Heywood, Thomas · published 1615 · first performed or written 1594 (Annals) romance · Worcester's Men · Red Bull T17 Eastern conquest: Persians, Turks and so typicality 0.73 · 495 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
Through their Decurians, centurions and Legion, Captains of thousands, and ten thousands guards, We have ventured even upon the cannon's mouth, And scaled the bull works where their Ordinance played. The strength of Armies triumphs in those Arms, We have surprised the Fortress and the Hold: My shield I have had cut piece-meal from mine arm. But now you would have taken me for an Archer, So many arrows were stuck here and here, The Pagans thought to make a Quiver of me. See brother, how the foe fresh forces gather! A Zion, a Ierusalem, a father. An Engineer, call forth an Engineer. Why, what to do, my Lord? I'll make these turret's dance among the Clouds, Before the Christians shall inhabit them. Yet there is hope of conquest, fight brave Soldan. These Christians rage, like spirits conjured up, Their thundering Ordinance spit huge clouds of fire, They run against the walls like iron rams, And bear them down afore them with their breasts. Fortune thou art too envious of our glory, Behold the two great'st Emperors of the earth, The Babylonian Soldan, and great Sophy; unveil thine eyes, and look upon our fals. Fortune and fate, and death, the devil and all, Oppose themselves against us. Now what news? Death. What news bring'st thou? Confusion, That death was once my slave, but now my Lord. Confusion was once page unto my sword. Is the day lost? Lost. Must we needs despair? Despair. We will not, we will die resolvedly, The Palace we will make a slaughterhouse, The streets a Shambles, Kennels shall run blood, Down from Mount Zion, with such hideous noise, As when great showers of waterfalls from Hills. Through which way did they make irruption first? Through the gate, called Antiochia. The self-same breach that Roman Titus made, When he destroyed this City, they burst ope. There is some virtue in the Cross they wear, It makes them strong as lions, swift as Roes. Their resolutions make them Conquerors. They have ta'en our Royal Standard from the walls, In place whereof they haue aduanc'd their Cro ▪ I will not I survive so foul a shame, Once more unite our powers, (I mean ourselves) For all powers else have failed us; bravely fight, That our declining sun may make there night! Christians, base Christians, hear us when we call, Eternal darkness shall confound you all. Now smooth again the wrinkles of your brows, And wash the blood from off your hands in milk: With penitential praises laud our God, Ascribe all glory to the heavenly Powers, Since Zion and Jerusalem are ours. We do abhor a heart puffed up with pride, That attributes these conquests to our strength; 'Twas God that strengthened us and weakened them, And gave us Zion and Jerusalem. Thou that dost muster Angels in the sky, That in thyself hast power of victory: Make thy name shine, bright as the noontide Sun, Since Zion and Ierusalem are won.
seed 43: T18 · seed 44: T18 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Through their Decurians, centuions and Legio, Captaines of thousands, and ten thousands guards, We haue ventured euen vpon the Cannons mouth, And scal'd the bul warkes where their Ordinance plaid. The strength of Amies triumphes in those Ars, We haue surpriz'd the Fortresse and the Hold: My shield I haue had cut peece-meale from mine arme. But now you would haue taken me for an Archer, So many arrowes were stucke heere and here, The Pagans thought to make a Quiuer of mee. See brother, how the foe fresh forces gather! A Syon, a Ierusalem, a father. An Enginer, call forth an Enginer. Why, what to do, my Lord? I▪le make these Turrets dance among the Clouds, Before the Christians shall inhabite them. Yet there is hope of conquest, fight braue Soldan. These Christians rage, like spirits coniur'd vp, Their thundring Ordinance spit huge clouds of fire, They runne against the wals like iron rammes, And beare them downe afore them with their brests. Fortune thou art too enuious of our glory, Behold the two great'st Emperours of the earth, The Babylonian Soldan, and great Sophy; Vnueile thine eyes, and looke vpon our fals. Fortune and fate, and death, the diuell and all, Oppose themselues against vs. Now what newes? Death. VVhat newes bring'st thou? Confusion, That death was once my aue, but now my Lord. Confusion was once page vnto my sword. Is the day lost? Lost. Must we needs despaire? Despaire. We will not, we will die resoluedly, The Palace we will make a slaughter-house, The streets a Shambles, Kennels shall runne bloud, Downe from Mount Syon, with uch hideous ▪ noise, As when great showres of waterfals from Hils. Through which way did they make irruption first? Through the gate, cal'd Antiochia. The selfe-same breach that Romane Titus made, When he destroy'd this Citty, they burst ope. There is some vertue in the Crosse they weare, It makes them strong as Lyons, swift as Roes. Their resolutions make them Conquerours. They haue tane our Royall Standard from the wals, In place whereof they haue aduanc'd their Cro ▪ I will not I suruiue so oule a shame, Once more vnite our powers, (I meane our selfes) For all powers else haue fail'd vs; brauely fight, That our declining sunne may make there night! Christians, base Christians, heare vs when we call, Eternall darkenesse shall confound you all. Now smoth againe the wrinkles of your browes, And wash the bloud from off your hands in milke: With penitentiall praises laude our God, Ascribe all glory to the heauenly Powers, Since Syon and Hierusalem are ours. We do abhorre a heart pufft vp with pride, That attributes these conquests to our strength; 'Twas God that strengthned vs and weakned them, And gaue vs Syon and Hierusalm. Thou that dost muster Angels in the sky, That in thy selfe hast power of victory: Make thy name shine, bright as the noone-tide Sun, Since Syon and Ierusalem are won.