The Brazen Age (The Age of Brass) · chunk 22 of 40
Heywood, Thomas · published 1613 · first performed or written 1611 [1610-1611] (Annals) classical legend or myth · Queen Anne's Men unassigned nearest T56 Magic, spells and conjuring · 526 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T56: magic, faustus, charms, charm, conjure, spirits, skill, ho, power, spells.
Upon the safeguard of this golden Fleece Colchos depends, and he that bears it hence Bears with it all our fortunes; the Argonautes Have it in quest, if Jason scape our monsters I'll rather at some banquet poison him, And quaff to him his death, or in the night Set fire upon his Argo, and in flames Consume the happy hope of his return, This purpose we, as we are Colchos King, Absyrtus where's your sister? In her chamber. When you next see her give to her this note, The manner of our practice, her fell hand Cannot be missed in this, but it shall fall Heavy on these that Colchos seeks to thrall. The hour draws nigh, the people throng on heaps, To this adventure in the field of Mars, And noble Iason armed with his good shield, Is up already and demands the field. Oetes, I come thus armed, demanding combat Of all those monsters that defend thy Fleece: And to these dangers singly, I oppose My person as thou seest, when setst thou ope The gates of hell to let thy devils out? Glad would I wrestle with thy fiery Bulls, And from their throats the flaming dewlaps tear. Unchain them, and to Iason turn them lose, That as Alcides did to Achelous; So from their hard fronts I may tear there horns, And lay the yoke upon their untamed necks. Yet valiant Greek desist, I, though a stranger Pity thy youth, or if thou wilt persist So dreadful is the adventure thou pursuest, That thou wilt think I shall unbowel hell, Macle the fiends, and make a passage Free for the Infernals. I shall welcome all. Medea now if there be power in love; Or force in Magic; if thou hast or will Or Art, try all the power of Characters, Virtue of Simples, Stones, or hidden spells, If earth Elves, or nimble airy Spirits, Charms, Incantations, or dark Exorcisms. If any strength remain in Pyromancy, Or the hid secrets of the air or fire. If the moons sphere can any help infuse, Or any influent Star, collect them all That I by thy aid may these monsters thrall. Discover them. The hidden power of Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Shall from this place to Iasons help conspire. Fire withstand fire, and magic temper flame, By my strong spells the savage monster's tame: So, that's performed, now take the viper's teeth And sow them in the furrowed field of Mars. Of which strange seed, men ready armed must grow To assault Iason. Already from beneath Their deadly pointed weapons 'gin to appear, And now their heads, thus moulded in the earth, Straight way shall teem; and having freed their fate (The stalks by which they grow) all violently Pursue the valiant Greek, but by my sorcery I'll turn their armed points against themselves And all these slaves that would on Iason fly Shall wound themselves and by sedition die. Yet thrives the Greek, now kill the sleeping snake Which I have charmed, and thence the Trophy take, These shouts witness his conquest, I'll descend, Hear Iasons fears and all my charms take end.
seed 43: T17 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Vpon the safeguard of this golden Fleece Colchos depends, and he that beares it hence Beares with it all our fortunes; the Argonautes Haue it in quest, if Lason scape our monsters I'le rather at some banquet poyson him, And quaffe to him his death, or in the night Set fire vpon his Argoe, and in flames Consume the happy hope of his returne, This purpose we, as we are Colchos King, Absyrtus where's your sister? In her chamber. When you next see her giue to her this noate, The manner of our practise, her fell hand Cannot be mist in this, but it shall fall Heauy on these that Colchos seekes to thrall. The howre drawes nigh, the people throng on heapes, To this aduenture in the field of Mars, And noble Iason arm'd with his good hield, Is vp already and demands the field. Oetes, I come thus arm'd, demanding combat Of all those monsters that defend thy Fleece: And to these dangers singly, I oppose My person as thou seest, when setst thou ope The gates of hell to let thy deuils out? Glad would I wrastle with thy fiery Buls, And from their throats the flaming dewlops teare. Vnchaine them, and to Iason turne them loose, That as Alcides did to Achelous; So from their hard fronts I may teare there hornes, And lay the yoake vpon their vntam'd necks. Yet valiant Greeke desist, I, though a stranger Pitty thy youth, or if thou wilt persist So dreadfull is the aduenture thou persuest, That thou wilt thinke I shall vnbowell hell, Vnmacle the fiends, and make a passage Free for the Infernals. I shall welcome all. Medea now if there be power in loue; Or force in Magicke; if thou hast or will Or Art, try all the power of Characters, Vertue of Symples, Stones, or hidden spels, If earth Elues, or nimble airy Spirits, Charmes, Incantations, or darke Exorcismes. If any strength remaine in Pyromancy, Or the hid secrets of the aire or fire. If the Moones spheare can any helpe infuse, Or any influent Starre, collect them all That I by thy aide may these monsters thrall. Discouer them. The hidden power of Earth, Aire, Water, Fire, Shall from this place to Iasons helpe conspire. Fire withstand fire, and magicke temper flame, By my strong spels the sauadge monster's tame: So, that's perform'd, now take the Vipers teeth And sow them in the furrowed field of Mars. Of which strange seed, men ready arm'd must grow To assault Iason. Already from beneath Their deadly pointed weapons gin to appeare, And now their heads, thus moulded in the earth, Streight way shall teeme; and hauing fred their fate (The stalkes by which they grow) all violently Pursue the valiant Greeke, but by my sorcery I'le turne their armed points against themselues And all these slaues that would on Iason flie Shall wound themselues and by sedition die. Yet thriues the Greeke, now kill the sleeping snake Which I haue charm'd, and thence the Trophy take, These shouts witnesse his conquest, Ile discend, Heare Iasons feares and all my charmes take end.