May, Thomas · published 1631 · first performed or written 1627 [1627-1631] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 532 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
Then let us break this wealthy Cabinet, And take from thence a jewel, which the ransom Of all the Kings on earth would be a price too poor to purchase: Knew'st thou, happy cave, Or knew the world what true unvalued wealth Thy bare unpolished bosom did contain, Thou wouldst despise the richest temples reared On Marble Columns, and high-roofed with gold; To thee would men with adoration come As to a place more sacred than the cave That nourished Cretan Ioue, than Bacchus Nisa, Or the Oetaean Mount, from whence in flames The great Alcides mounted to the sky. But I forget myself, I first must know Whether I live or no; for in that cave, Not here does. Aemon breath. Antigone. Who calls Antigone? is it my Aemon? Dircus I live; heardst thou that heavenly voice Which has inspired a happier life into me Than my creation did. let's lose no time In this sweet business. I'll ope the tomb Immediately, my Lord. Sad Thebes adieu, I'll find some happier country to convey My envied treasure to. Possessed of her I shall be richer than the Theban crown Can make me; speak how fares my fairest love; Shall we be gone? I would, my dearest Aemon, Begone with thee rather then live; but fate Too cruel, fate prevents it. How? what fate Can let our journey, if thy love consent? I love thee, Aemon, better than my life, And never truly wished to live till now, But now I cannot live. Oh do not mock My joys, Antigone, or if thou dost not, Tell me what sad disaster can befall. That sad disaster is befallen already; Fearing the pains that such a lingering death Might bring upon me, I have ta'en already A gentle poison down, which long before 'Gainst some such dire occasion I prepared, I feel it work; my vital spirits fail. My dearest love farewell. Live long and happy; Let fate hereafter recompense to thee whate'er her cruelty 'gainst me has wrought. No fate can make me happy, I am lost Beyond her cure. What end of tragedies Can woeful Thebes for ever hope to see After this sorrow. Oh I more than fear The PRINCE's fury; Her white soul is fled. What unsubstantial bubbles are the best Of humane joys? how from the top of all My hopes and comforts in one fatal minute Has envious fortune thrown me down again Into the depth of misery, and woe. Oh fortune how extreme thou art in all Thy favours and thy frowns! Most noble prince, Collect that strength of man, which all the world Expects from you, and arm yourself to bear With fitting patience this calamity. The passive fortitude is great and noble As is the active. Strike that string no more, Do not in vain torment a desperate man With thy dull counsel: 'tis as possible Thou shouldst persuade a dead man to arise After his soul is fled, as me to live. Now she is dead, I do conjure thee Dircus By all the love thou bear'st me, by that faith Which I have ever found and prized in thee, To leave me here.
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)
Then let vs breake this wealthy Cabinet, And take from thence a iewell, which the ranſome Of all the Kings on earth would be a price To poore to purchaſe: Knew'ſt thou, happy caue, Or knew the world what true vnualew'd wealth Thy bare vnpoliſh'd boſome did containe, Thou would'ſt deſpiſe the richeſt temples rear'd On Marble Columnes, and high-roof'd with gold; To thee would men with adoration come As to a place more ſacred then the caue That nouriſh'd Cretan Ioue, then Bacchus Niſa, Or the Oetaean Mount, from whence in flames The great Alides mounted to the sky. But I forget my ſelfe, I firſt muſt know Whether I liue or no; for in that caue, Not heee does. Aemon breath. Antigone. Who calls Antigone? is it my Aemon? Dircus I liue; heardſt thou that heauenly voice Which has inſpir'd a happyer life into me Then my creation did. Lets looſe no time In this ſweete buſineſſe. Ile ope the tombe Immediatly, my Lord. Sad Thebes adieu, Ile finde ſome happyer countrey to conuey My enuy'd treaſure to. Poſſeſt of her I ſhall be richer then the Theban crowne Can make me; ſpeake how fares my faireſt loue; Shall we be gone? I would, my deareſt Aemon, Begone with thee rather then liue; but fate Too cruell, fate preuents it. How? what fate Can let our iourney, if thy loue conſent? I loue thee, Aemon, better then my life, And neuer truly wiſh'd to liue till now, But now I cannot liue. Oh doe not mocke My ioyes, Antigone, or if thou doeſt not, Tell me what ſad diſaſter can befall. That ſad diſaſter is befall'n already; Fearing the paines that ſuch a lingring death Might bring vpon me, I haue tane already A gentle poiſon downe, which long before 'Gainſt ſome ſuch dire occaſion I prepar'd, I feele it worke; my vitall ſpirits faile. My deareſt loue farewell. Liue long and happy; Let fate hereafter recompence to thee What ere her cruelty 'gainſt me has wrought. No fate can make me happy, I am loſt Beyond her cure. What end of tragedyes Can wofull Thebes for euer hope to ſee After this ſorrow. Oh I more then feare The Princes fury; Her white ſoule is fled. What vnſubſtantiall bubbles are the beſt Of humane ioyes? how from the top of all My hopes and comforts in one fatall minute Has enuious fortune throwne me downe againe Into the depth of miſery, and woe. Oh fortune how extreme thou art in all Thy fauours and thy frownes! Moſt noble prince, Collect that ſtrength of man, which all the world Expects from you, and arme your ſelfe to beare With fitting patience this calamity. The paſſiue fortitude is great and noble As is the actiue. Strike that ſtring no more, Doe not in vaine torment a deſperate man With thy dull counſell: Tis as poſſible Thou ſhould'ſt perſwade a dead man to ariſe After his ſoule is fled, as me to liue. Now ſhee is dead, I doe coniure thee Dircus By all the loue thou bearſt me, by that faith Which I haue euer found and priz'd in thee, To leaue me heere.