Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 10 (earine, jarbus, alack, vapours, mishap, hapless…). Matches are highlighted.
do grossly err: For whilst thou livest, how can thy Queen despair, Whom thou to soul, and Sceptre, dost prefer; Yet flatter I my self who am accursed? Of those mishaps which make my thoughts to stray, The memory may serve to make me burst, Ah, ah, I faint, I feel my spirits decay. What inhumane humanity is this, With such a cruel
thou me? Huge hosts of passion now my soul assembles; Oh how I grieve, and yet am glad to see Thee, though not him, whom thy sweet face resembles! Go bear this Babe from hence, a wound too deep Hath piered me with compassion of his partly, Yet let him stay, I joy to hear him weep; This mother's passion melts my bursting heart;
least, That unbegun thy glory thus must end: Thy Fortune's Sun (my Son) set in the East, Whilst all the world thy rising did attend; Ah! must this Innocent taste of mishap, Whose tender age cannot discern his state, And thus be plagued, yea, in his Nurse's lap, Inherit woe by birth? ah cruel fate! If thou couldst hope, what great
great Hope's hast thou lost Who art defrauded of so high a Throne? Ah! in thy cradle must I see thee crossed Whom I designed so great when we were gone? Yet happy hapless child, who canst not know From whence the fountain of our sorrow flows, Nor what it is that men call high, or low, Nor on what thorn the rose of honour grows. Yet
Full speech
Leave mother those complaints, as fit for me, Who still must grieve my friends, and grace my foes: Whose fortune is so wretched still to be, That all the world may wonder at my woes. Lo, that deer Lord and treasure of my thought, Whose presence I my Paradise esteemed, To such a precipice is headlong brought, That he from ruin cannot be redeemed; Ah! on what prop can I repose my trust, When of his state I first the greatness ponder? Next, how his Diadem (drenched in the dust) Was Fortune's Trophy, and all Asia's wonder? He whose imperious speech the world respected, And as and Oracle had in regard, He vanquished now, and with contempt neglected, (Even as a supplicant) can scarce be herd; And yet I know this more does grieve his soul Then all the harm which happened to his state, His power over me that any can controull, Who (as his Idol) was adored of late; Shall he (pure quintessence of my best partly) Then only testify the love he bears? No, by mine eyes I will distil my heart, And for his sake dissolve my self in tears; Would God my breast might still transparent be, That as through Crystal all might mark my mind, And of my loyal thoughts the secrets see, Whose great affection cannot be confined. This prisons worst hath bounded but mine eyes, And banished them the object of their joy, My fiery heart well winged with fancies flies, And where thou goest dost still thy steps convoy; Dear, whilst thou dost enjoy this common air, Those who me captive think, do grossly err: For whilst thou livest, how can thy Queen despair, Whom thou to soul, and Sceptre, dost prefer; Yet flatter I my self who am accursed? Of those mishaps which make my thoughts to stray, The memory may serve to make me burst, Ah, ah, I faint, I feel my spirits decay. What inhumane humanity is this, With such a cruel pity to oppress, To bring pale ghosts back from the fields of bliss, Yet to be plunged in Ocean of distress? Oh unkind kindness that by saving slays, And would with loveless love, my love controull: Ah! of this braving Sun the loathsome rays Do clear mine eyes, but to confound my soul. Plagued with what is, what may be never pause, Since we must hold our grief our greatest good, And do not feed false Hope's, for we have cause Even to sighs out our souls, and weep our blood. And I my husbands fallen. No woe Like mine, who for my Mate mourn here, For love ot whom, I had all others left; But what a Mate? my self, or one more deer, Yet from my self, my self by force am reft. I mourn for him in whom love me transformed. Ah! shall I never in his joy rejoice? Would God my life my life's life might set free. Lest twice made die, I'll first prevent his fallen. Oh then how can my heart but bursted be, Whom Nature moves most to bemoan his harms? I think the hosts of heaven I thundering see On me, my husband and him in my arms: Dear Image of my self, in whom I live, Thy shape not shames the greatness of thy Sire, But of thy birth clear evidence does give, Thy sour-sweet sighed adds coals to my desire. Thou who shouldst comfort most, tormentest thou me? Huge hosts of passion now my soul assembles; Oh how I grieve, and yet am glad to see Thee, though not him, whom thy sweet face resembles! Go bear this Babe from hence, a wound too deep Hath piered me with compassion of his partly, Yet let him stay, I joy to hear him weep; This mother's passion melts my bursting heart; Of many woes this last is not the least, That unbegun thy glory thus must end: Thy Fortune's Sun (my Son) set in the East, Whilst all the world thy rising did attend; Ah! must this Innocent taste of mishap, Whose tender age cannot discern his state, And thus be plagued, yea, in his Nurse's lap, Inherit woe by birth? ah cruel fate! If thou couldst hope, what great Hope's hast thou lost Who art defrauded of so high a Throne? Ah! in thy cradle must I see thee crossed Whom I designed so great when we were gone? Yet happy hapless child, who canst not know From whence the fountain of our sorrow flows, Nor what it is that men call high, or low, Nor on what thorn the rose of honour grows. Yet hast thou felt the prick before the smoll; Is this the benefit thy birthright brings, A captive here in misery to dwell? Then better not be born, nor come of Kings. Oh! what a noise is this that thus affrights? I think of tears the torrent to restrain, (Since souls when sad a just complaint delights) They still would plague, yet stop me to complain; Or is it one who does lament our case, And is (a rare thing) in affliction kind? Who would behold how we can death embrace! Death sovereign physic for a troubled mind. What? ah I die, and must mine eyes endure That hateful object which I most abhor? I serve for nought, since serving him no more, Who only may my blasted Hope's revive, Lo (quite confounded) far from what before, Who him of me, me of my self deprive. I live without my half, without my whole, Prodigious Monster, whom the world admires, I want the point, the pilot, and the pole Which drew, addressed, and bounded my desires: Tossed by sad sighs in floods of bitter tears, I (save from ruin) look for no relief, By what I feel still plagued, but worse with fears, All comfort loathed, my glory is my grief: My soul feemes to presage disastrous chances, And warring with it self hath never peace, My heart surcharged does faint in deadly trances, My eyes must grace the ground of my disgrace. Hell hath assembled all her horrors here; Ah! in the dungeons of this desperate breast, As in the dark Tartarian groves, appear A thousand shadows to bereave my rest. Ah! how can I command whilst I am thrall? What can I have, who wanting one, want all? Oh what and host of evils where ere I go Are still encroaching to overthrow my state? Ah! must I be beholding to my foe, And owe him love, to whom my love owes hate? Should he help me who still his ruin plies? Heavens curse my heart, if stained with treason thus, Let death in darkness first entomb mine eyes, Ere such a sighed accepted be by us. I (Lord) am thine, and thine I will remain, Thy love was planted in a fertile field, Which grateful now thee to reward again From flourished faith chased flames for fruits does yield. Yet does misfortune this good fortune bring, My constancy shall now be clearly known; Another might have loved and happy King: But I will love thee, though thou be overthrown.
Plot summary
Plot — Darius
Vanquished by Alexander, Darius fears for his mother, wife, and children, who have been taken captive. He offers a ransom for them, and Parmenio encourages Alexander to accept (the money can be used to finance future campaigns), but Alexander refuses. The women assume that Darius is dead and ask leave to bury him. Alexander gives them his personal assurance that Darius is alive and that they v.ill be treated honourably. Bessus and Narbazanes plan to betray Darius to Alexander in the hope of getting kingdoms for themselves. Darius learns that his wife has died, but is impressed by Alexander's honourable treatment of her. Narbazanes encourages him to resign the crown to Bessus, while others advise him not to trust the two traitors, and to rely on his mercenary troops if necessary. Darius meditates on tl1e inevitable fall of princes and accepts the coming of death. The traitors spread a rumour that he has committed suicide, then take him prisoner and offer him to Alexander. Darius dies with a speech honouring Alexander for his magnanimity in victory. Alexander vows to hunt down and dismember the traitors.