Massinger, Philip · published 1624 · first performed or written 1623 [licensed for stage, Dec 3] (Annals) tragicomedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi typicality 0.76 · 500 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
That, as please the Fates, But we vouchsafe; speak Captain. Hell, and Furies! Bayed by our own curs? Take heed, you be not wurried. We are sharp set. And sudden. Briefly thus then, Since I must speak for all; your tyranny Drew us from our obedience. Happy those times, When Lords were styled fathers of Families, And not imperious Masters; when they numbered Their servants almost equal with their Sons, Or one degree beneath them; when their labours Were cherished, and rewarded, and a period Set to their sufferings; when they did not press Their duties, or their wills beyond the power And strength of their performance; all things ordered With such decorum, as wise Lawmakers, From each well-governed private house derived The perfect model of a Commonwealth; Humanity then lodged in the hearts of men, And thankful Masters carefully provided For Creatures wanting reason. The noble horse That in his fiery youth from his wide nostrils, Neighed courage to his Rider, and broke through Groves of opposed Pikes, bearing his Lord Safe to triumphant victory, old or wounded, Was set at liberty, and freed from service. The Athenian Mules, that from the Quarry drew Marble, hewed for the Temples of the gods, The great work ended, were dismissed, and fed At the public cost; nay, faithful dogs have found Their Sepulchres; but man to man, more cruel, Appoints no end to the sufferings of his slave; Since pride stepped in and riot, and o'erturned This goodly frame of Concord, teaching Masters To glory in the abuse of such, as are Brought under their command; who grown unuseful, Are less esteemed than beasts; this you have practised, Practised on us with rigor; this hath forced us, To shake our heavy yokes off; and if redress Of these just grievances be not granted us, we'll right ourselves, and by strong hand defend, What we are now possessed of. And not leave One house unfired. Or throat uncut of those We have in our power. Nor will we fall alone, You shall buy us dearly. O, the gods! Unheard of insolence! What are your demands? A general pardon, first, for all offences Committed in your absence. Liberty, To all such, as desire to make return Into their countries; and to those that stay, A competence of land freely allotted To each man's proper use; no Lord acknowledged. Lastly, with your consent, to choose them wives Out of your Families. Let the City sink first. And ruin seize on all, ere we subscribe To such conditions. Carthage, though victorious, Could not have forced more from us: Scale the Walls, Capitulate after. He that wins the top first, Shall wear a mural wreath. Each to his place. Or death or victory; charge them home, & fear not. We wrong ourselves, and we are justly punished, To deal with Bondmen, as if we encountered An equal enemy. They fight like devils: And run upon our Swords, as if their breasts Were proof beyond their Armour.
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)
That, as please the Fates, But we vouchsafe; speake Captaine. Hell, and Furies! Bay'd by our owne curres? Take heed, you be not wurried. We are sharpe set. And sodaine. Briefly thus then, Since I must speake for all; your tyranny Drew vs from our obedience. Happy those times, When Lords were styl'd fathers of Families, And not imperious Masters; when they numbred Their seruants almost equall with their Sonnes, Or one degree beneath them; when their labours Were cherish'd, and rewarded, and a period Set to their suffrings; when they did not presse Their duties, or their wills beyond the power And strength of their performance; all things order'd With such decorum, as wise Law-makers, From each well-gouern'd priuate house deriu'd The perfect modell of a Common-wealth; Humanity then lodg'd in the hearts of men, And thankfull Masters carefully prouided For Creatures wanting reason. The noble horse That in his fiery youth from his wide nostrells, Neigh'd courage to his Rider, and brake through Groues of opposed Pikes, bearing his Lord Safe to triumphant victory, old or wounded, Was set at libertie, and freed from seruice. The Athenian Mules, that from the Quarrie drew Marble, hew'd for the Temples of the gods, The great worke ended, were dismis'd, and fed At the publique cost; nay, faithfull dogs haue found Their Sepulchres; but man to man, more cruell, Appoints no end to the suffrings of his slaue; Since pride stept in and ryot, and o'return'd This goodly frame of Concord, teaching Masters To glory in the abuse of such, as are Brought vnder their cōmand; who grown vnusefull, Are lesse esteem'd than beasts; this you haue practis'd, Practis'd on vs with rigor; this hath forc'd vs, To shake our heauy yokes off; and if redresse Of these iust grieuances be not granted vs, Wee'le right our selues, and by strong hand defend, What we are now possess'd of. And not leaue One house vnfir'd. Or throat vncut of those We haue in our power. Nor will we fall alone, You shall buy vs dearely. O, the gods! Vnheard of insolence! What are your demaunds? A generall pardon, first, for all offences Committed in your absence. Libertie, To all such, as desire to make returne Into their countries; and to those that stay, A competence of land freely allotted To each mans proper vse; no Lord acknowledg'd. Lastly, with your consent, to choose them wiues Out of your Families. Let the Citie sinke first. And ruine sease on all, e're we subscribe To such conditions. Carthage, though victorious, Could not haue forc'd more from vs: Scale the Walls, Capitulate after. He that winnes the toppe first, Shall weare a murall wreath. Each to his place. Or death or victory; charge them home, & feare not. We wrong our selues, and we are iustly punish'd, To deale with Bond-men, as if we encountred An equall enemy. They fight like deuills: And runne vpon our Swords, as if their breasts Were proofe beyond their Armour.