Massinger, Philip · published 1632 · first performed or written 1621 [1621-1622; prologue, 1629/30(?)] (Annals) tragicomedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit T1 Death, grief and revenge typicality 0.73 · 502 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
What will become of me now is apparent! Whether a poniard, or a halter be The nearest way to hell (for I must thither, After I have killed myself) is somewhat doubtful? This Roman resolution of self-murder, Will not hold water, at the high Tribunal, When it comes to be argued; my good Genius Prompts me to this consideration. He That kills himself, to avoid misery, fears it, And at the best shows but a bastard valour, This life's a fort committed to my trust, Which I must not yield up, till it be forced, Nor will I: he's not valiant that dares die, But he that boldly bears calamity. A Seat here for the Duke. It is our glory To overcome with courtesies, not rigor; To Lordly Roman, who held it the height Of humane happiness, to have kings and Queens To wait by his triumphant chariot wheels In his insulting pride, deprived himself Of drawing near the nature of the gods, Best known for such, in being merciful, Yet give me leave, but still with gentle language, And with the freedom of a friend to tell you, To seek by force, what courtship could not win, was not harsh, and never taught in love's mild school. Wise Poets feign that Venus' coach is drawn By doves, and sparrows, not by bears, and tigers. I spare the application. In my fortune, Heaven's justice hath confirmed it, yet great Lady, Since my offence grew from excess of love, And not to be resisted, having paid too, With the loss of liberty, the forfeiture Of my presumption, in your clemency It may find pardon You shall have just cause To say it hath. The charge of the long siege Defrayed, and the loss my subjects have sustained Made good, since so far I must deal with caution, You have your liberty I could not hope for gentler conditions. My Lord Gonzaga. Since my coming to Sienna, I have heard much Of your prisoner; brave Bertoldo. Such an one, Madam, I had. And have still, Sir, I hope. Your hopes deceive you. He is ransomed madam, By whom, I pray you, Sir. You had best inquire Of your intelligencer. I am no informer. I like not this. He is, as 'tis reported, A goodly gentleman, and of noble parts, A brother of your order. He was, Madam, Till he against his oath wronged you, a princess, Which his religion bound him from. Great minds For trial of their valours oft maintain Quarrels that are unjust, yet without malice, And such a fair construction I make of him. I would see that brave enemy; My duty Commands me to seek for him. Pray you do: And bring him to our presence. I must blast His entertainment; may it please your excellency, He is a man debauched, and for his riots Cast off by the King my Master, and that, I hope, is A crime sufficient To you his subjects, That like as your king likes
nodes 1859–1932 (positions in the processed text, not lines of the printed book) · chunk 26 of 37 in this edition
Length
502 words · 657 tokens
Topic (seed 42)
T1 — Death, grief and revengecross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · typicality 0.732 (cosine to the topic centroid)
Other seeds
seed 43: T7 · seed 44: T1 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
What will become of me now is apparant! Whether a poniard, or a halter be The nearest way to hell (for I must thither, After I have kill'd my selfe) is somewhat doubtfull? This Roman resolution of selfe-murther, Will not hold water, at the high Tribunall, When it comes to be argu'd; my good Genius Prompts me to this consideration. He That kills himselfe, to avoid misry, feares it, And at the best shewes but a bastard valour, This lifes a fort comitted to my trust, Which I must not yeeld up, till it be forc'd, Nor will I: Hee's not valiant that dares dy, But he that boldly beares calamitie. A Seat here for the Duke. It is our glory To overcom with courtesies, not rigor; To Lordly Roman, who held it the height Of humane happinesse, to have kings and Queenes To wait by his triumphant chariot wheeles In his insulting pride, depriv'd himselfe Of drawing neare the nature of the gods, Best known for such, in being mercifull, Yet give me leave, but still with gentle language, And with the freedome of a riend to tell you, To seeke by force, what courtship could not win, was not harsh, and never taught in loves milde schoole. Wise Poets faine that Venus coach is draw'n By doues, and sparrowes, not by beares, and tygres. I spare the application. In my fortune, Heav'ns justice hath confirm'd it, yet great Lady, Since my offence grew from excesse of love, And not to be resisted, having paid too, With the losse of liberty, the forfeyture Of my presumption, in your clemency It may finde pardon You shall have just cause To say it hath. The charge of the long siege Defraid, and the losse my subjects have sustain'd Made good, since so farre I must deale with caution, You have your liberty I could not hope for gentler conditions. My Lord Gonzaga. Since my comming to Siena, I haue heard much Of your prisoner; brave Bertldo. Such n one, Madam, I had. And have still, Sir, I hope. Your hopes deceive you. He is ransom'd Madame, By whom, I pray you, Sir. You had best enquire Of your intelligencer. I am no informer. I like not this. He is, as 'tis reported, A goodly gentleman, and of noble parts, A brother of your order. Hee was, Madam, Till he against his oath wrong'd you, a princesse, Which his religion bound him from. Great mindes For tryall of their valours oft maintaine Quarrells that are unjust, yet without malice, And such a faire construction I make of him. I would see that brave enemy; My duty Commands me to seeke for him. Pray you doe: And bring him to our presence. I must blast His entertainment; may it please your excellency, He is a man debauch'd, and for his riots Cast off by the King my Master, and that, I hope, is A crime sufficient To you his subjects, That like as your king likes