Caesar and Pompey (The Wars of Caesar and Pompey) · chunk 17 of 34
Chapman, George · published 1631 · first performed or written 1605 [1602-1605; Act 2, sc. 1 written 1610-1611(?)] (Annals) tragedy · Unacted (?) · Blackfriars T54 Antony and Cleopatra: love, death and mo typicality 0.78 · 466 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T54: antony, caesar, anthony, cleopatra, antonius, love, death, die, heart, breast.
H bore a great minde to extend our pursuit Much further than it was; and served that day (When you had, like the true head of a battle, Led all the body in that glorious turn) Upon a far-off Squadron that stood fast In conduct of the great Marc Anthony, When all the rest were fled, so past a man That in their tough receipt of him, I saw him Thrice break thorough all with ease, and pass as fair As he had all been fire, and they but air. He stuck at last yet, in their midst, it seemed. So have I seen a fire drake glide at midnight Before a dying man to point his grave, And in it stick and hide. He comes yet safe. O Vibius, welcome, what a prisoner? With mighty Caesar, and so quickly ransomed? I Sir, my ransom, needed little time, Either to gain agreement for the value, Or the disbursement, since in Caesar's grace We both concluded. Was his grace so free For your respect, Sir. Nay, Sir, for his glory. That the main Conquest he so surely builds on, (Which ever is forerun with petty fortunes) Take not effect, by taking any friend From all the most, my poor defence can make, But must be complete, by his perfect own. I know, Sir, you more nobly rate the freedom He freely gave your friend; then to pervert it So past his wisdom: that knows much too well Th'uncertain state of Conquest; to raise frames Of such presumption on her fickle wings, And chiefly in a loss so late, and grievous. Besides, your forces far exceeding his, His whole powers being but two and twenty thousand: And yours full four and forty thousand strong: For all which yet, he stood as far from fear In my enlargement, as the confident glory You please to put on him; and had this end In my so kind dismission, that as kindly I might solicit a sure peace betwixt you. A peace? Is't possible? Come, do not show this wanton incredulity too much. Believe me I was far from such a thought In his high stomach: Cato prophesied then. What think my Lords our Consuls, and friend Brutus? An offer happy. Were it plain and hearty. ay, there's the true inspection to his prospect. This straight of his perhaps may need a sleight O some hid stratagem, to bring him off. Devices of a new forge to entrap me? I rest in Caesar's shades? walk his strow'd paths? Sleep in his quiet waves? I'll sooner trust Hibernian Bogs, and quicksands; and hell mouth Take for my sanctuary: in bad parts That no extremes will better, nature's finger Hath marked him to me, to take heed of him. What thinks my Brutus?
seed 43: T51 · seed 44: T48 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
H bore a great minde to extend our purſuit Much further then it was; and ſeru'd that day (When you had, like the true head of a battaile, Led all the body in that glorious turne) Vpon a fare-off Squadron that ſtood faſt In conduct of the great Marc Anthony, When all the reſt were fled, ſo paſt a man That in their tough receipt of him, I ſaw him Thrice breake thorow all with eaſe, and paſſe as faire As he had all beene fire, and they but ayre. He ſtuck at laſt yet, in their midſt, it ſeem'd. So haue I ſeene a fire drake glide at midnight Before a dying man to point his graue, And in it ſtick and hide. He comes yet ſafe. O Vibius, welcome, what a priſoner? With mighty Caeſar, and ſo quickly ranſom'd? I Sir, my ranſome, needed little time, Either to gaine agreement for the value, Or the disburſment, ſince in Caeſars grace We both concluded. Was his grace ſo free· For your reſpect, Sir. Nay, Sir, for his glory. That the maine Conqueſt he ſo ſurely builds on, (Which euer is forerun with petty fortunes) Take not effect, by taking any friend From all the moſt, my poore defence can make, But muſt be compleat, by his perfect owne. I know, Sir, you more nobly rate the freedome He freely gaue your friend; then to peruert it So paſt his wiſdome: that knowes much too well Th'vncertaine ſtate of Conqueſt; to raiſe frames Of ſuch preſumption on her fickle wings, And chiefely in a loſſe ſo late, and grieuous▪ Beſides, your forces farre exceeding his, His whole powers being but two and twenty thouſand: And yours full foure and forty thouſand ſtrong: For all which yet, he ſtood as farre from feare In my enlargement, as the confident glory You pleaſe to put on him; and had this end In my ſo kinde diſmiſſion, that as kindely I might ſolicite a ſure peace betwixt you. A peace? Is't poſſible? Come, doe not ſhew this wanton incredulity too much. Beleeue me I was farre from ſuch a thought In his high ſtomack: Cato prophecied then. What thinke my Lords our Conſuls, and friend Brutus? An offe happy. Were it plaine and hearty. I, there's the true inſpecton to his proſpect. This ſtreight of his perhaps may need a ſleight O ſome hid ſtratagem, to bring him off. Deuices of a new fordge to entrap me? I reſt in Caeſars ſhades? walke his ſtrow'd paths? Sleepe in his quiet waues? Ile ſooner truſt Hibernian Boggs, and quickſands; and hell mouth Take for my ſanctuary: in bad parts That no extreames will better, natures finger Hath markt him to me, to take heed of him. What thinks my Brutus?