May, Thomas · published 1631 · first performed or written 1627 [1627-1631] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 482 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
It must, it must, since Creon's cruelty, Most unexpected, barbarous cruelty Will have it so, oh friend, I could believe, Were not the noble Aemon Creon's son, And heir apparent to our Diadem, We had been happier far t' have been subdued Then brought by victory to such obedience. True friend; there's all out trust, the gods in nought But that brave PRINCE's life, have left us hope Of any future favour to redress The miseries, which we so long have felt. But for this imminent, nay present danger What were we best to do? Advise the King Rather to change his purpose, then expose His weakened Kingdom to great Theseus' fury. Though he should prove never so obstinate: Better that any one for good advice Should suffer from his fury, than the land In general should smart. You counsel well, But who should be the man? There's none so fit As old Tiresias, that most holy man, Taught from the gods above, whose words by all Our Theban Princes have been long esteemed As oracles, him Creon will obey. Then thither let us, and with him advise How to redress our present miseries. THat was my fear before, I thought my son Too far in love to bear, with patience, His Lady's death, and therefore did entreat The King with tears, and sighs, that would have moved A rock of flint, but he more hard than rocks, Deafer than Northern winds, with rage repulsed My oft repeated suite, and now, ay e, What most I feared is proved, my son will die; For he has vowed never to pardon her. Must I return the Prince this killing news? No gentle Dircus, stay a little while, 'twill not be long before the King return, I'll move him once again. Your highness' pardon, Not for the world would I delay the time— Upon uncertainties; I fear I have Already stayed too long. My quick return Is th' only means to keep the prince alive. Please it your highness then when I am gone To move the King, and fear not, gracious madam, The PRINCE's life a while howe'er. Farewell, True faithful Dircus, all the gods assist Thy good intents, and bless thy loyalty. What, weeping still? Would I could weep myself Like Niobe to marble, and become A woeful tomb to Aemon, whom my womb With fates disastrous brought into the world, My virtuous Aemon, Why, is Aemon dead? Why do you ask, that mean to murder him? How? murder him? Yes in Antigone His most inseparable love. Must then Th'audacious giglot, live unpunished, To brave a King? Were kings ordained to kill Virtues true servants, and control her laws? Where is the king? he's here. What mischief now Com'st thou to utter, never from thy tongue Flowed any good to me. A guilty man Was never pleased with truth, but hear me,
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)
It muſt, it muſt, ſince Creons cruelty, Moſt vnexpected, barbarous cruelty Will haue it ſo, oh friend, I could belieue, Were not the noble Aemon Creons ſonne, And heire apparent to our Diadem, We had beene happyer farre t' haue beene ſubdu'd Then brought by victory to ſuch obedience. True friend; there's all out truſt, the gods in nought But that braue Princes life, haue left vs hope Of any future faur to redreſſe The miſeries, which we ſo long haue felt. But for this imminent, nay preſent danger What were we beſt to doe? Aduiſe the King Rather to change his purpoſe, then expoſe His weakened Kingdome to great Theſeus fury. Though he ſhould prooue neuer ſo obſtinate: Better that any one for good aduice Should ſuffer from his fury, then the land In generall ſhould ſmart. You counſell well, But who ſhould be the man? There's none ſo fit As old Tireſias, that moſt holy man, Taught from the gods aboue, whoſe words by all Our Theban Princes haue beene long eſteem'd As oracles, him Creon will obey. Then thither let vs, and with him aduiſe How to redreſſe our preſent miſeries. THat was my feare before, I thought my ſonne Too farre in loue to beare, with patience, His Ladies death, and therefore did entreat The King with teares, and ſighs, that would haue moou'd A rocke of flint, but hee more hard then rocks, Deafer then Northerne winds, with rage repulſ'd My oft repeated ſuite, and now, ay e, What moſt I fear'd is proou'd, my ſonne will dy; For he has vow'd neuer to pardon her. Muſt I returne the Prince this killing newes? No gentle Dircus, ſtay a little while, Twill not be long before the King returne, Ile mooue him once againe. Your highneſſe pardon, Not for the world would I delay the time— Vpon vncertainties; I feare I haue Already ſtay'd too long. My quicke returne Is th' only meanes to keepe the prince aliue. Pleaſe it your highneſſe then when I am gone To mooue the King, and feare not, gratious madam, The Princes life a while how ere. Farewell, True faithfull Dircus, all the gods aſſiſt Thy good entents, and bleſſe thy loyalty. What, weeping ſtill? Would I could weepe my ſelfe Like Niobe to marble, and become A wofull tombe to Aemon, whom my womabe With fates diſaſtrous brought into the world, My vertuous Aemon, Why, is Aemon dead? Why doe you aske, that meane to murder him? How? murder him? Yes in Antigone His moſt inſeparable loue. Muſt then Th'audacious giglot, liue vnpuniſhed, To braue a King? Were kings ordain'd to kill Vertues true ſeruants, and controll her lawes? Where is the king? Hee's heere. What miſchiefe now Com'ſt thou to vtter, neuer from thy tongue Flow'd any good to me. A guilty man Was neuer pleaſ'd with truth, but heare me,