somewhat about my birth miaculous, But neuer yet knew the true circumstance. 'Twas thus: the very instant thou wast borne, The sisters, that draw, spinne, and clip our liues, Entred my chamber with a fatall brand, Which hurling in the fire, thus said: One day, one date, Betide this brand and childe, euen be their fate. So parted they, the brand begins to burne: And as it wasted, so didst thou consume; Which I perceiuing, leap't vnto the flame, And quenching that, stayd thy consumption. The brand I (as a iewell) haue reseru'd, And keepe it in a casket, lock't as safe As in thy bosome thou maintainst thy heart. Pray keepe it well: for if not with my mother, With whom dare Meleager trust his life? But sister Deianeira, now to you. Two worthy Champians must this day contend, And try their eminnce in Armes for you, Great Achelous, and strong Hercules. We know it: my loue must be bought with blowes, Not Oratory wins me, but the sword: He that can braueliest in the lists contend, Must Deianeira's nuptiall bed ascend. Brothers, conduct these Champions to the lists, Meane time Althea state thee on that hand, On this side Deianeira the rich prize Of their contention.