Seneca, Lucius Annaeus / Nuce, ThomasPseudo-Seneca · published 1566 · first performed or written 1566 (Annals) tragedy T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi typicality 0.77 · 500 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
And error deep have fostered up a pace. The heaps of vice, ●…akte up in years long passed, Abounding flow in these out days at last. And this same troublous time, and cumbrous age, Oppresseth all men sore, both young and sage. Wherein those wicked ways that be, do reign, And cruel, romping woodness boils again. Lust strong in filthy touch, doth bear a sway: And princes, riot, now doth catch away With greedy paws, to bring it to decay, Th'whole world's uncredible wealth, without delay, But lo, which staggering steps where Nero flings, And visage grim, I fear what news he brings. DIspatch with speed, that we commanded have: Go, send forthwith some one, or other slave, That Plautius cropped scalp, & Silla's eke, May bring before our face: go some man seek. I nill protract your noble grace's hest: But to their camps to go am ready priest. 'Gainst lineage, nought should rashly pointed be. A light thing 'tis for to be just, I see For him, whose heart is void of shrinking fear. A sovereign salve for fear, is for to bear, Yourself debonair to your subjects all. Our foes to slay, a chefetaines virtue call. A worthier virtue 'tis, in country's sire, His people to defend with sword, and fire. It well beseems such aged wights, to teach, Unbrideled springolls young, and not to preach, Both to a man, and prince of riper years. Nay rather frolic youthful blood appears, To have more need of counsel wise, and grave. (This age sufficient reason ought to have.) That heavenly powers your doings may allow. A madness 't were to Gods for me to bow, When I myself can make such Gods to be: As Claudius now ycounted is we se. So much the more, because so much you may. Our power permits us all without denay. Give slender trust to fortune's flattering face: She topsy-turvy turns her wheel a pace. A patch he is that knoweth not what he may. A princes praise I counted have always, To do that same which with his honour stood, Not that which frantic fancy counteth good. If that I were a mecock, or a slouch, Each stubborn, clubbish daw would make me couch. And whom they hate with force they overquell. Then, dint of sword the prince defendeth well. But faith more sure defence doth seem to me. Full meet it is that Caesar dreaded be. More meet of subjects for to be beloved. From subjects minds fear must not be removed. What so by force of arms you do wring out, A grievous work it is to bring about. Well hardly then our will let them obey. Will nothing then but that which well you may. We will decree what we shall best suppose. What people's voice doth jointly bind or lose, Let that confirmed stand. Ne. swords bloody dint Shall cause them else at me to take their hynt. God shield, and far that fact from you remove.
seed 43: T25 · seed 44: T6 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
And errour déepe haue fostred vp a pace. The heaps of vice, akte vp in yeares long past, Abounding flowe in these out dayes at last. And this same troublous tyme, and combrous age, Oppresseth all m sore, both yong and sage. Wherein those wicked waies that be, do raigne, And cruell, raumping woodnesse boyles againe. Lust strong in filthie touch, doth beare a swaye: And princes, ryot, now doth catch awaye With gréedie pawes, to bring it to decaye, Th'whole worlds vncredible welth, without delay, But loe, which staggring steps where Nero flings, And visage grim, I feare what newes he brings. DIspatch with spéede, that we cōmaūded haue: Go, send forthwith some one, or other slaue, That Plautius cropped scalp, & Sillas eke, May bring before our face: go some man seke. I nill protract your noble graces hest: But to their camps to goe am ready prest. Gainst lynage, nought should rashly pointed be. A light thing 'tis for to be iust, I sée For him, whose hart is voyd of shrinking feare. A soueraigne salue for feare, is for to beare, Your selfe debonair to your subiects all. Our foes to slea, a chefetaines vertue call. A worthier vertue 'tis, in countries syre, His people to defend with sword, and fyre. It well beséems such aged wights, to teach, Unbrideled springolls yong, and not to preach, Both to a man, and prince of ryper yeares. Nay rather frolick youthfull bloud appeares, To haue more néede of counsell wise, and graue. (This age sufficient reason ought to haue.) That heauenly powers your doings may alow. A madnesse't were to Goddes for me to bow, When I my selfe can make such Goddes to be: As Claudius nowe ycounted is we se. So much the more, bycause so much you may. Our power permits vs all without denay. Giue slender trust to fortunes flattering face: She topste turuie turnes hir whéele a pace. A patch he is that knoweth not what he may. A princes prayse I counted haue alway, To do that same which with his honor stood, Not that which frantike fansie counteth good. If that I were a mecock, or a slouch, Eche stubborne, clubbish daw woulde make mée couch. And whome they hate with force they ouerquell. Then, dynt of sworde the prince defendeth well. But faith more sure defence doth seeme to me. Full méete it is that Caesar dreaded be. More méete of subiects for to be belou'd. From subiects mindes feare must not be remou'd. What so by force of armes you do wring out, A grieuous worke it is to bring about. Well hardly then our will let them obay. Will nothing then but that which well you may. We will decrée what we shall best suppose. What peoples voyce doth ioyntly bynde or lose, Let that confirmed stand. Ne. Swordes bloudy dynt Shall cause them else at me to take their hynt. God shéeld, and far that fact from you remoue.