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 0.90 · 476 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T20: hercules, hercles, ioue, deianeira, alcides, hand, lo, death, skies, hell.
Be'st thou a God or hellhound thus trans-shaped, Thy terror frights not me, serpent or devil I'll pash thee. Fright us with fire? our Club shall quench thy flame, And beat it down to hell, from whence it came. What, yet more monsters? Serpent, Bull, and Fire, Shall all alike taste great Alcides' ire. No more, I am thy Captive, thou my Conqueror: I see, no Magic, or enchanting spell Have power on virtue and true fortitude. No sleight Illusion can deceive the eyes Of him that is divinely resolute. I lay me at thy feet, a lowly vassal, Since thou hast reft me of that precious horn, Which tearing from my head in shape of Bull, Thus wounded me. Take Deianeira freely, Only restore me that rich spoil thou hast won, Which all the Nymphs and graces dwelling near, Shall fill with redolent flowers, and delicate fruits, And call it Cornucopiae, Plenty's horn, In memory of Achelous' loss, And this high conquest won by Hercules. Hadst thou not stooped thy horrid Taurine shape I would have piece-meal rent, and thy tough hide Torn into rags as thick as Autumn leaves: Take thee thy life, and with thy life that spoil Plucked from thy mangled front, give me my love, I'll store no horns at winning of a wife. Give me bright Deianeira, take that horn, So late from thy disfigured Temples torn. I have my prayers, Alcides his desires, Both meet in love. Receive her Hercules, The conquest of thy warlike fortitude. we take but what our valour purchased us, And beauteous Queen thou shalt assure his love, Whose puissant arm shall awe the triple world, And make the greatest Monarchs of the earth To thy divinest beauty tributary. Will Hercules stay here in Calidon, To solemnize the nuptials of our sister? I Meleager, rich Aetolians heir, Whose large Dominions stretch to Oeta Mount, And to the bounds of fertile Thessaly Will grace thy Bridals with the greatest pomp Greece can afford, nor is't my meanest honour To be the brother to great Hercules. Thanks Meleager, sojourn here we cannot, My stepdame Juno tasks me to more dangers: we take thy beauteous sister in our guard, Whom by Ioues aid we straight will bear to Thebes. A father's wishes crown the happiness Of his fair daughter. And a brother's love Comfort thee where thou goest: If not with Hercules Whom dare we trust thy safety. Not loves guard Can circle her with more security. Time calls us hence, Aetolian Lords farewell. Adieu brave son, and daughter, only happy In being thus bestowed, come Achelous, With you we'll feast, nor let your foil deject you, Or Deianeira's loss; he's more than man, And needs must he do this, that all things can. Dares Deianeira trust her person's safety With us a stranger, only known by Fame.
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)
Bee'st thou a God or hell-hound thus transhap't, Thy terrour frights not me, serpent or diuell Il'e pash thee. Fright vs with fire? our Club shall quench thy flame, And beat it downe to hell, from whence it came. What, yet more monsters? Serpent, Bull, and Fire, Shall all alike taste great Alcides ire. No more, I am thy Captiue, thou my Conquerer: I see, no Magicke, or inchanting spell Haue power on vertue and true fortitude. No sleight Illusion can deceiue the eyes Of him that is diuinely resolute. I lay me at thy feet, a lowly vassaile, Since thou hast reft me of that prccious horne, Which tearing from my head in shape of Bull, Thus wounded me. Take Deianeira freely, Onely restore me that rich spoyle thou hast wonne, Which all the Nymphes and graces dwelling neere, Shall fill with redolent flowers, and delicate fruits, And call it Cornucopiae, plenties horne, In memory of Achlous losse, And this high conqust won by Hercules. Hadst thou not stoopt thy horrid Taurine shape I would haue peece-meale rent, and thy tough hide Torne into rags as thicke as Autumne leaues: Take thee thy life, and with thy life that spoile Pluckt from thy mangled front, giue me my loue, I'le stoare no hornes at winning of a wife. Giue me bright Deyanira, take that horne, So late from thy disfigured Temples torne. I haue my prayers, Alcides his desires, Both meete in loue. Receiue her Hercules, The conquest of thy warlike fortitude. Wee take but what our valour purchast vs, And beauteous Queene thou shalt assure his loue, Whose puissant arme shall awe the triple world, And make the greatest Monarches of the earth To thy diuinest beauty tributary. Will Hercules stay heere in Calidon, To solemnize the nuptials of our sister? I Meleager, rich Aetolians heire, Whose large Dominions stretch to Oeta Mount, And to the bounds of fertile Thessaly Will grace thy Bridals with the greatest pompe Greece can affoord, nor is't my meanest honour To be the brother to great Hercules. Thanks Meleager, soiourne heere we cannot, My step-dame luno tasks me to more dangers: Wee take thy beauteous sister in our guard, Whom by Ioues aide wee straight will beare to Thebes. A fathers wishes crowne the happinesse Of his faire daughter. And a brothers loue Comfort thee where thou goest: If not with Hercules Whom dare we trust thy safety. Not loues guard Can circl her with more security. Time cals vs hence, Aetolian Lords farewell. Adiew braue sonne, and daughter, onely happy In being thus bestowed, come Achelous, With you we'le feast, nor let your foyle deiect you, Or Deyaniraes losse; he's more then man, And needes must he do this, that all things can. Dares Deyaneira trust her persons safety With vs a stranger, onely knowne by Fame.