Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1603 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T17 Eastern conquest: Persians, Turks and so · 525 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.
They urged him with the king to intercede, That in his favour he would give them place, And did protest that by some valorous deed, They labour would to gain again his grace; Then Artabazus came and told the king, That in the battle he might try their faith, And both before his majesty did bring, Who (when submiss) did quickly calm his wrath. With hands stretched up to Heaven, and humbled knees, With tears like those which Crocodiles do shed, Woe in their face and pity in their eyes, Did for compassion (though from rigour) plead. The king of nature mild did them receive, And them (who thus but for the form complained) Not only all (relenting) quite forgave; But wept in earnest too whilst they but feigned; When in his Coach from all suspicion free, With countenance sad long following on behind (As still pretending supplicants to be) They bowed to him whom they were bend to bind; The Grecian Captain curiously near (When marked a suitor) craved what he required, By pregnant proofs did evidently clear, What treason was against his state conspired: He told what way their purpose might be tried, And how the Bactrians were for trouble bend, Then for his safety prayed him to provide, By strait with him retiring to his Tent; But in the King who did neglect his state, No kind of care this friendly offer bred: So that (it seemed) he by some powerful fate Was headlong forward to confusion led: The Greek past thence despairing him to save, Who thus all means to help himself refused; With subtle words than Bessus there did crave To purge himself, and errors passed excused; Old Artabazus happening to approach, The King to him did Patron's speech report, Who then perceived what danger did encroach, And wished he would where Greeks were strong resort. But in his breast this purpose firmly placed, That from his Subjects he would never fly, With mutual tears they tenderly embraced, And parted there, like two who went to dye. Now silent night in pitchy vapours clad, Had must'red mists, and marched out of the West; (Days beauties darkening, shadowy horrors spread) The Sentinels were set, and all at rest, When (lo) a terror did distract the host! Whose bands to murmur were dispersed in parts, With sounds resembling ships in storms near lost, Whilst each to other cause of fear imparts. Those who their King appointed were to guard, From what was due by fraud or fear did stray; And (to his danger having no regard) His Fortune's Minions fled with heraway. The desolation then grown wondrous great, With some few Eunuches Darius left alone, (No strength remaining, nor no sign of state) He thus them spoke, who for his fall did moon: Go, part in peace ere further harm be had, Lest that my ruin likewise you surprise. They hearing those sad words (as men gone mad) Went howling through the host with dolorous cries; So that all those who heard what plaints they made, Thought that they had their Sovereign's death bewailed; And (forcing trust) some forged reports were spread,
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)
They urg'd him with the king to interceed, That in his favour he would give them place, And did proteſt that by ſome valorous deed, They labour would to gaine againe his grace; Then Artabazus came and told the king, That in the battell he might try their faith, And both before his majeſtie did bring, Who (when ſubmiſſe) did quickly calme his wrath. With hands ſtretch'd up to Heaven, and humbled knees, With teares like thoſe which Crocodiles doe ſhed, Woe in their face and pitie in their eyes, Did for compaſſion (though from rigour) pleade. The king of nature milde did them receave, And them (who thus but for the forme complain'd) Not onely all (relenting) quite forgave; But wept in earneſt too whil'ſt they but fain'd; When in his Coach from all ſuſpition free, With count'nance ſad long following on behinde (As ſtill pretending ſupplicants to be) They bow'd to him whom they were bent to binde; The Grecian Captaine curiouſly neare (When mark'd a ſuter) crav'd what he requir'd, By pregnant proofes did evidently cleare, What treaſon was againſt his ſtate conſpir'd: He told what way their purpoſe might be tri'd, And how the Bactrians were for trouble bent, Then for his ſafety pray'd him to provide, By ſtraight with him retyring to his Tent; But in the King who did neglect his ſtate, No kinde of care this friendly offer bred: So that (it ſeem'd) he by ſome pow'rfull fate Was head-long forward to confuſion led: The Greeke paſt thence deſpairing him to ſave, Who thus all meanes to help himſelfe refus'd; With ſubtle words then Beſſus there did crave To purge himſelfe, and errours paſt excus'd; Old Artabazus happ'ning to approach, The King to him did Patrons ſpeech report, Who then perceiv'd what danger did encroach, And wiſh'd he would where Greeks were ſtrong reſort. But in his breaſt this purpoſe firmly plac'd, That from his Subjects he would never flie, With mutuall teares they tenderly embrac'd, And parted there, like two who went to dye. Now ſilent night in pitchie vapours cled, Had muſt'red myſts, and march'd out of the Weſt; (Dayes beauties darkning, ſhadowie horrours ſpread) The Sentinels were ſet, and all at reſt, When (loe) a terrour did diſtract the hoſt! Whoſe bands to murmure were diſpers'd in parts, With ſounds reſembling ſhips in ſtormes neare loſt, Whil'ſt each to other cauſe of feare imparts. Thoſe who their King appointed were to guard, From what was due by fraud or feare did ſtray; And (to his danger having no regard) His Fortunes Minions fled with heraway. The deſolation then growne wondrous great, With ſome few Eunuchs Darius left alone, (No ſtrength remaining, nor no ſigne of ſtate) He thus them ſpake, who for his fall did mone: Go, part in peace ere further harme be had, Leſt that my ruine likewiſe you ſurpriſe. They hearing thoſe ſad words (as men gone mad) Went howling through the hoſt with dolorous cryes; So that all thoſe who heard what plaints they made, Thought that they had their Soveraignes death bewail'd; And (forcing truſt) ſome forg'd reports were ſpread,