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 0.87 · 492 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T20: hercules, hercles, ioue, deianeira, alcides, hand, lo, death, skies, hell.
Were't 'gainst the lions in chimaera bred, Or those rude Bears that breed in Caucasus: The Hyrcan Tigers or the Syrian Wolves, Nay 'gainst the Giants that assaulted heaven And with their shoulders made those bases shake That prop Olimpus: lived Enceladus With whom love wrestled: even against those monsters, I'd think me safe encircled in these arms. Thou art as safe as if immured in heaven, Paled with that Crystal wall that girts loves house, Where all the Gods inhabit, built by fate, Stay, I should know that Centaur. That's Hercules I know him by his Club, Whose ponderous weight I felt upon my Skull At the great Bridal of the Lapithes. What lovely lady's she that in her beauty So much exceeds fair Hippodamia? Oh Nessus, thou of all thy cloud-bred race, Alone didst scape by trusting to thy heels At Hypodamia's Bridals, but we now Are friends, are we not Nessus? Yes great Hercules, (Till I can find fit time for just revenge) Methinks my brains still rattle in my skull) What lady's that in great Alcides' Guard? Deianeira, daughter to the Aetolian King, Sister to Meleager, now our Bride; Won by the force of arms from Achelous, The boisterous flood that flows through Calidon. A double envy burns in all my veins, First for revenge; next, that he should enjoy That beauteous maid whom Nessus dearly loves. Will Hercules command me? or his Bride? I'll lackey by thee wheresoe'er thou goest, And be the vassal to great Hercules. We are bound for Thebes, but soft, what torrent's this That intercepts our way? How shall we pass These raging streams? This is Euenus' flood, A dangerous current, full of whirlpools deep, And yet unsounded: dar'st thou trust thy Bride On Nessus back? I'll undertake to swim her Unto the furthest strand, upon my shoulders, And yet not lave her shoe. I'll pay thee for thy waftage Centaur, well, And make thee Prince of all thy by-formed race, If thou wilt do this grace to Hercules: But ferry her with safety, for by Ioue, If thou but make her tremble in these streams, Or let the least wave dash against her skirt; If the least fear of drowning pale her cheek, I'll pound thee smaller than the Autumn dust tossed by the warring winds? Have I not swam The Hellespont, when waves high as yond hills tossed by the winds, have crowned me, yet in spite Of all their briny weight I have wrought myself Above the topmost billow to o'erlook The troubled main: come beauteous Deianeira, Not Charon with more safety ferries souls, Than I will thee through this impetuous ford, Receive her Centaur, and in her the wealth And potency of mighty Hercules. Now my revenge for that inhuman banquet, In which so many of the centaurs fell, I'll rape this Princess, having passed the flood Come beauteous Deianeira, mount my shoulders, And fear not your safe waftage.
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)
Wer't gainst the Lyons in Chimera bred, Or those rude Beares that breed in Caucasus: The Hyrcan Tigers or the Syrian Wolues, Nay gainst the Giants that assaulted heauen And with their shoulders made those bases shake That prop Olimpus: liu'd Enceladus With whom loue wrestled: euen against those monsters, I'de thinke me safe incircled in these armes. Thou art as safe as if immur'd in heauen, Pal'd with that Christall wall that girts loues house, Where all the Gods inhabite, built by fate, Stay, I should know that Centaure. That's Hercules I know him by his Club, Whose ponderous weight I felt vpon my Skull At the great Bridall of the Lapithes. What louely Ladie's shee that in her beauty So much exceedes faire Hypodamia? Oh Nessus, thou of all thy cloud-bred race, Alone didst scape by trusting to thy heeles At Hypodamia's Bridals, but we now Are friends, are wee not Nessus? Yes great Hercules, (Till I can find fit time for iust reuendge) Methinkes my braines still rattle in my skull) What Ladie's that in great Alcides Guard? Deyaneira, daughter to the Aetolian King, Sister to Meleager, now our Bride; Wonne by the force of armes from Achelous, The boysterous floud that flowes through Calidon. A double enuy burnes in all my veines, First for reuenge; next, that he should enioy That beauteous maide whom Nessus dearely loues. Will Hercules commande me? or his Bride? I'le lackey by thee wheresoer'e thou goest, And be the vassall to great Hercules. We are bound for Thebes, but soft, what torrent's this That intercepts our way? How shall we passe These raging streames? This is Euenus floud, A dangerous current, full of whirle-pooles deepe, And yet vnsounded: dar'st thou trust thy Bride On Nessus backe? I'le vndertake to swimme her Vnto the furthest strond, vpon my shoulders, And yet not laue her shooe. I'le pay thee for thy waftage Centaure, well, And make thee Prince of all thy by-form'd race, If thou willt do this grace to Hercules: But ferry her with safety, for by Ioue, If thou but make her tremble in these streames, Or let the least waue dash against her skirt; If the least feare of drowning pale her cheeke, I'le pound thee smaller then the Autumne dust Tost by the warring winds? Haue I not swomme The Hellesepont, when waues high as yon hils Tost by the winds, haue crown'd me, yet in spight Of all their briny weight I haue wrought my selfe Aboue the topmost billow to ore-looke The troubled maine: come beauteous Deyaneira, Not Charon with more safety ferries soules, Then I will thee through this impetuous foord, Receiue her Centaure, and in her the wealth And potency of mighty Hercules. Now my reuenge for that inhumaine banquet, In which so many of the Centaures fell, I'le rape this Princesse, hauing past the floud Come beauteous Deyaneira, mount my shoulders, And feare not your safe wastage.