Caesar and Pompey (The Wars of Caesar and Pompey) · chunk 7 of 34
Chapman, George · published 1631 · first performed or written 1605 [1602-1605; Act 2, sc. 1 written 1610-1611(?)] (Annals) tragedy · Unacted (?) · Blackfriars T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi typicality 0.86 · 495 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
Be free, Sir, of your insight and your speech; And speak, and see more, than the world beside; I must remember I have heard of one, That fame gave out, could see thorough Oak and stone: And of another set in Sicily, That could discern the Carthaginian Navy, And number them distinctly, leaving harbour, Though full a day and nights fail distant thence: But these things (Reverend Fathers) I conceive, Hardly appear to you worth grave belief: And therefore since such strange things have been seen In my so deep and foul detractions, By only Lyncean Pompey; who was most Loved and believed of Rome's most famous whore, Infamous Flora; by so fine a man As Galba, or Sarmentus; any jester Or flatterer may draw through a Lady's Ring; By one that all his Soldiers call in scorn Great Agamemnon, or the king of men; I rest unmoved with him; and yield to you To right my wrongs, or his abuse allow. My Lords, ye make all Rome amazed to hear. Away, I'll hear no more; I hear it thunder My Lords; All you that love the good of Rome, I charge ye, follow me; all such as slay, Are friends to Caesar, and their country's foes. Th'event will fall out contrary, my Lords. Go, thou art a thief to Rome, discharge thine army, Or be proclaimed, forthwith, her open foe. Pompey, I charge thee, help thy injured Country With what powers thou hast armed, and levy more. War, war, O Caesar. Peace, peace, worthy Pompey. wars, wars, and presses, fly in fire about; No more can I lurk in my lazy corners, Nor shifting courses: and with honest means To rack my miserable life out, more, The rack is not so fearful; when dishonest And villainous fashions fail me; can I hope To live with virtuous? or to raise my fortunes By creeping up in Soldierly degrees? Since villainy varied thorough all his figures, Will put no better case on me then this; Despair! come seize me: I had able means; And spent all in the swinge of lewd affections; Plunged in all riot, and the rage of blood; In full assurance that being knave enough, Barbarous enough, base, ignorant enough, I needs must have enough, while this world lasted; Yet, since I am a poor, and ragged knave, My rags disgrace my knavery so, that none Will think I am knave; as if good clothes Were knacks to know a knave; when all men know He has no living? which knacks since my knavery Can show no more; and only show is all That this world cares for; I'll stop out of all The cares 'tis steeped in. Hold Rascal, hang thyself in these days? The only time that ever was for a Rascal to live in? How chance I cannot live then? Either thouart not rascal nor villain enough; Or else thou dost not pretend honesty And piety enough to disguise it.
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)
Be free, Sir, of your inſight and your ſpeech; And ſpeak, and ſee more, then the world beſides; I muſt remember I haue heard of one, That fame gaue out, could ſee thorow Oke and ſtone: And of another ſet in Sicily, That could diſcerne the Carthaginian Nauy, And number them diſtinctly, leauing harbor, Though full a day and nights faile diſtant thence: But theſe things (Reuerend Fathers) I conceiue, Hardly appeare to you worth graue beliefe: And therefore ſince ſuch ſtrange things haue beene ſeene In my ſo deepe and foule detractions, By only Lyncean Pompey; who was moſt Lou'd and beleeu'd of Romes moſt famous whore, Infamous Flora; by ſo fine a man As Galba, or Sarmentus; any ieſter Or flatterer may draw through a Ladyes Ring; By one that all his Souldiers call in ſcorne Great Agamemnon, or the king of men; I reſt vnmou'd with him; and yeeld to you To right my wrongs, or his abuſe allow. My Lords, ye make all Rome amaz'd to heare. Away, Ile heare no more; I heare it thunder My Lords; All you that loue the good of Rome, I charge ye, follow me; all ſuch as ſlay, Are friends to Caeſar, and their Countreys foes. Th'euent will fall out contrary, my Lords. Goe, thou art a thiefe to Rome, diſcharge thine army, Or be proclaim'd, forthwith, her open foe. Pompey, I charge thee, helpe thy iniur'd Country With what powers thou haſt arm'd, and leuy more. Warre, warre, O Caeſar. Peace, peace, worthy Pompey. WArres, warres, and preſſes, fly in fire about; No more can I lurke in my laſie corners, Nor ſhifting courſes: and with honeſt meanes To rack my miſerable life out, more, The rack is not ſo fearefull; when diſhoneſt And villanous faſhions faile me; can I hope To liue with virtuous? or to raiſe my fortunes By creeping vp in Souldierly degrees? Since villany varied thorow all his figures, Will put no better caſe on me then this; Deſpaire! come ſeaſe me: I had able meanes; And ſpent all in the ſwinge of lewd affections; Plung'd in all riot, and the rage of blood; In full aſſurance that being knaue enough, Barbarous enough, baſe, ignorant enough, I needs muſt haue enough, while this world laſted; Yet, ſince I am a poore, and ragged knaue, My rags diſgace my knauery ſo, that none Will thinke I am knaue; as if good clothes Were knacks to know a knaue; when all men know He has no liuing? which knacks ſince my knauery Can ſhew no more; and only ſhew is all That this world cares for; Ile ſtop out of all The cares 'tis ſteept in. Hold Raſcall, hang thy ſelfe in theſe dayes? The only time that euer was for a Raſcall to liue in? How chance I cannot liue then? Either th'art not raſcall nor villaine enough; Or elſe thou doſt not pretend honeſty And piety enough to diſguiſe it.