Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 3 (numps, numpes, blastfield, wares, parson, nidden…). Matches are highlighted.
That Grecian (Sir) is at the Court arrived, Whose wisdom, Fame so prodigally praise's. I think in all the parts where he hath been, In foreign Countries or his native home, He never hath such stately wonders seen, As since unto this princely Court he come. When first he in the regal Palace entered, As one, who born amongst
to Court, must with Kings faults comport. A wise man at their imperfections winks. So should you lose your self, and them not win. By this you should their indignation find. It would be long, ere you were thus preferred. Then it should be the King not I that er'd. They guerdon as they love, they love by guess. They guerdon
prevails. I think they should excel as oft they do All men in wit, that unto men give laws: Kings are the Centre of the Kingdom, to The which each weighty thing by nature draws: For as the mighty Rivers, little streams, And all the liquid powers that rise or fallen, Do seek in sundry parts by several seams To the main Ocean that
fallen, Their greatness to them this advantage brings. They being jealous find out many drifts, And by a long experience learn to scance them, Then those whom Art or Nature lend's great gifts, All come to Kings as who may best advance them. No doubt, those Powers who put them in their places To make their qualities with their charge
Kings as who may best advance them. No doubt, those Powers who put them in their places To make their qualities with their charge even, Do dote them with some supernatural graces, Vice-gods on earth, great Lieutenants of heaven. This is and easy thing, for us to spy And paint in the the shadows of our minds, And apprehend with
Full speech
That Grecian (Sir) is at the Court arrived, Whose wisdom, Fame so prodigally praise's. I think in all the parts where he hath been, In foreign Countries or his native home, He never hath such stately wonders seen, As since unto this princely Court he come. When first he in the regal Palace entered, As one, who born amongst the craggy Mountains, That never for to view the plains aduentred, Acquainted but with Due and little Fountains: If he be forced for to frequent the Vails, And there the wanton water-nymphs to see, The rareness of the sighed so far prevails, Each strip appear's a flood, each flood a Sea. So all that he re'ncountred by the way, Did to his mind a great amazement bring, The gold-embroidred Gallants made him stay, Each groom appeared a Prince, each squire a King. And now he com's attain your Graces sighed, Whom in his mind, no doubt he does adore, He gazed on those, who held of you their light, Of force he must admire your self far more. Now he will set your happy Empire forth, And be eyewitness of your glorious Reign, One wise men testimony is more worth Then what a world of others would maintain. And yet what wonder though that he be thus, Whose knowledge clouded is with prosperous winds, Though this indeed seem somewhat strange to us, Who have with learning purified our minds. Was he not born heir of a mighty State? And used with Fortune's smiles, not feared for frowns, Does measure all things by his own conceate, Infirmity that fatal is to Crowns: He hath been from his infancy addicted To all the pompous shows wealth could devise, And still entreated, never contradicted, Now does all liberty of speech despise. Though I durst not so to his fight appear, Whose corrupt judgement was from reason swerving, I grieved to see your entertainment here So far inferior to your own deserving. That divine Wisdom which the world admires, And ravished with delight amazed hears, Because it answered not his vain desires, Did seem unsavoury to distempered ears: Ears that are ever stopped to all discourses Save such as enter fraughted with his praises, He can love none but them that love his courses, And thinks all fools that use not flattering phrases. This wracks the great, and makes the heavens despite them; Let virtue spread forth all her heavenly powers, If not in their own livery to delight them, They will not deign her audience a few hours. Who come to Court, must with Kings faults comport. A wise man at their imperfections winks. So should you lose your self, and them not win. By this you should their indignation find. It would be long, ere you were thus preferred. Then it should be the King not I that er'd. They guerdon as they love, they love by guess. They guerdon as they love, they love by guess. It's good to be still by the Prince approved. But by this mean, all hope of Honour fails. Yet honesty in end ever prevails. I think they should excel as oft they do All men in wit, that unto men give laws: Kings are the Centre of the Kingdom, to The which each weighty thing by nature draws: For as the mighty Rivers, little streams, And all the liquid powers that rise or fallen, Do seek in sundry parts by several seams To the main Ocean that receiue's them all. Who as he were but steward of those waters Return's them back by many secret veins, And as the earth hath needs of moisture, scatters His humid treasures to refresh the plains. So are Kings breasts the depth where daily flows Clear streams of knowledge with rare treasures charged, And thus continually their wisdom grows By many helps that others want enlarged. For those that have intelligence over all, Do commonly communicate to Kings All th'accidents of weight that chance to fallen, Their greatness to them this advantage brings. They being jealous find out many drifts, And by a long experience learn to scance them, Then those whom Art or Nature lend's great gifts, All come to Kings as who may best advance them. No doubt, those Powers who put them in their places To make their qualities with their charge even, Do dote them with some supernatural graces, Vice-gods on earth, great Lieutenants of heaven. This is and easy thing, for us to spy And paint in the the shadows of our minds, And apprehend with intellectual eye; A blessing that no worldly Kingdom finds. If you at Court to credit would arise, You must not seek by truth t'acquire renown, But learn t'applaud while what you most despise, And smile in show, while in effect you frown.
Plot summary
Plot — Croesus
Alexander the Great is dead, poisoned by Cassander. He leaves behind a pregnant widow but no definite heir. Unable to get into the underworld because as yet unburied, his ghost returns to earth and recounts his life story, a tale of escalating atrocity as power progressively divorced him from ordinary humanity. He decides to inspire his captains with ambition and bloodlust. The captains are unable to agree on how best to secure the Macedonian Empire, and various proposals are advanced: to await the birth of Alexander's posthumous child, and appoint a regent in the interim; to crown either Alexander’s bastard brother or his elder son, who is half-barbarian and so unacceptable to the people; to split up the empire between themselves. The only thing they can agree on is that the common foot-soldiers should have no say in the decision. Lysimachus and Seleucus decide to bide their time, let their fellow captains wear themselves out with wrangling, and then step in to take the empire for themselves. Meleager tries to have Perdiccas, his rival, murdered, but the plot fails and Perdiccas responds in kind with more success. When Alexander’s child is born, it is a son. Perdiccas and others become his joint regents, but Perdiccas schemes for personal supremacy. He removes his two colleagues in the regency, gives the other captains their own kingdoms in an effort to secure their loyalty, and plans to marry into the royal family. Two of his new subject kings, Antigonus and Ptolemy, ally themselves against him. He accepts the advice of Eumenes to deal with the rebels first before engaging with dynastic matters, but is murdered by his own soldiers during the campaign. Olympias, Alexander’s mother, plots against Cassander, but Cassander besieges her and, starving, she has to give herself up. She refuses his mercy and is executed. Cassander then procures the murder of Alexander’s remaining family. Antigonus secures the support of Eumenes, but then has him treacherously killed. The four remaining captains (Cassander, Ptolemy, Lysimachus, and Seleucus) agree to unite against Antigonus. Philastrus prophesies continuing strife: Cassander will die in disgrace, Seleucus will kil Lysimachus and then die himself, and Ptolemy’s line will ultimately end with a lustful queen who will see his empire fall into the hands of the enemy.