Alexander, William · published 1604 · first performed or written 1603 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 520 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
Depart in peace and for yourselves provide, lest ye be likewise with my ruin caught: I will the issue of my fate abide: They hearing this, as of their wits distraught Went howling through the host with dolorous cries: This made the King as dead to be bewailed. And in the army did a rumour rise, That he had killed himself, when all hope failed. The Persians grieved, while these things did occur, Did first encourage all their country bands To help their Prince: but yet they durst not stir For fear of falling in the Bactrians hands. even in the time when this confusion was The traitors, to defer the fact no more, Did to their sovereign's own Pavilion pass, And rook, and bound him, whom they served before. He, who in golden coach superbly rode, Was cast in one for basest carriage used: And who of late was honoured like a God, By servants as a bond slave was abused. Those royal hands to bear a sceptre borne Were bound with chains: this also much did grieve him That fortune his adversity would scorn With golden bands, that served not to relieve him. Then Alexander, having heard in end That Darius came not forward to affront him, To find him out did all his forces bend, Not doubting but he eftsoons would surmount him. But being at the last at length informed How he was made a Captive to his own, At this indignity he highly stormed, And swore he would avenge it by his crown. Out of his host he did select a few, Who were best horsed, whose equipage was light: With whom his foes he did so fast pursue, That, ere they could suspect, he came in sight. The traitors troubled with this he had done Came to the Cart wherein the King was carried, And bade him mount on horse back, and flee soon, lest that his foe should take him if he tarried. He looked aloft, and cried aloud: this day Th'eternal justicer sees through the stars: I will not with such perjured rebels stay, And fly from him, who moves but honest wars. Then those in whom impiety abounds, Throwed darts at him whom they should have defended And hurt the horses with an hundredth wounds. While they performed the Parricide intended. Their hands were feeble, as their hearts untrue: For when their foes began them once to cumber, The traitors first, than all the traitorous crew Fled them, who were inferior far in number. But to the confines of deaths kingdom brought The King retired out from the way aside, More wounded with ingratitude then ought, Did fly the world whose follies he had tried. Scarce was the lasting last divorcement made Twixt soul and body whilst that th'eyes grew dim When Alexander came, and found him dead, Who long had laboured for t'have ruined him. Yet with the vesture which himself then wore He covered the dead corpse, and not eschewed it; But e'en with tears his coffin did decore, To the great wonder of all them that viewed it.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Depart in peace and for your ſelues prouide, Leaſt yee be likewiſe with my ruine caught: I will the iſſue of my fate abide: They hearing this, as of their wits diſtraught Went howling through the hoſt with dolorous cries: This made the King as dead to be bewaild. And in the armie did a rumour riſe, That he had kild himſelfe, when all hope fail'd. The Perſians greeu'd, while theſe things did occurre, Did firſt encourage all their countrie bands To helpe their Prince: but yet they durſt not ſturre For feare of falling in the Bactrians hands. Ev'n in the time when this confuſion was The traitours, to deferre the fact no more, Did to their ſoueraignes owne Pavilion paſſe, And rooke, and bound him, whome they ſeru'd before. He, who in golden coach ſuperbelie rode, Was caſt in one for baſſeſt carriage vſ'd: And who of late was honoured like a God, By ſeruants as a bond ſlaue was abuſ'd. Thoſe royall hands to beare a ſcepter borne Were boūd with chains: this alſo much did grieue him That fortune his aduerſitie would ſcorne With golden bands, that ſeru'd not to releeue him. Then Alexander, hauing heard in end That Darius came not forward to affront him, To finde him out did all his forces bend, Not doubting but he eftſoones would ſurmount him. But being at the laſt at length inform'd How he was made a Captiue to his owne, At this indignitie he highlie ſtorm'd, And ſwore he would avenge it by his crowne. Out of his hoſte he did ſelect a fewe, Who were beſt horſ'd, whoſe equipage was light: With whom his foes he did ſo faſt purſue, That, ere they could ſuſpect, he came in ſight. The traitours troubled with this he had done Came to the Cart wherein the King was carried, And bad him mount on horſe back, and flee ſoone, Leaſt that his foe ſhould take him if he tarried. He look'd aloft, and cry'd aloud: this day Th'eternall Iuſticer ſees through the ſtarres: I will not with ſuch periur'd rebelles ſtay, And flie from him, who moou's but honeſt warres. Then thoſe in whom impietie aboundes, Throw'd darts at him whō they ſhould haue defended And hurte the horſes with an hundreth woundes. While they perform'd the Parricide intended. Their hands were feeble, as their harts vntrue: For when their foes began them once to comber, The traitours firſt, then all the traiterous crue Fled them, who were inferiour farre in number. But to the confines of deathes kingdome brought The King retir'd out from the way aſide, More wounded with ingratitude then ought, Did flie the world whoſe follies he had tri'de. Scarce was the laſting laſt diuorcement made Twixt ſoule and body whilſt that th'eyes grew dim When Alexander came, and found him dead, Who long had labour'd for t'haue ruin'd him. Yet with the veſture which himſelfe then wore He couered the dead corps, and not eſchew'd it; But eu'n with teares his coffin did decore, To the great wonder of all them that view'd it.