Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 20 (ithimore, nat, invisible, notary, glycerie, humfrey…). Matches are highlighted.
then death. '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 death's, Beside those dearer funerals, which
Witches, my Lord, that come to exercise On these dead bodies that bestrew the field Their damned arts; here in the depth of night With incantations, and abused herbs They turn the dead's pale faces to inquire And hear the horrid oracles of death. the infernal gods over mastered by their power, Or else persuaded by some piety
Full speech
She is and object worthy of Aemon's love. The mirror of her sex, a lassting pattern Of piety to all succeeding times. True, if Thebes be safe, As never fairer were her Hope's then now; Argolian forces are disheartened quite, And of their seven proud leaders, which of late Beset the gates of Thebes, but two are left Only Adrastus, and our banished prince. If we, I say, be safe, we owe that safety To Creons sons, to brave Menaeceus death, And Aemon's living valour; one by death Gave life to thousands; tother noble life Deserved and easier way to fame then death. '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 death's, Beside 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. Has the King Accepted it? But piety how ever should forbid it. Come Dircus, let's away, and or prevent, Or see the issue of this dire intent. The queen Jocasta hearing that sad news Beating her breast, tearing her hoary hair, And uttering sad complaints against the gods, And fates severe decrees, at last espied That fatal sword by which old Laius died On which she fell, and ended her sad life. Antigone was lately met alone Without the city. None of all her servants Were privy to her going, nor yet know Whither their Lady went. No sure, my Lord. For your disguise is perfect, and no notice Was given from me at all. Witches, my Lord, that come to exercise On these dead bodies that bestrew the field Their damned arts; here in the depth of night With incantations, and abused herbs They turn the dead's pale faces to inquire And hear the horrid oracles of death. the infernal gods over mastered by their power, Or else persuaded by some piety Which pleases them, deny these witches nothing Which they request, the souls of those dead men Are forced to obey their charmings, and return Back to their ancient prisons, to reveal To these dire hags the secrecies of fate And things to come. Ah good my Lord use not so bade away, You have at hand, a nobler means to know The truth of all; the old Tiresias Taught from the wisdom of the gods above, Who by a magic more divine and pure Surveys the course and influence of the stars, And in that glorious book reads the event Of future things, rather repair to him, Let him prepare a sacrifice, and ask The pleasure of the gods. How full of black And baleful horror is this art of theirs? Would I were well from hence; let me hereafter. Rather remain in endless ignorance Then purchase knowledge by such means as these. The carcase stirs. Believe it not, my Lord; let's quit the place, And from the wise Tiresias seek advise, O horrid spectacle! see Aephytus, The Prince, Antigone, and Dircus dead. Look to the Queen, she sownes
Plot summary
Plot — Antigone, the Theban Princess
Self-blinded and banished from Thebes, Oedipus wishes only for death. His daughter Antigone temporarily persuades him to give up such thoughts, but it is not long before he is dead. Thebes itself is at war: Eteocles has dishonoured a power-sharing agreement with his brother Polynices, and seven Greek champions have besieged the city in support of the latter’s claim. After sustaining heavy casualties, Polynices proposes settling the case in single combat with Eteocles. Both are killed. The new King, Creon, decrees that no Theban shall bury any enemy soldier, including Polynices. He also places Antigone under house arrest and refuses his son Haemon permission to marry her. In defiance of Creon, Antigone goes to the battlefield in search of Polynices’ body. There she meets his widow, Argia, and together they convey the corpse past the watchmen and give it a funeral. Creon too comes to the battlefield, to consult the witches who are gathering Parts of the dead bodies for magical use. They make a dead body tell his fortune: he will die soon, and disorder will come to Thebes. Antigone and Argia are arrested. Creon holds Argia, a foreign princess, for ransom, but sentences Antigone to be entombed alive and left to starve to death. By threatening to take his own life, Haemon persuades his father to allow her release, but it is too late: she has taken poison to hasten her death. Haemon kills himself. Thebes is attacked by Theseus, who has been summoned by another widow to intervene for the unburied. Argia is released and Creon killed, but Theseus allows him the burial he denied his enemies.