The Brazen Age (The Age of Brass) · chunk 35 of 40
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 0.83 · 500 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T20: hercules, hercles, ioue, deianeira, alcides, hand, lo, death, skies, hell.
And are not we the man? see Telamon, A woman do this? we would see the Theban, That Cacus slew, Busiris sacrificed, And to his horses hurled stern Diomed To be devoured. That freed Hesione From the Sea-whale, and after ransacked Troy, And with his own hand slew Laomedon. He by whom Dercilus and Albion fell, He that Oecalia and Betricia won. That monstrous Geryon with his three heads vanquished With Linus, Lichas that usurped in Thebes, And captived there his beauteous Megara. He that the Amazonian Baldric won, That Achelous with his club subdued, And won from him the pride of Calidon Bright Deianeira, that now mourns in Thebes For absence of that noble Hercules. To him we came, but since he lives not here, Come Lords, we will return these presents back Unto the constant Lady, whence they came. Stay Lords. 'Mongst women? For that Thebans sake Whom you profess to love, and came to seek, Abide awhile, and by my love to Greece, I'll bring before you that lost Hercules, For whom you came to inquire. On that condition (Princes) let's stay a little. It works, it works. How have I lost myself? Did we all this? where is that spirit become That was in us? no marvel Hercules, If thou be'st strange to them, that thus disguised, Art to thyself unknown. Hence with this distaff And base effeminate chares. How slave? submit and to thy task again. Dar'st thou rebel? Pardon great Omphale. Will Telamon persuade me this is Hercules The Libyan Conqueror, now a slaves slave. He lived in midst of battles, this 'mongst trulls: This wields a distaff, he a conquering Club. Shall we bestow fair Deianeira's presents On this (heaven knows) whether man or woman? Who named my Deianeira? Iason you? How fares my love? how fares my beauteous wife? I know these presents, did they come from her? What strumpet's this that hath detained my soul? Captived my fame, trans-shaped me to a fool? Made me (of late) but little less than God, Now scarce a man? Hence with these womanish tires, And let me once more be myself again. Keep from him Omphale, be that your charge, we'll second these good thoughts. Alcid s hear me. By your favour madam. Who spoke? Think that was Deianeira's voice, That calls thee home to dry her widowed tears, And to bring comfort to her desolate bed. Oh Deianeira. Hear me Hercules. Ha Omphale? You shall not trouble him. 'Twas she that made Alcides womanish, But Deianeira to be more than man. For thy wives sake thou art renowned in Greece, This Strumpet hath made Greece forget thee quite, And scarce remember there was such a man. Thebes that was wont to triumph in thy glories, Is now all silent. Tyrants everywhere Begin to oppress, thinking Alcides' dead For so the fame's already. Shall a Strumpet Do this upon the Theban Hercules? And Deianeira, fair, chaste absolute In all perfections, live despised in Thebes?
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)
And are not we the man? see Telamon, A woman do this? we would see the Theban, That Cacus slue, Busiris sacrific'd, And to his horses hurl'd sterne Diomed To be deuour'd. That freed Hesione From the Sea-whale, and after ransackt Troy, And with his owne hand slue Lamedon. He by whom Dercilus and Albion fell, He that Oecalia and Betricia wan. That monstrous Gerion with his three heads vanquisht With Linus, Lichas that vsurp't in Thebes, And captiu'd there his beauteous Megara. He that the Amazonian Baldricke wan, That Achelous with his club subdu'd, And wan from him the pride of Calidon Bright Deianeira, that now mournes in Thebes For absenc of that noble Hercules. To him we came, but since he liues not here, Come Lords, we wil returne these presents backe Vnto the constant Lady, whence they came. Stay Lords. Mongst women? For that Thebans sake Whom you professe to loue, and came to seeke, Abide awhile, and by my loue to Greece, Il'e bring before you that lost Hercules, For whom you came to enquire. On that condition (Princes) lets stay a little. It workes, it workes. How haue I lost my selfe? Did we all this? where is that spirit become That was in vs? no maruell Hercules, If thou beest strange to them, that thus disguis'd, Art to thy selfe vnknowne. Hence with this distaffe And base effeminate chares. How slaue? submit and to thy taske againe. Dar'st thou rebell? Pardon great Omphale. Will Telamon perswade me this is Hercules The Libian Conquerer, now a ssaues slaue. He liu'd in midst of battailes, this 'mongst truls: This welds a distaffe, he a conquering Club. Shall we bestow faire Deianeiraes presents On this (heauen knowes) whether man or woman? Who nam'd my Deianeira? Iason you? How fares my loue? how fares my beauteous wife? I know these presents, did they come from her? What strumpet's this that hath detain'd my soule? Captiu'd my fame, trans-shap't me to a foole? Made me (of late) but little lesse then God, Now scarce a man? Hence with these womanish tyres, And let me once more be my selfe againe. Keep from him Omphale, be that your charge, Wee'l second these good thoughts. Alcid s heare me. By your fauour madam. Who spake? Thinke that was Deianeira's voyce, Tha cals thee home to dry her widowed teares, And to bring comfort to her deolate bed. Oh Deianeira. Heare me Hercules. Ha Omphale? You shall not trouble him. 'Twas she that made Alcides womanish, But Deianeira to be more then man. For thy wiues sake thou art renown'd in Greece, This Strumpet hath made Greece forget thee quite, And scarce remember there was such a man. Thebes that was wont to triumph in thy glories, Is now all silent. Tyrants euery where Beginne to oppresse, thinking Alcides dead For so the fame's already. Shall a Strumpet Do this vpon the Theban Hercules? And Deyaneira, faire, chast absolute In all perfections, liue despis'd in Thebes?