Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1603 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T17 Eastern conquest: Persians, Turks and so · 486 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T17: tamburlaine, persian, cyrus, king, mahomet, arms, mighty, assyrian, thousand, army.
WHAT Story or what fable can record Of such a numb'rous troop so strangely lost? I know they quaked to know it was my lord, Whose name alone is worth another's host: It scarce can trusted be in many parts; But Traitors fear, though all the world them back, They were but bodies destitute of hearts: More prisoners they were then men to take. Who would believe so few durst strive to meet So great an Army, and the Army shrinks? But Glories flattery, and fames sounds are sweet: True valour dare attempt all that it thinks. In this encounter to have had the best, It would content more than a common mind; But since we want the chief, what of the rest? I must in all a satisfaction find; Those Traitors thought to finish thus the war, By giving me their Lord whom they have bound, But I who march with confidence so far Do scorn to build upon so base a ground; To venge my wrongs dare others than design? Since Darius was ordained my prey to be, How dared they but have aimed at aught of mine? His o'erthrows glory did belong to me. Whilst in himself he only did confide, I by all means did strive to make him bow, But since his hard estate abates that pride, My fury turned is to compassion now; Though he contemned me oft, and did me wrong, Yet am I grieved that he was thus deceived, If but acknowledged once to be more strong, I not his blood, nor yet his kingdom craved; And if those Traitors have not killed him strait, Yet his delivery shall my name renown, I would not lose a Subject of such weight, By which my clemency might be made known. Sir, now your coming cannot do him good. What? all are fled, none have my force withstood? Yet can not Darius be redeemed again. Why, have they set him free, or is he slain? Now he enjoys a liberty at last; But ransomed is by offering up his breath. Then is all Asia's expectation passed? Tell on at length the manner of his death. The boiling ardour of the rising Sun (All moisture gone) did breed so great a drought, That from the way I had a little run, To find some fountain to refresh my mouth; There, by the borders of a rising brook, Which shadowed was from Titan's rising beams, From liquid crystals I a tribute took, Which seemed to murmur, that I forced their streams: When (lo) I saw (a lamentable sight) Two wounded horses draw a bloody Coach, Which clad with skins, show horror at the height; And it to spy when as I did approach, One was within, who could not long time scape, The fatal passage of th'infernal gates; Yet Majesty triumphing o'er mishap, He seemed to brag both fortune and the fates,
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 Story or what fable can record Of ſuch a numb'rous troupe ſo ſtrangely loſt? I know they quak'd to know it was my lord, Whoſe name alone is worth anothers hoſte: It ſcarſe can truſted be in many parts; "But Traitours feare, though all the world them backe, They were but bodies deſtitute of hearts: Moe priſoners they were then men to take. Who would believe ſo few durſt ſtrive to meete So great an Army, and the Army ſhrinkes? "But Glories flattery, and fames ſounds are ſweet: "True valour dare attempt all that it thinkes. In this encounter to have had the beſt, It would content more then a common minde; But ſince we want the chiefe, what of the reſt? I muſt in all a ſatisfaction finde; Thoſe Traitours thought to finiſh thus the warre, By giving me their Lord whom they have bound, But I who march with confidence ſo farre Doe ſcorne to build upon ſo baſe a ground; To venge my wrongs dare others then deſigne? Since Darius was ordain'd my prey to be, How durſt they but have aim'd at ought of mine? His o'rethrowes glory did belong to mee. Whilſt in himſelfe he onely did confide, I by all meanes did ſtrive to make him bow, But ſince his hard eſtate abates that pride, My fury turn'd is to compaſſion now; Though he contemn'd me oft, and did me wrong, Yet am I griev'd that he was thus deceav'd, If but acknowledg'd once to be more ſtrong, I not his blood, nor yet his kingdome crav'd; And if thoſe Traytours have not kill'd him ſtraight, Yet his delivery ſhall my name renowne, I would not loſe a Subject of ſuch weight, By which my clemency might be made knowne. Sir, now your comming cannot doe him good. What? all are fled, none have my force withſtood? Yet can not Darius be redeem'd againe. Why, have they ſet him free, or is he ſlaine? Now he enjoyes a libertie at laſt; But ranſom'd is by offering up his breath. Then is all Aſia's expectation paſt? Tell on at length the manner of his death. The boiling ardor of the riſing Sunne (All moiſture gone) did breede ſo great a drouth, That from the way I had a little runne, To finde ſome fountaine to refreſh my mouth; There, by the borders of a ryſing brooke, Which ſhadow'd was from Titans ryſing beames, From liquid cryſtalls I a tribute tooke, Which ſeem'd to murmure, that I forc'd their ſtreames: When (loe) I ſaw (a lamentable ſight) Two wounded horſes draw a bloody Coach, Which clad with skinnes, ſhew horrour at the height; And it to ſpie when as I did approach, One was within, who could not long time ſcape, The fatall paſſage of th'infernall gates; Yet Majeſtie triumphing o're miſhap, Hee ſeem'd to bragge both fortune and the fates,