Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
'tis like enough, And would the King be ruled by my advice He should not follow them, there has been spilled Already blood enough in that unjust, Unnatural cause. Those brave Argolians, Whose virtues we, although their enemies, Must needs acknowledge, and lament their deaths, Besides those dearer funerals, which Thebes Has mourned already for, to justify The broken faith of King Eteocles. But who's that makes to us so speedily, Thy looks speak news, what are they man? be brief. The King was walking round the city walls, When straight a parley sounded from the foe, And Polynices our exiled Prince Himself appeared, who from below complained So many noble funerals had paid The forfeit of his brother's perjury; Defied him then, and challenged him alone To end the difference in a single combat. Oh horrid monstrous challenge? Has the King Accepted it? Yes, with a seeming joy, And did complain alone that he himself Was not the challenger. Unnatural! Though many that were by, persuaded him He need not answer it at all; his strength Was great enough to keep the crown without it. But piety however should forbid it. It did not move his breast; thou shalt (quoth he) Immediately at head of all our troops Find us prepared to answer, and to take Mistake away, we'll wear our royal crown▪ It grieves us only 'twas thy motion first. And one of us, when this black fight is done, Shall without rival keep the Theban crown. Come Dircus, let's away, and or prevent, Or see the issue of this dire intent. Can Thebes yet find no peace, nor see A period of her misery? What booted brave Menoeteus' death, Who gave up his devoted breath To save his Country? what the falls Of all those worthies, whom the walls Of our sad Thebes late trembled at? Bold Capaneus, whose strange fate No human strength, but from above The thunderbolts of armed Ioue Could work; the stout Hippomedon, And Meleager's beauteous son; Apollo's sacred Prophet too. Quick to Avernus forced to go Amphiaraus, to prevent The fates, by his so strange descent Frighting the Ghosts that dwell below. Nor could the fatal sisters know, Before they saw him 'mongst the dead; That they should cut his vital thread. These, and a thousand worthies more Are fled down to the shades below, And yet the wicked part of war Doth still remain; the Princes are Both yet alive, and yet do hate. What end can be composed by fate? Their hate is impious, but to try The cause, were more impiety. Our fears do still increase, the skies Are filled with nought but prodigies Which woes and ruins do display. I long to hear what fate today The field affords; relate to us How black soe'er and ominous. Then hear a story that might make Amazed nature's self to shake The Princes both are slain (alas). What guilty hands could act such tragedies?
seed 43: T30 · seed 44: T33 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Tis like enough, And would the King be rul'd by my aduice Hee ſhould not follow them, there has been ſpilt Already blood enough in that vniuſt, Vnnaturall cauſe. Thoſe braue Argolians, Whoſe vertues wee, although their enemies, Muſt needes acknowledge, and lament their deaths, Beſides thoſe dearer funeralls, which Thebes Has mourn'd already for, to iuſtifie The broken faith of King Eteocles. But who's that makes to vs ſo ſpeedily, Thy lookes ſpeak newes, what are they man? be briefe. The King was walking round the city walls, When ſtraight a parley ſounded from the foe, And Polynices our exiled Prince Himſelfe appear'd, who from below complain'd So many noble funerals had pay'd The forfeit of his brothers periury; Defi'd him then, and challeng'd him alone To end the difference in a ſingle combate. Oh horrid monſtrous challenge? Has the King Accepted it? Yes, with a ſeeming ioy, And did complaine alone that he himſelfe Was not the challenger. Vnnaturall! Though many that were by, perſwaded him He neede not anſwer it at all; his ſtrength Was great enough to keepe the crowne without it. But piety how euer ſhould forbid it. It did not mooue his breaſt; thou ſhalt (quoth he) Immediatly at head of all our troopes Finde vs prepar'd to anſwer, and to take Miſtake away, wee'll weare our royall crowne▪ It grieues vs onely t'was thy motion firſt. And one of vs, when this blacke fight is done, Shall without riuall keepe the Theban crowne. Come Dircus, let's away, and or preuent, Or ſee the iſſue of this dire intent. Can Thebes yet finde no peace, nor ſee A period of her miſery? What booted braue Menaeteus death, Who gaue vp his deuoted breath To ſaue his Countrey? what the falls Of all thoſe worthyes, whom the walls Of our ſad Thebes late trembled at? Bold Capaneus, whoſe ſtrange fate No human ſtrength, but from aboue The thunderbolts of armed Ioue Could worke; the ſtout Hippomedon, And Meleager's beautious ſonne; Apollo's ſacred Prophet too. Quicke to Auernus forc'd to goe Amphiaraus, to preuent The fates, by his ſo ſtrange deſcent Frighting the Ghoſts that dwell below. Nor could the fatall ſiſters know, Before they ſaw him 'mong'ſt the dead; That they ſhould cut his vitall thread. Theſe, and a thouſand worthyes moe Are fled downe to the ſhades below, And yet the wicked part of warre Doth ſtill remaine; the Princes are Both yet aliue, and yet doe hate. What end can be compoſ'd by fate? Their hate is impious, but to try The cauſe, were more impiety. Our feares doe ſtill encreaſe, the skyes Are fill'd with nought but prodigyes Which woes and ruines doe diſplay. I long to heare what fate to day The field affords; relate to vs How blacke ſo ere and ominous. Then heare a ſtory that might make Amazed natures ſelfe to ſhake The Princes both are ſlaine (alas). What guilty hands could act ſuch tragedyes?