The Brazen Age (The Age of Brass) · chunk 23 of 40
Heywood, Thomas · published 1613 · first performed or written 1611 [1610-1611] (Annals) classical legend or myth · Queen Anne's Men unassigned nearest T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla · 488 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
Oetes, how is this rich and precious Fleece, By Iasons sword repurchased, and must turn Unto the place whence Phrixus brought his Ram. That practice by your ruins; I'll prevent, And sooner than with that return to Greece, Your slaughtered bodies leave with this rich fleece. Since our adventure is achieved and done, The prize is ours, we seize what we have won. Enjoy it Iason, I admire thy worth, Which as it hath exceeded admiration, So must we needs applaud it. Noble gentlemen. Depart not Colchos, ere your worths and valour We with some rich and worthy gifts present. The conquest of our Bulls, and dragon's death, (Though we esteemed them) yet they sad us not, Since we behold the safety of this prince. Enter our palace, and your praise sound high, Where you shall feast, (or all by treason die.) I have not seen my sister today, I muse she hath not been at this solemnity, methinks she should not have lost this triumph; I have a note to deliver her from my father. Here she comes. Sister, peruse this brief, you know the character, It is my fathers. This is all. Iason with his Argonauts this night must perish, the fleece not be transported to Greece— Medea, your assistance. This is my father's plot to overthrow Prince Iason, and the noble Argonauts, Which I'll prevent: I know the King is sudden, And if prevention be delayed, they die: I that have ventured thus far for a love, Even to these arts that Nature would have hid As dangerous and forbidden, shall I now Undo what I have done, through womanish fear, Paternal duty, or for filial love? No Iason, thou art mine, and my desire, Shall wade with thee through blood, through seas, through fire. Madam. My Lord, I know what you would say, Think now upon your life, the King my father Intends your ruin, to redeem the fleece, And it repurchase with your tragic deaths: Therefore assemble all your Argonauts, And let them (in the silence of the night) Launch from the Colchian harbour; I'll associate you As Iasons bride. You are my patroness, And under you I triumph: when the least Of all these graces I forget, the God's Revenge on me my hated perjury. Must we then launch this night? you are my directress, And by your art I'll manage all my actions. Then fly, I'll send to see your Argo trimmed, rigged and made tied: night comes, the time grows on: High then aboard. I shall. Now populous Greece, Thank us (not Iason) for this conquered fleece. Medea, we are robbed, despoiled, dishonoured, Our Fleece rapt hence, we must not suffer it, Since all our ominous fortunes it includes, I am resolved Iason this night shall die. Should he survive, you might be held unworthy The name of King; my hand shall be as deep As yours in his destruction.
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)
Oetes, ow is this rich and pretious Fleece, By Iasons sword repurchast, and must turne Vnto the place whence Phrixus brought his Ramme. That practise by your ruins; Ile preuent, And sooner then with that returne to Greece, Your slaughtered bodies leaue with this rich fleece. Since our aduenture is atchieu'd and done, The prize is ours, we ceize what we haue wone. Enioy it Iason, I admire thy worth, Which as it hath exceeded admiration, So must we needs applaud it. Noble gentlemen. Depart not Colchos, ere your worths and valour We with some rich and worthy gifts present. The conquest of our Buls, and Dragons death, (Though we esteem'd them) yet they sad vs not, Since we behold the safety of this prince. Enter our palace, and your praise sownd hye, Where you shall feast, (or all by treafon dye.) I haue not seeene my sister to day, I muse she hath not beene at this solemnity, me thinkes she should not haue lost this triumph; I haue a note to deliuer her from my father. Here she comes. Sister, peruse this briefe, you know the character, It is my fathers. This is all. Iason with his Argonauts this night must perish, the fleece not be trāsported to Greece—Medea, your assistance. This is my fathers plot to ouerthrow Prince Iason, and the noble Argonauts, Which Il'e preuent: I know the King is sudden, And if preuention be delay'd, they dye: I that haue ventured thus farre for a loue, Euen to these arts that Nature would haue hid As dangerous and forbidden, shall I now Vndoe what I haue done, through womanish feare, Paternall duty, or for filiall loue? No Iason, thou art mine, and my desire, Shall wade with thee through bloud, through seas, through fire. Madam. My Lord, I know what you would say, Thinke now vpon your life, the King my father Intends your ruine, to redeeme the fleece, And it repurchase with your tragicke deaths: Therefore assemble all your Argonauts, And let them (in the silence of the night) Lanch from the Colchian harbour; Il'e associate you As Iasons bride. You are my patronesse, And vnder you I triumph: when the least Of all these graces I forget, the Gods Reuenge on me my hated periury. Must we then lanch this night? you are my directresse, And by your art Il'e manage all my actions. Then flye, Il'e send to see your Argoe trim'd, Rig'd and made tight: night comes, the time growes on: Hye then aboord. I shall. Now populous Greece, Thanke vs (not Iason) for this conquer'd fleece. Medea, we are rob'd, despoil'd, dishonored, Our Fleece rap't hence, we must not suffer it, Since all our ominous fortunes it includes, I am resolu'd Iason this night shall dye. Should he suruiue, you might be held vnworthy The name of King; my hand shall be as deepe As yours in his destruction.