Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1603 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T53 The crown: kingship claimed, resigned an · 526 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.
Sir, rein your rage: this but new trouble breeds; And weigh well what they are, what is the time; It may be this from ignorance proceeds, In thought, and not in word, consists a crime; Since that against your enemies you go, Be not severe in censuring Subjects parts, But tolerate your own, to grieve your foe, Now must we strive to gain, not lose men's hearts. It by all means shall be exactly tried, How first his brain such fancies did embrace, And if but simply, not puffed up with pride, He must be pardoned, and restored to grace. And of my Subjects I would rather have Then one to punish, them to guerdon all. If I have erred, no pardon (Sir) I crave. First hear, and if I fail, then let me fall; I call the Gods to testify my part, Who can (commenting thoughts) clear truth afford, If ever treason harboured in my heart, Strait let me dye, not pitied, but abhorred; I counsel gave according to my skill, It was my upright mind that made me bold, And though my wit not answered to my will, Still zeal what it conceives, must needs unfold. We should be loath to speak in great affairs, Where words are damned, or balanced by th' event: For, if things fail, the fault is still thought theirs, Who gave advice, though of a good intent, Great Prince forget this not well grounded grudge▪ Who dare be free if thus for words rejected? At least examine first before you judge, I rather dye absolved, then live suspected. Your fond opinion justly might be feared, Which seemed indeed sinistrously inclined; For, at the first your speech to me appeared The poisoned birth of some malicious mind. But your purgation now hath taken place, And of your faith I will no further doubt, But hold you in the same degree of grace, That you enjoyed, before those words chanced our. I think that Patron looks with speaking eyes, As if his mind were mightily perplexed, Come, Patron, tell what in thy bosom lies, By which thou seem'st so wonderfully vexed. Sir, I would speak in private if I could, That which affection fired with zeal affords, Let silence seal what friends with fear unfold, Take you my thoughts, none else shall have my words: Though only bound by voluntary choice, We follow you (all other hopes quite lost) Your body's shadows, th' Echoes of your voice, As faithful now as when you flourished most; For where you are, we must remain with you, Since both our lots are in one vessel thrown, I wish our Tent were made your lodging now, For, we will save your life, or lose our own. We have abandoned Greece our native soil, And our retreat no Bactria now attends, But those who us would of your person spoil, Spoil us of all, whose all on you depends. Would God all yours were bend to do their due, Fame big by fear doth bring forth rumours rife; I grant it gross, if that his own were true, To trust a strange with a Monarch's life.
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)
Sir, reyne your rage: this but new trouble breeds; And weigh well what they are, what is the time; It may be this from ignorance proceeds, "In thought, and not in word, conſiſts a crime; Since that againſt your enemies you goe, Be not ſevere in cenſ'ring Subjects parts, But tolerate your owne, to grieve your foe, Now muſt we ſtrive to gaine, not loſe mens hearts. It by all meanes ſhall be exactly try'd, How firſt his braine ſuch fancies did embrace, And if but ſimply, not puft up with pride, He muſt be pardon'd, and reſtor'd to grace. And of my Subjects I would rather have Then one to puniſh, them to guerdon all. If I have err'd, no pardon (Sir) I crave. Firſt heare, and if I faile, then let me fall; I call the Gods to teſtifie my part, Who can (commenting thoughts) cleare truth afford, If ever treaſon harbour'd in my heart, Straight let me dye, not pittied, but abhorr'd; I counſell gave according to my skill, It was my upright minde that made me bold, And though my wit not anſwer'd to my will, "Still zeale what it conceives, muſt needs unfold. "We ſhould be loth to ſpeake in great affaires, "Where words are damn'd, or ballanc'd by th' event: "For, if things faile, the fault is ſtill thought theirs, "Who gave advice, though of a good intent, Great Prince forget this not well grounded grudge▪ Who dare be free if thus for words rejected? At leaſt examine firſt before you judge, I rather dye abſolv'd, then live ſuſpected. Your fond opinion juſtly might be fear'd, Which ſeem'd indeed ſiniſtrouſly inclind; For, at the firſt your ſpeech to me appear'd The poyſon'd birth of ſome malitious minde. But your purgation now hath taken place, And of your faith I will no further doubt, But hold you in the ſame degree of grace, That you enjoy'd, before thoſe words chanc'd our. I thinke that Patron lookes with ſpeaking eyes, As if his minde were mightily perplex'd, Come, Patron, tell what in thy boſome lyes, By which thou ſeem'ſt ſo wonderfully vex'd. Sir, I would ſpeake in private if I could, That which affection fir'd with zeale affords, "Let ſilence ſeale what friends with feare unfold, Take you my thoughts, none elſe ſhall have my words: Though onely bound by voluntary choice, We follow you (all other hopes quite loſt) Your bodies ſhadowes, th' Ecchoes of your voyce, As faithfull now as when you flouriſh'd moſt; For where you are, we muſt remaine with you, Since both our lots are in one veſſell throwne, I wiſh our Tent were made your lodging now, For, we will ſave your life, or loſe our owne. We have abandon'd Greece our native ſoile, And our retreat no Bactria now attends, But thoſe who us would of your perſon ſpoile, Spoile us of all, whoſe all on you depends. Would God all yours were bent to doe their due, "Fame big by feare doth bring forth rumours rife; I grant it groſſe, if that his owne were true, To truſt a ſtrange with a Monarches life.