Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1603 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T53 The crown: kingship claimed, resigned an · 489 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T53: crown, king, state, life, lord, lords, live, queen, tullia, prince.
Who once advanced, would willingly go down, And (propped with power,) not love in state to stand? This not the custom is to quite a Crown, When one hath known how sweet it's to command; This name of faith but to get credit feigned, Is (weighed with kingdoms) lighter then a Crown, And even in them whose thoughts are most restrained, A Sceptres weight would press all goodness down. Yet of my thoughts some doubt new counsel claims, And with huge honour aggravates disgrace: The stain of treason still attends our names, And with our error burdens all our race; Our purpose must accomplished be with pain, And we (though pomp a space appease our souls) Shall find afflictions to disturb our reign, And be when dead, defamed by famous scrolls. The sacred title of a Sovereign King Doth work a terror more than can be thought, And Majesty to brave my mind doth bring, Whose countenance only strange effects hath wrought. To idle sounds and frivolous reports, Give strait a passport, for they last not long, And what thou dost allege, not much imports: A Crown may cover any kind of wrong; What heinous thing so odious is by nature, Which for a Kingdom not committed is? To be a King, let me be called a traitor, Faith (if for aught) may broken be for this. Those are but feeble brains which fancies load, With timorous dreams which bore surmising brings; Who fear vain shadows, must not walk abroad, Too wary wits dare never work great things. If our brave project happily succeed, (As now I doubt not but it shall do soon) We strait will numbers find to praise our deed, And soothe us up in all that we have done. Now that the time and manner may be sure, The Bactrian bands shall all attend in Arms, Yet fain a cause that he may live secure, And be surprised not looking for alarms. Then through the camp a rumour must be spread, That hopeless Darius hath despair'dly gone, By violence to dwell amongst the dead, Which (as much grieved) we must appear to moon: The Persians may promises be pleased, So to disarm him of his native powers, Then taking him, our thoughts may all be eased, For whilst he is his own, we are not ours: Till strong with titles, we with power command, His shadow shrouds, while rights are forced, or feigned, And his to daunt, or strangers to gainstand, To raise our state, his show must be, maintained. To Alexander after we will send, And offer him his foe to bondage bought, Then crave that us his favour may defend, As those who all things for his good have wrought; Then if we thus his grace cannot procure, But that he us with rigour do pursue, With Darius' death we will our states assure, Than first our force, and next the wars renew.
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)
"Who once advanc'd, would willingly goe downe, "And (prop'd with pow'r,) not love in ſtate to ſtand? "This not the cuſtome is to quite a Crowne, "When one hath knowne how ſweet it's to command; "This name of faith but to get credit fain'd, "Is (weigh'd with kingdomes) lighter then a Crowne, "And even in them whoſe thoughts are moſt reſtrain'd, "A Scepters weight would preſſe all goodneſſe down. Yet of my thoughts ſome doubt new counſell claimes, And with huge honour aggravates diſgrace: The ſtaine of treaſon ſtill attends our names, And with our errour burdens all our race; Our purpoſe muſt accompliſh'd be with paine, And we (though pompe a ſpace appeaſe our ſoules) Shall finde afflictions to diſturbe our raigne, And be when dead, defam'd by famous ſcroules. The ſacred title of a Soveraigne King Doth worke a terrour more then can be thought, And Majeſtie to brave my minde doth bring, Whoſe count'nance only ſtrange effects hath wrought. To idle ſounds and frivolous reports, Give ſtraight a paſport, for they laſt not long, And what thou do'ſt alledge, not much imports: "A Crowne may cover any kinde of wrong; "What hainous thing ſo odious is by nature, "Which for a Kingdome not committed is? "To be a King, let me be call'd a traitour, "Faith (if for ought) may broken be for this. "Thoſe are but feeble braines which fancies loade, "With timorous dreams which bare ſurmiſing brings; "Who feare vaine ſhadowes, muſt not walke abroad, "Too warie wits dare never worke great things. If our brave project happily ſucceed, (As now I doubt not but it ſhall doe ſoone) We ſtraight will numbers finde to praiſe our deed, And ſooth us up in all that we have done. Now that the time and manner may be ſure, The Bactrian bands ſhall all attend in Armes, Yet faine a cauſe that he may live ſecure, And be ſurpris'd not looking for alarmes. Then through the campe a rumour muſt be ſpread, That hopeleſſe Darius hath deſpair'dly gone, By violence to dwell amongſt the dead, Which (as much griev'd) we muſt appeare to mone: The Perſians may promiſes be pleas'd, So to diſarme him of his native pow'rs, Then taking him, our thoughts may all be eas'd, For whil'ſt he is his owne, we are not ours: Till ſtrong with titles, we with pow'r command, His ſhadow ſhrouds, while rights are forc'd, or fain'd, And his to daunt, or ſtrangers to gaine-ſtand, To raiſe our ſtate, his ſhew muſt be, maintain'd. To Alexander after we will ſend, And offer him his foe to bondage bought, Then crave that us his favour may defend, As thoſe who all things for his good have wrought; Then if we thus his grace cannot procure, But that he us with rigour doe purſue, With Darius death we will our ſtates aſſure, Then firſt our force, and next the warres renue.