Alexander, William · published 1604 · first performed or written 1604 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 476 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
See quickly then th'occasion to embrace, No doubt inspired by some celestial power, Prayed him t'expose her dead child in your place, Yet where no beasts repaired him to devour: So shall we have (saith she) a double gain, Our offspring shall receive a stately tomb, And we a princely infant, to remain Still nursed with us as th'issue of my womb. The Husband liked so well his wives intent, That all what she affected he effected, And soon I had one of my household sent, To try if all were done as 'twas directed: He seeing the babe dead, dead in that weed, With that rich funeral furniture about him, Told what the fellow told, and I indeed Reposed on his report, for who could doubt him? In end, Time posting with hour-feathered wings, Had given you strength with others of your years, You past the time, not nephews unto Kings, But for that time admitted for your peers. They fail, call Fortune blind, she sight bewrayed, And your authority by lot enlarged, In pastoral sports who still the sceptre swayed, And as but borne for that, that best discharged. Then with the other children as it chanced, A noble man of Medea's son remained, Who swollen with envy to see you advanced, Your childish charge with scornful words disdained. You spiting at that proud attempt of his, Did punish him as it became a Prince: I doubt now (Sir) if that you think on this, The rest of rashness did your deed convince. More mighty matters now to muse upon, My memory with the remembrance cloy, That those are all forgot, and yet tell on, For I delight to hear this childish toy. The father of the child informed the King How such a base-born boy abused his son, And caused an Esquire straightway you to bring, To suffer for the fault that you had done. And when the King accused you in his sight, As the presumptuous brat of a base clown, You boldly did maintain that you had right To scourge one that rebelled against your crown. The King astonished at th'imperious words Of one so magnanimous, and so young, Doth pause awhile, and straightway he records, That you were you, and I had done him wrong. The torture to the Neatherd was presented, Who soon for fear confessed (O sudden change) The King as seemed exceedingly contented, Sent one for me to hear the tidings strange. And as he had good cause, in show delighted, Did for a solemn Sacrifice prepare, And me as his most special guest invited, Who with my son did straight to Court repair. When light was banished by nights shadowy sable, The candles by his forfeit taking place, They served me with my sons flesh at the table, Then did upbraid me with his bloodless face.
seed 43: T32 · seed 44: T26 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
See quickly then th'occaſion to imbrace, No doubt inſpir'd by ſome celeſtiall powre, Prayd him t'expoſe her dead child in your place, Yet where no beaſts repair'd him to deuoure: So ſhall we haue (ſaith ſhe) a double gaine, Our off-ſpring ſhall receiue a ſtately tombe, And we a princely infant, to remaine Still nurſt with vs as th'iſſue of my wombe. The Husband likte ſo well his Wiues intent, That all what ſhe affected he effected, And ſoone I had one of my houſhold ſent, To try if all were done as t'was directed: He ſeeing the babe dead, dead in that weed, With that rich funerall furniture about him, Told what the fellow told, and I indeed Repoſd on his report, for who could doubt him? In end, Time poſting with houre-feth'red wings, Had giuen you ſtrength with others of your yeeres, You paſt the time, not nephews vnto Kings, But for that time admitted for your peeres. They faile, call Fortune blind, ſhe ſight bewrayd, And your authoritie by lot inlarg'd, In paſturall ſports who ſtill the ſcepter ſwayd, And as but borne for that, that beſt diſcharg'd. Then with the other children as it chanc'd, A noble man of Medeas ſonne remaind, Who ſwolne with enuy to ſee you aduanc'd, Your childiſh charge with ſcornefull words diſdaind. You ſpighting at that proud attempt of his, Did puniſh him as it became a Prince: I doubt now (Sir) if that you thinke on this, The reſt of raſhnes did your deed conuince. More mightie matters now to muſe vpon, My memorie with the remembrance cloy, That thoſe are all forgot, and yet tell on, For I delight to heare this childiſh toy. The father of the child inform'd the King How ſuch a baſe-borne boy abuſd his ſonne, And cauſd an Eſquire ſtraightway you to bring, To ſuffer for the fault that you had done. And when the King accuſd you in his ſight, As the preſumptuous brat of a baſe clowne, You boldlie did maintaine that you had right To ſcourge one that rebeld againſt your crowne. The King aſtoniſh'd at th'imperious words Of one ſo magnanimous, and ſo yong, Doth pawſe awhile, and ſtraightway he records, That you were you, and I had done him wrong. The tortour to the Net-heard was preſented, Who ſoone for feare confeſt (O ſuddaine change) The King as ſeem'd exceedinglie contented, Sent one for me to heare the tidings ſtrange. And as he had good cauſe, in ſhew delighted, Did for a ſolemne Sacrifice prepare, And me as his moſt ſpeciall gueſt inuited, Who with my ſonne did ſtraight to Court repaire. When light was baniſh'd by nights ſhaddowie ſable, The candles by his forfait taking place, They ſeru'd me with my ſonnes fleſh at the table, Then did vpbraid me with his bloodleſſe face.