Dekker, Thomas / Massinger, Philip · published 1622 · first performed or written 1620 [licensed for stage, Oct 6; revised and re-licensed for stage, Jul 7, 1624] (Annals) tragedy · Red Bull (Revels) Company (first) T60 Imperial Rome: rulers, favour and politi typicality 0.80 · 514 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T60: caesar, rome, emperor, empire, honour, lord, lucius, great, palsgrave, kings.
COme to Casarea tonight? Most true Sir, The Emperor in person? Do I hue. 'tis wondrous strange, the marches of great Princes Like to the motions of prodigious Meteors. Are step, by step observed, and loud tongued Fame The harbinger to prepare their entertainment: And were it possible, so great an army, Though covered with the night, could be so near: The Governor cannot be so unfriended Among the many that attend his person, But by some secret means he should have notice Of Caesar's purpose in this, then excuse me If I appear incredulous. At your pleasure. Yet when I call to mind you never failed me In things more difficult, but have discovered Deeds that were done thousand leagues distant from me, When neither woods, nor caves, not secret vaults, No nor the power they serve, could keep these Christians, Or from my reach or punishment, but thy magic Still laid them open: I begin again To be as confident as heretofore. It is not possible thy powerful art Should meet a check, or fail. Look on these vestals, The holy pledges that the gods have given you, Your chaste fair daughters. Were't not to upbraid A service to a master not unthankful, I could say this in spite of your prevention, Seduced by an imagined faith, not reason, (Which is the strength of Nature) quite forsaking The Gentile gods, had yielded up themselves To this new found religion. This I crossed, Discovered their intentions, taught you to use With gentle words and mild persuasions, The power, and the authority of a father Set of with cruel threats and so reclaimed 'em, And whereas they with torments should have died, (hell's furies to me had they undergone it) They are now votaries in great Jupiter's temple, And by his Priest instructed, grown familiar With all the Mysteries, nay the most abstruse ones Belonging to his deity. 'twas a benefit For which I ever owe you, Hail Ioues Flamen, Have these my daughters reconciled themselves (Abandoning for ever the Christian way) To your opinion. And are constant in it, They teach their teachers with their depth of judgement, And are with arguments able to convert The enemies to our gods and answer all They can object against us. My dear daughters. We dare dispute against this new sprung sect In private or public. My best Lady. Persever in it. And what we maintain We will seal with our bloods. Brave resolution. I e'en grow fat to see my labours prosper. I young again to your devotions. Do. My prayers be present with you. Oh my Harpax. Thou engine of my wishes, thou that steeledst My bloody resolutions, thou that armest My eyes 'gainst womanish tears and soft compassion. Instructing me without a sigh to look on Babes torn by violence from their mother's breasts To feed the fire, and with them make one flame: Old men as beasts, in beasts skins torn by dogs: Virgins and matrons tire the executioners, Yet I unsatisfied think their torments easy. And in that just, not cruel.
seed 43: T1 · seed 44: T2 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
COme to Casarea to night? Most true Sir, The Emperour in person? Do I hue. Tis wondrous strange, the marches of great Princes Like to the motions of prodigious Meteors. Are step, by step obseru'd, and lowd tong'd Fame The hat binger to prepare their entertainment: And were it possible, so great an armie, Though couer'd with the night, could be so neere: The Gouernour cannot be so vnfriended Among the many that attend his person, But by some secret meanes he should haue notice Of Casars purpose in this, then excuse me If I appeare indredulous. At your pleasure. Yet when I call to mind you neuer faild me In things more difficult, but haue discouered Deeds that were done thousand leagues distant from me, When neither woods, nor caues, not secret vaults, No nor the power they serue, could keep these Christians, Or from my reach or punishment, but thy magicke Still layd them open: I begin againe To be as confident as heretofore. It is not possible thy powerfull art Should meete a checke, or fayle. Looke on these vestals, The holy pledges that the gods haue giu'n you, Your chast faire daughters. Wer't not to vpbraid A seruice to a maister not vnthankfull, I could say this in spite of your preuention, Seduc'd by an imagin'd faith, not reason, (Which is the strength of Nature) quite for saking The Gentile gods, had yeelded vp themselues To this new found religion. This I crosd, Discouerd their intentions, taught you to vse With gentle words and milde perswasions, The power, and the authority of a father Set of with cruell threats and so reclaimd em, And whereas they with torments should haue dy'd, (Hels furies to me had they vndergone it) They are now votaries in great Iupiters temple, And by his Priest instructed, growne familiar With all the Mysteries, nay the most abstruse ones Belonging to his Dietie. T was a benefit For which I euer owe you, Haile Ioues Flamen, Haue these my daughters reconcilde themselues (Abandoning for euer the Christian way) To your opinion. And are constant in it, They teach their teachers with their depth of iudgement, And are with arguments able to conuert The enemies to our gods and answer all They can obiect against vs. My deere daughters. We dare dispute against this new sprung sect In priuate or publicke. My best Lady. Perseuer in it. And what we maintaine We will seale with our bloods. Braue resolution. I eu'n grow fat to see my labors prosper. I yong againe to your deuotions. Doe. My prayers be present with you. Oh my Harpax. Thou engine of my wishes, thou that steeldst My bloody resolutions, thou that armst My eyes gainst womanish teares and soft compassion. Instructing me without a sigh to looke on Babes torne by violence from their mothers brests To feed the fire, and with them make one flame: Old men as beasts, in beasts skins torne by dogs: Virgins and matrons tire the executioners, Yet I vnsatisfied thinke their torments easie. And in that iust, not cruell.