Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	file_n	front_n	left_a	2,096	5	10.6385	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A48269	The famous romance of Tarsis and Zelie. Digested into ten books. / VVritten originally in French, by the acute pen of a person of honour. ; Done into English by Charles Williams, Gent.; Tarsis et Zelie. English. 1685	Le Vayer de Boutigny, M. (Roland), 1627-1685.; Williams, Charles, 17th cent.	1685 (1685)	Wing L1797; ESTC R25799	390,801	342

which they denounced and proclaimed These People were half Pike Men and the other half Hurlers of Darts or Shooters of Shafts or Arrows The first carried their downwards their points trailing along the earth the others had each one a Bow the Cord or String whereof was broke and each two Arrows with their heads or Irons taken off These here contrary to the ordinary Custom held their Bows with the right hand and the Arrows with the left and altogether they boar their Shields and Targets of Withy negligently hanging at their Shoulders Their Officers marched also on Foot and at the head of each Company whereof there were some four in front every one making a File and their Ensign-bearers carried their Banners or Colours dragging upon the ground After these Troops marched as many Cavaleers or Horse-men all armed except the head which they had all bare The points of their Darts and Javelins were broken with their Scutcheons in their right hands upon the flanks of their Horses They made a halt from twenty Paces to twenty Paces and every time that they began to march the Trumpets sounded in the Air so mournful a tone and noise that in despight of endeavors drew down tears from all eyes four hundred Women their hair dischevelled and falling loose appeared following who notwithstanding the rigor of the Season carried in their Arms Children all naked whom they constrained to cry by blows given them from time to time that no Sex nor Age might be exempt from grief and that those who by reason of their puberty and youth could not weep for the death of their King should by other means be compelled to bewail it We afterwards saw a Chariot hung with mourning drawn by twenty Men all naked only that they had a Callezon or Drawers made of Human leather made of the Skins of their Enemies In the middle of the Chariot was a Coffin wherein lay the King's Corps and round about were Priests which sang Verses composed purposly in praise of the deceased The Officers of the King's Houshould followed the Corps all mounted on horse-back These were the most desolate of all as being those who also had the greatest subject for they were not only to bewail the death of their King but their own selves properly and personally the Custom ordaining that they and their Horses should be strangled about the Block to accompany their Master and serve him in the other World Those of the Bosphorus had borrowed that cruel Custom from the Scythians their neighbors who strangled them even upon their King 's Grave These Men therefore had their Visages with their demenor gesture and behavior very mournful for they were magnificently deckt adorn'd and garnished and mounted on excellent horses most sumptuously furnished as being those who not having lost any thing since they went to find out their Prince Of all these Spectacles it was this last that most moved me with pitty and commiseration but he who appeared last of all touched me with a much more violent grief I saw the poor Leonides my Lord coming his head bare his hands bound behind his back and walking a foot in the midst of a Troop of Guards In this dismal and deplorable estate however I can truly spake it he rather caused admiration than pity He walked as one in triumph with a frank and chearful Countenance a Visage and Face modest and composed and you would have said that those who follow him to carry some part of his Chains were Prisoners whom he drew after him as an Ornament of his triumph They could never observe his heart to utter forth the least sigh unworthy the height of his Courage his Visage demonstrated no kind of alteration nor did his Mouth form forth the least complaint As for me I was a thousand times more troubled than was he when I saw him in this posture and making my way forceably through the press I cry'd out demanding them to surcease and that they would bring me to speak with the Queen from the King Eumele but all that I could do served me not to any purpose I had fairly besought them and menaced them from the Prince who had sent me I had fairly said that if the Queen had understood me she would have revoked this cruel Arrest They answered me the Queen would do nothing thereon and that she could not although she would have bin willing to repeal and abbrogate the Law that was more puissant and powerful than her self I ran to the Pallace and not having ever been able to spake to the Queen in regard they told me that she would not permit her self to be seen all that day in her perplexed state I return'd to the place and pressing through the Crowd I indeavour'd at least to spake with this illustriously unfortunate one 'T is true I saw him at this time a little moved but that was not occasioned by his death it was through grief for his Brother I found his poor Brother bound to his Neck with teares in his Eyes moans and cryes in his Mouth speaking and uttering forth a thousand things capable of making ones heart cleave with pitty Leonides dream't of nothing else but comforting him and fearing by reason or for this dear friend all that might inspire him with desperation he earnestly besought all who were there present to take care of the life of his dear Brother I observed that he rejoyced when he saw me thinking that his Supplications to me might have a more prevalent effect than it might upon others He therefore repeated it to me and when I had told him of the care that Eumele had for him The King reply'd he hath too much respect for me but if I had bin so happy as to have rendred him some Service which merrited the Honour of his remembrance I would have craved all for my Brother At these Words he turn'd towards the Block and beheld it with a very stedfast Eye and with a Countenance other than that of a Man going to Dye he inquired whether all were ready and knowing there wanted not any thing but him he returned towards me and seeing me all in Tears Straton continued he shewing me his Hands bound I would have imbraced you if they would have given me liberty I recommend unto you my Brother Adieu it belongs not to me to undertake to comfort a Philosopher On these Words he entred couragiously in the Block by an opening that they had left there expresly in one of its sides and stopping it immediately with much Straw and presently afterwards the rest of the Ceremonies being finished and the Officers of the deceased King design'd to follow him into the other World having bin stranged round about the Block they there set fire to its four Corners Although the heat of the Flame constrained even them themselves who were at a farther distance than my self to retire further off I was notwithstanding so afflicted and altogether so full of admiration by reason