Massinger, Philip · published 1624 · first performed or written 1623 [licensed for stage, Dec 3] (Annals) tragicomedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T1 Death, grief and revenge · 503 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
I would, thou didst not, Or that I could not read upon thy face, In blushing characters, the story of Libidinous Rape; confess it, for you stand not Accountable for a sin, against whose strength Your o'ermatched innocence could make no resistance; Under which odds, I know Cleora fell too, Heavens help in vain invoked; the amazed Sun, Hiding his face behind a mask of clouds, Not daring, to look on it, in her sufferings All sorrow's comprehended; what Timandra, Or the City has endured, her loss considered, Deserves not to be named. Pray you do not bring, Sir, In the Chimaeras of your jealous fears, New monsters to affright us. O Timandra. That I had faith enough but to believe thee, I should receive it with a joy beyond Assurance of Elysian shades hereafter, Or all the blessings in this life, a Mother Could wish her children crowned with: but I must not Credit impossibilities, yet I strive To find out that, whose knowledge is a curse, And ignorance a blessing. Come, discover What kind of look he had, that forced thy Lady, (Thy ravisher, I will inquire at leisure,) That when hereafter I behold a stranger But near him in aspect, I may conclude, (Though men and Angels should proclaim him honest,) He is a hellbred villain. You are unworthy To know she is preserved, preserved untainted. Sorrow (but ill bestowed) hath only made A rape upon her comforts, in your absence. Come forth, dear Madam. Ha! Nay, she deserves The bending of your heart; that to content you, Has kept a vow, the breach of which a vestal (Though the infringing it had called upon her A living funeral,) must of force have shrunk at; No danger could compel her, to dispense with Her cruel Penance; though hot lust came armed To seize upon her, when one look, or accent Might have redeemed her. Might? O do not show me A beam of comfort, and straight take it from me; The means, by which she was freed? Speak, O speak quickly, Each minute of delay's, an age of Torment: O speak, Timandra. Free her from her oath, herself can best deliver it. O blessed office! Never did Galleyslave shake off his chains, Or looked on his redemption from the Oar, With such true feeling of delight, as now I find myself possessed of; now I behold True light indeed; For since these fairest stars, (Covered with clouds of your determinate will) Denied their influence to my optic sense, The Splendour of the Sun appeared to me, But as some little glimpse of his bright beams Coveyed into a Dungeon; to remember The dark inhabitants there, how much they wanted. Open these long-shut lips, and strike mine ears With Music more harmonious, than the Spheres Yield in their heavenly motions; And if ever A true submission, for a crime acknowledged, May find a gracious hearing, teach your tongue In the first sweet, articulate sounds, it utters To sign my wished-for pardon.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
I would, thou didst not, Or that I could not reade vpon thy face, In blushing caracters, the story of Libidinous Rape; confesse it, for you stand not Accomptable for a sinne, against whose strength Your o're-match'd innocence could make no resistance; Vnder which odds, I know Cleora fell too, Heau'ns helpe in vaine inuok'd; rhe amazed Sunne, Hiding his face behinde a maske of cloudes, Not daring, to looke on it, in her suffrings All sorrowe's comprehended; what Timandra, Or the Citie has indur'd, her losse consider'd, Deserues not to be nam'd. Pray you doe not bring, Sir, In the chymeraes of your iealous feares, New monsters to affright vs. O Timandra. That I had faith enough but to beleeue thee, I should receaue it with a ioy beyond Assurance of Elizian shades hereafter, Or all the blessings in this life, a Mother Could wish her children crown'd with: but I must not Credit impossibilities, yet I striue To finde out that, whose knowledge is a curse, And ignorance a blessing. Come, discouer What kinde of looke he had, that forc'd thy Lady, (Thy rauisher, I will enquire at leasure,) That when hereafter I behold a stranger But neere him in aspect, I may conclude, (Though men and Angels should proclaime him honest,) Hee is a Hell-bred villaine. You are vnworthy To know she is preseru'd, preseru'd vntainted. Sorrow (but ill bestow'd) hath only made A rape vpon her comforts, in your absence. Come forth, deare Madam. Ha! Nay, she dserues The bending of your heart; that to content you, Has kept a vow, the breach of which a vestall (Though the infringing it had call'd vpon her A liuing funerall,) must of force haue shrunke at; No danger could compell her, to dispence with Her cruell Penance; though hot lust came arm'd To seaze vpon her, when one looke, or accent Might haue redeem'd her. Might? O doe not show me A beame of comfort, and straight take it from me; The meanes, by which she was freed? Speake, O speake quickly, Each minute of delay's, an age of Torment: O speake, Timandra. Free her from her oath, Her selfe can best deliuer it. O blest office! Neuer did Gally-slaue shake off his chaines, Or look'd on his redemption from the Oare, With such true feeling of delight, as now I finde my selfe possess'd of; now I behold True light indeed; For since these fairest starres, (Couer'd with cloudes of your determinate will) Denyde their influence to my optique sense, The Splendor of the Sunne appear'd to me, But as some little glimpse of his bright beames Couey'd into a Dungeon; to remember The darke inhabitants there, how much they wanted. Open these long-shut lips, and strike mine eares With Musicke more harmonious, then the Spheares Yeeld in their heauenly motions; And if euer A true submission, for a crime acknowledg'd, May finde a gratious hearing, teach your tongue In the first sweet, articulate sounds, it vtters To signe my wish'd-for pardon.