Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1603 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 482 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
This Prince in prosperous state hath flourished long, And never dreamed of ill, did think far less, But was well followed whilst his state was strong; Him flattering Sirens with a charming song Strived to exalt, then whilst he did possess This earthly dross, that with a vain excess He might reward their mercenary love; But now when fortune drives him to distress, His favourites whom he remained among, They strait with her (as hers) their faith remove; And who for gain to follow him were wont, They after gain by his destruction hunt. O more than happy ten times were that king, Who were unhappy but a little space, So that it did not utter ruin bring, But made him prove (a profitable thing) Who of his train did best deserve his grace; Then could, and would of those the best embrace; Such vultures fled as follow but for prey, That faithful Servants might possess their place. All gallant minds it must with anguish fling, Whilst wanting means their virtue to display; This is the grief which bursts a generous heart; When favour comes by chance, not by desert. Those minions oft to whom kings do extend Above their worth, immoderate goodwill, (The butts of common hate oft hit in end) In prosperous times they only do depend, Not upon them, but on their fortune still, Which if it change, they change, them though they fill Their hopes with honour, and their chests with Coin; Yet if they fall, or their affairs go ill, Those whom they raised will not with them descend, But with the side most strong all strait do join, And do forget all what was given before, When once of them they can expect no more. The truth hereof in end this strange event, In Bessus and Narbazenes hath proved, On whom their Prince so prodigally spent Affection, Honour, Titles, Treasure, Rent, And all that might an honest mind have moved. So bountiful a Prince still to have loved. Who so benignly tendered had their state; Yet Traitors vile (all due respects removed) They him to strike the strength he gave have bend, So as he now may rue, although too late, That sly Chameleons changing thus their hue, To servants were preferred, who still were true. But though those Traitors for a space do speed, No doubt the Heavens once vengeance will exact; The very horror of this heinous deed, Doth make the hearts of honest men to bleed: Yea, even the wicked hate this barbarous act: The Heavens no higher choler can contract, Then for the forcing of a sacred king, Whose state (if rage do not their minds distract) Must fear and reverence in inferiors breed, To whom from him all what is theirs doth spring; But though on th'earth men should neglect this wrong▪ Heavens will those Traitors plague ere it be long.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T6 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
This Prince in proſp'rous ſtate hath flouriſh'd long, And never dream'd of ill, did thinke farre leſſe, But was well follow'd whilſt his ſtate was ſtrong; Him flattering Syrens with a charming ſong Striv'd to exalt, then whilſt he did poſſeſſe This earthly droſſe, that with a vaine exceſſe He might reward their mercenarie love; But now when fortune drives him to diſtreſſe, His favourites whom he remain'd among, They ſtraight with her (as hers) their faith remove; And who for gaine to follow him were wont, They after gaine by his deſtruction hunt. "O more then happie ten times were that king, Who were vnhappie but a little ſpace, "So that it did not utter ruine bring, "But made him prove (a profitable thing) "Who of his traine did beſt deſerve his grace; "Then could, and would of thoſe the beſt embrace; "Such vulturs fled as follow but for prey, "That faithfull Servants might poſſeſſe their place. "All gallant minds it muſt with anguiſh fling, "Whilſt wanting meanes their vertue to diſplay; "This is the griefe which burſts a generous heart; "When favour comes by chance, not by deſart. Thoſe minions oft to whom kings doe extend Above their worth, immoderate good-will, (The buttes of common hate oft hit in end) In proſp'rous times they onely doe depend, Not upon them, but on their fortune ſtill, Which if it change, they change, them though they fill Their hopes with honour, and their cheſts with Coyne; Yet if they fall, or their affaires goe ill, Thoſe whom they rais'd will not with them deſcend, But with the ſide moſt ſtronge all ſtraight doe joyne, And doe forget all what was given before, When once of them they can expect no more. The truth hereof in end this ſtrange event, In Beſſus and Narbazenes hath prov'd, On whom their Prince ſo prodigally ſpent Affection, Honour, Titles, Treaſure, Rent, And all that might an honeſt minde have mov'd. So bountyfull a Prince ſtill to have lov'd. Who ſo benignely tendred had their ſtate; Yet Traitours vile (all due reſpects remov'd) They him to ſtrike the ſtrength he gave have bent, Soe as he now may rue, although too late, That ſlie Camelions changing thus their hue, To ſervants were preferr'd, who ſtill were true. But though thoſe Traitours for a ſpace doe ſpeed, No doubt the Heavens once vengeance will exact; The very horrour of this hainous deed, Doth make the hearts of honeſt men to bleed: Yea, even the wicked hate this barbarous act: The Heavens no higher choler can contract, Then for the forcing of a ſacred king, Whoſe ſtate (if rage doe not their mindes diſtract) Muſt feare and reverence in inferiours breed, To whom from him all what is theirs doth ſpring; But though on th'earth men ſhould neglect this wrong▪ Heavens will thoſe Traitours plague ere it be long.