Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1603 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 533 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.
That he had killed himself, all hope quite failed. The Persians grieved whilst these things did occur, Did first encourage all their Country bands To help their Prince, but yet they durst not stir For fear of falling in the Bactrians hands; Even in the time when this confusion was, The Traitors to defer the fact no more, Did to their Sovereign's Tent with Squadrons pass, And took, and bound, him whom they served before; Who in a golden Coach once proudly road, Was thrown in one for common carriage used, And who of late was honoured like a God, Two of his own (as if their slave) abused: Those royal hands to bear a Sceptre borne, Were basely bound, and which the more him grieved, (Thus misery can hardly scape from scorn) With bands of gold, which burdened, not relieved. When Alexander (great with courage) spied Our Armies fly, he (who in hope them chased) To follow us with diligence did ride, Base seemed the Conquest which no danger graced; But when at last at length by some informed How he was made a captive to his own, At this indignity he highly stormed, As if by it his hopes had been o'erthrown. Out of his host he did select a few Who were best horsed, and fit for such a fight, With whom his foes he did so fast pursue, That e'er they could suspect, he came in sight; The Traitors vexed when spying him appear, Came to the Cart whereas the King did stay, And called to horse in haste, since foes were near, Lest that they else might find him for a prey. He looked aloft, and cried aloud, I see That Nemesis is frowning from above; Should I with Traitors as a captive be? And fly from him, who but brave wars doth move? Then those in whom impiety abounds, Throwed Darts at him (vile beasts to be abhorred) And hurt the horses with an hundred wounds, Then men more trusty, dying for their Lord; As false in hearts, so feeble with their hands, When Gild and Danger doubled had despairs, The Traitors first, than all their traitorous bands Fled from a number less by half than theirs. But to the bounds of Death's pale kingdom brought. The King retired where lest by people spied, More wounded with ingratitude than ought, Did leave the world, whose folly he had tried; The last divorce which lasts, was scarcely made Twixt soul and body whilst the eyes grew dim, When Alexander came and found him dead, Who laboured had so long to ruin him, And (whilst his tears a general mourning moved) That stately vesture which himself arrayed, (Much feared for valour, more for virtue loved) With his own hand on Darius' corpse he laid; Then wailing long as for a brother lost To have his funerals furnished like a Kings, He bids you use his wealth, and spare no cost; For, you shall want no necessary things. He hath his body hither sent by me, And funerall rites solemnly bend to do, He thinks that they may best accomplished be, Whilst who him bred doth see him buried too▪
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)
That he had kill'd himſelfe, all hope quite fail'd. The Perſians griev'd whil'ſt theſe things did occurre, Did firſt encourage all their Countrey bands To help their Prince, but yet they durſt not ſtirre For feare of falling in the Bactrians hands; Even in the time when this confuſion was, The Traitors to deferre the fact no more, Did to their Soveraignes Tent with Squadrons paſſe, And took, and bound, him whom they ſerv'd before; Who in a golden Coach once proudly rode, Was throwne in one for common carriage us'd, And who of late was honour'd like a God, Two of his owne (as if their ſlave) abus'd: Thoſe royall hands to beare a Scepter borne, Were baſely bound, and which the more him griev'd, "(Thus miſery can hardly ſcape from ſcorne) "With bands of gold, which burden'd, not reliev'd. When Alexander (great with courage) ſpy'd Our Armies flie, he (who in hope them chac'd) To follow us with diligence did ride, "Baſe ſeem'd the Conqueſt which no danger grac'd; But when at laſt at length by ſome inform'd How he was made a captive to his owne, At this indignity he highly ſtorm'd, As if by it his hopes had beene o're-throwne. Out of his hoſt he did ſelect a few Who were beſt hors'd, and fit for ſuch a fight, With whom his foes he did ſo faſt purſue, That e're they could ſuſpect, he came in ſight; The Traitors vex'd when ſpying him appeare, Came to the Cart whereas the King did ſtay, And call'd to horſe in haſte, ſince foes were neare, Leſt that they elſe might finde him for a prey. He look'd aloft, and cry'd aloud, I ſee That Nemeſis is frowning from above; Should I with Traitors as a captive be? And flie from him, who but brave warres doth move? Then thoſe in whom impiety abounds, Throw'd Darts at him (vile beaſts to be abhorr'd) And hurt the horſes with an hundred wounds, Then men more truſty, dying for their Lord; As falſe in hearts, ſo feeble with their hands, When Guilt and Danger doubled had deſpaires, The Traitors firſt, then all their trait'rous bands Fled from a number leſſe by halfe then theirs. But to the bounds of Deaths pale kingdome brought. The King retyr'd where leaſt by people ſpy'd, More wounded with ingratitude then ought, Did leave the world, whoſe folly he had tri'd; The laſt divorce which laſts, was ſcarcely made Twixt ſoule and body whil'ſt the eyes grew dim, When Alexander came and found him dead, Who labour'd had ſo long to ruine him, And (whil'ſt his teares a generall mourning mov'd) That ſtately veſture which himſelfe array'd, (Much fear'd for valour, more for vertue lov'd) With his owne hand on Darius corps he layd; Then wailing long as for a brother loſt To have his funerals furniſh'd like a Kings, He bids you uſe his wealth, and ſpare no coſt; For, you ſhall want no neceſſary things. He hath his body hither ſent by me, And ſunerall rites ſolemnely bent to do, He thinks that they may beſt accompliſh'd be, Whil'ſt who him bred doth ſee him buried too▪