Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1603 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T50 Fleets, armies and generals: war by sea · 520 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T50: sea, honour, general, soldiers, men, ship, fight, soldier, king, vittori.
What sudden danger doth of late dismay you, Such inconveniences that you forecast? Sir, Bessus and Narbazanes betray you, This day to you, or them will be the last: They fain repentance only for the form, Till every thing be for the fact prepared, The clouds are gathering which do boast a storm, And they ere night, mind to invade your guard. I trust thy words, but yet I cannot wrong Those who by nature love to me should bear, Shall I leave them who followed me so long? Then they may think, I merit what I fear. I will await on what the heavens will send, For, who can stand when fates his fall conspire, And with mine own, at least, least grieved will end; I live too long if they my death desire. Take heed in time (Sir) to this subtle Greek, The Grecian faith to all the world is known, I am informed he by all means doth seek To gratify your foe, as borne his own; And marvel not, though mercenary men, Who sell themselves, sell all, this is not strange, They have no God but gold, nor house, how then Can they be constant, who do live by change? Though this vain man pre-occupy you thus, And such as would themselves abuse your grace, Faith shall be found untainted still in us, When our accuser dare not show his face. Of Alexander those who hope for gain, By traitorous means do but themselves deceive, Since none in earth doth Traitors more disdain, Nor treason can in greater horror have. Well, Sir, you shall know shortly what we are, I will go see your Ensigns all displayed. It better is since things are gone so far, Then seem but to mistrust, to be betrayed. Lo, Artabazus I have acted here My part of greatness, and my glass is run, Now Patron's speech doth evident appear, I see my end, yet can their course not shun. The Bactrians only have embarked in this, Go to the Greeks, which if with courage done, When once your danger manifested is, The Persians all will follow after soon. And what if I were gone to Patron's Tent, And had the Greeks for guard as you desire? He hath but thousands four which are well bend, T●●y thirty thousand who my fall conspire; And (doing this) I should their deed excuse, In giving them a cause who have most might; They may indeed my lenity abuse, But by my deed they shall pretend no right. O Prince to be bemoaned, who can but weep To ●ee thee thus involved in such a state? Retire you all, and seek yourselves to keep, ●●ere attend the issue of my fate. Y●●on●●● that a wretch yet breathing stands, ●o whom the heavens no comfort can impart: F●●●e shall not make me fall by mine own hands, No, let another sin though I must smart; None of you all have falsified your truth, But loyal still unto the end abide, Now I you all disburden of your oath, Leave me alone, and for yourselves provide.
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)
What ſudden danger doth of late diſmay you, Such inconveniences that you fore-caſt? Sir, Beſſus and Narbazanes betray you, This day to you, or them will be the laſt: They faine repentance onely for the forme, Till every thing be for the fact prepar'd, The clouds are gathering which doe boaſt a ſtorme, And they ere night, minde to invade your guard. I truſt thy words, but yet I cannot wrong Thoſe who by nature love to me ſhould beare, Shall I leave them who follow'd me ſo long? Then they may thinke, I merit what I feare. I will await on what the heavens will ſend, For, who can ſtand when fates his fall conſpire, And with mine owne, at leaſt, leaſt griev'd will end; I live too long if they my death deſire. Take heed in time (Sir) to this ſubtile Greeke, The Grecian faith to all the world is knowne, I am enform'd he by all meanes doth ſeeke To gratifie your foe, as borne his owne; "And marvell not, though mercenary men, "Who ſell themſelves, ſell all, this is not ſtrange, "They have no God but gold, nor houſe, how then "Can they be conſtant, who doe live by change? Though this vaine man pre-occupy you thus, And ſuch as would themſelves abuſe your grace, Faith ſhall be found untainted ſtill in us, When our accuſer dare not ſhew his face. Of Alexander thoſe who hope for gaine, By trait'rous meanes do but themſelves deceive, Since none in earth doth Traitors more diſdaine, Nor treaſon can in greater horrour have. Well, Sir, you ſhall know ſhortly what we are, I will go ſee your Enſignes all diſplai'd. It better is ſince things are gone ſo farre, Then ſeeme but to miſtruſt, to be betray'd. Loe, Artabazus I have acted here My part of greatneſſe, and my glaſſe is runne, Now Patrons ſpeech doth evident appeare, I ſee my end, yet can their courſe not ſhunne. The Bactrians onely have imbark'd in this, Go to the Greeks, which if with courage done, When once your danger manifeſted is, The Perſians all will follow after ſoone. And what if I were gone to Patrons Tent, And had the Greeks for guard as you deſire? He h th but thouſands foure which are well bent, Ty thirty thouſand who my fall conſpire; And (doing this) I ſhould their deed excuſe, In giving them a cauſe who have moſt might; They may indeed my lenity abuſe, But by my deed they ſhall pretend no right. O Prince to be bemoan'd, who can but weep To ee thee thus involv'd in ſuch a ſtate? Retyre you all, and ſeek your ſelves to keep, ere attend the iſſue of my fate. Y on that a wretch yet breathing ſtands, o whom the heavens no comfort can impart: Fe ſhall not make me fall by mine owne hands, No, let another ſinne though I muſt ſmart; None of you all have falſifi'd your truth, But loyall ſtill unto the end abide, Now I you all disburthen of your oath, Leave me alone, and for your ſelves provide.