Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1603 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 488 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
And to so base a state as first not borne, Then whilst his blood abundantly did fall, He bursted forth those words in fortunes scorn, As one whose courage nothing could appall: You gaze to see (and have good cause wherefore) A man no man, a king no king: what change? Now less than nought who once was both, and more; This would seem wondrous; but no state is strange; And yet a midst my evils I must rejoice, That this last comfort doth forgo my end. I speak to one who can conceive my voice, And not in vain my dying speeches spend; I am, but how? in name, and not in power, That wretched Darius (which I should suppress) Once happy (as was thought) but at this hour, A lively pattern of extreme distress. Then having paused (he said) my grief is great, Tell Alexander (as the world may spy) That though of me he never had but hate, Yet am I forced far in his debt to die: The favour passed extended to my Queen, And that poor remnant my surviving rest, (When weighing well what I to him have been) I wish continued, but can scarce request; They to his foe belong, and yet he strives To have them honoured now, as in times past; But those who held of me both states, and lives, Of state and life have me deprived at last. Entreat him too that unrevenged below I wander not as hapless in all things: Let men his justice, and their treason know; This (as a common cause) doth touch all kings. Beside the honour which he shall acquire In plaguing them who have betrayed my trust, His magnanimity men shall admire, And fear to grieve him whom they find so just. As watery rounds which rise and reel in rain, Do swell, and float, yet when they break (though bright) Last, leave (when fallen) no token save a stain, Pomp quickly thus both courts and scorns the sight: And since my glass is run, my glory gone, I dead unto the world, the world to me, I wish (save his) that th'earth adore no throne: For, from his reign what subject would be free? Then drooping down, faint, bloodless, and half dead, He prayed me for some water that ran by, (A small request by such a monarch made) Which when that he had got: yet, ear I die This cross must come (said he) to kill me quite; Though Nations once to me as Sovereign sought, I have not now the power but to requite This little benefit, that thou hast brought: But Alexander shall reward thee well, And him the Heavens, still yielding his desires, Since that his foes (though envy burst) must tell That courtesy which all the world admires. Now none hath power his pleasure to control, But if he use them well whom he retains,
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)
And to ſo baſe a ſtate as firſt not borne, Then whilſt his bloode aboundantly did fall, He burſted forth thoſe words in fortunes ſcorne, As one whoſe courage nothing could appall: You gaze to ſee (and have good cauſe wherefore) A man no man, a king no king: what change? Now leſſe then nought who once was both, and more; This would ſeeme wond'rous; but no ſtate is ſtrange; And yet a midſt my evils I muſt rejoyce, That this laſt comfort doth forgoe my end. I ſpeake to one who can conceave my voice, And not in vaine my dying ſpeeches ſpend; I am, but how? in name, and not in pow'r, That wretched Darius (which I ſhould ſuppreſſe) Once happie (as was thought) but at this hower, A lively patterne of extreame diſtreſſe. Then having paus'd (he ſaid) my griefe is great, Tell Alexander (as the world may ſpie) That though of me he never had but hate, Yet am I forc'd farre in his debt to die: The favour paſt extended to my Queene, And that poore remnant my ſurviving reſt, (When weighing well what I to him have beene) I wiſh continu'd, but can ſcarſe requeſt; They to his foe belong, and yet he ſtrives To have them honour'd now, as in times paſt; But thoſe who held of me both ſtates, and lives, Of ſtate and life have me depriv'd at laſt. Entreat him too that unreveng'd below I wander not as hapleſſe in all things: Let men his juſtice, and their treaſon know; This (as a common cauſe) doth touch all kings. Beſide the honour which he ſhall acquire In plaguing them who have betrai'd my truſt, His magnanimity men ſhall admire, And feare to grieve him whom they finde ſo juſt. "As watrie rounds which riſe and reele in raine, "Do ſwell, and flote, yet when they breake (though bright) "Laſt, leave (when fall'n) no token ſave a ſtayne, Pompe quickly thus both courts and ſcornes the ſight: And ſince my glaſſe is runne, my glory gone, I dead unto the world, the world to me, I wiſh (ſave his) that th'earth adore no throne: For, from his raigne what ſubject would be free? Then drowping downe, faint, bloodleſſe, and halfe dead, He prai'd me for ſome water that ranne by, (A ſmall requeſt by ſuch a monarch made) Which when that he had got: yet, eare I die This croſſe muſt come (ſaid he) to kill me quite; Though Nations once to mee as Soveraigne ſought, I have not now the pow'r but to requite This little benefit, that thou haſt brought: But Alexander ſhall reward thee well, And him the Heavens, ſtill yeelding his deſires, Since that his foes (though envie burſt) muſt tell That courteſie which all the world admires. Now none hath pow'r his pleaſure to controule, But if he uſe them well whom he retaines,