Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1604 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 472 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
And (whilst distracted with a dangerous storm,) All joined to place the Rudder in my hand; I reunited that divided state, And with good success managed matters well, Which further kindled, had been quenched too late, That Hydra-headed tumult did so swell. When I my worth by those two works had proved, And trod the path of power (as Prince) a space, The people's Minion, by the Nobles loved, None could be great, save such as I would grace. Thus carried with the force of fortune's stream, I absolutely acted what I would; For, the democracy was but a name, The Cities raines my hand in trust did hold; I might (a tyrant) still have ruled in state, But my clear mind could no such clouds conceive, But gladly left what others urge of late, If I may rule myself, no more I crave; Yet some whose thoughts but for frail glory cared, Said that my spirit could not aspire to reign, And that my error could not be repaired, Since so to err means come not oft again. My soul in this a more contentment finds, Then if a Diadem adorned my brow, I chained th'affections of undaunted minds, (Though barbarous erst) which did to order bow, Yet hardly could rich Citizens advise To keep the statutes which my laws contained, Whilst what one praised, another did despise: Some loved, some loathed, even as they thought they gained. At last, at least in show, all rest content, Even those who hate me most, lend their applause: A worthy mind needs never to repent, The suffering crosses for an honest cause. Whilst travelling now with a contented mind, The memory of this my fancy feeds, Though to great states their periods are assigned: Time cannot make a prey of Virtue's deeds. Where seven-mouthed Nile from a concealed source, Inunding o'er the fields, no banks can bind, I saw their wonders, heard their wise discourse; Rare sights enriched mine eyes, rare lights my mind. And if it were but this, yet this delights: Behold how Croesus here the Lydian King, To be his guest me earnestly invites, The which to some would great contentment bring; But I bemoan that world-bewitched man, Who makes his gold his god, the earth his heaven; And I will try by all the means I can, To make his judgement with his fortune even. WHat can man's wand'ring thoughts confine, Or satisfy his fancies all? For whilst he wonders doth design, Even great things than do seem but small; What terror can his spirit appall, Whilst taking more than it can hold, He to himself contentment doth assign; His mind which monsters breeds, Imagination feeds, And with high thoughts quite headlongs rolled, Whilst seeking here a perfect ease to find, Would but melt mountains, and embrace the wind.
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 (whil'ſt diſtracted with a dangerous ſtorme,) All joyn'd to place the Rudder in my hand; I re-united that divided ſtate, And with good ſucceſſe manag'd matters well, Which further kindled, had been quench'd too late, That Hydra-headed tumult did ſo ſwell. VVhen I my worth by thoſe two works had prov'd, And trod the path of power (as Prince) a ſpace, The peoples Minion, by the Nobles lov'd, None could be great, ſave ſuch as I would grace. Thus carried with the force of fortunes ſtreame, I abſolutely acted what I would; For, the democracy was but a name, The Cities raines my hand in truſt did hold; I might (a tyrant) ſtill have rul'd in ſtate, But my cleare minde could no ſuch clouds conceive, But gladly left what others urge of late, "If I may rule my ſelfe, no more I crave; Yet ſome whoſe thoughts but for fraile glory car'd, Said that my ſprite could not aſpire to raigne, And that my errour could not be repair'd, Since ſo to erre meanes come not oft againe. My ſoule in this a more contentment findes, Then if a Diadem adorn'd my brow, I chayn'd th'affections of undaunted mindes, (Though barbarous earſt) which did to order bow, Yet hardly could rich Citizens adviſe To keep the ſtatutes which my lawes contain'd, Whil'ſt what one prais'd, another did deſpiſe: Some lov'd, ſome loath'd, ev'n as they thought they gain'd. At laſt, at leaſt in ſhew, all reſt content, Ev'n thoſe who hate me moſt, lend their applauſe: "A worthy minde needs never to repent, "The ſuffering croſſes for an honeſt cauſe. Whil'ſt travelling now with a contented minde, The memory of this my fancy feeds, Though to great ſtates their periods are aſſign'd: "Time cannot make a prey of Vertues deeds. Where ſeven-mouth'd Nile from a concealed ſource, Inunding ov'r the fields, no bankes can binde, I ſaw their wonders, heard their wiſe diſcourſe; Rare ſights enrich'd mine eyes, rare lights my minde. And if it were but this, yet this delights: Behold how Craeſus here the Lydian King, To be his gueſt me earneſtly invites, The which to ſome would great contentment bring; But I bemoane that world-bewitched man, Who makes his gold his god, the earth his heaven; And I will try by all the meanes I can, To make his judgement with his fortune eaven. VVHat can mans wandring thoughts confine, Or ſatisfie his fancies all? For whil'ſt he wonders doth deſigne, Even great things then doe ſeeme but ſmall; What terrour can his ſprite appall, Whil'ſt taking more then it can hold, He to himſelfe contentment doth aſsigne; His minde which monſters breeds, Imagination feeds, And with high thoughts quite headlongs rold, Whil'ſt ſeeking here a perfect eaſe to finde, Would but melt mountains, and embrace the winde.