Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1604 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness · 515 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
Those be but dreams of bliss which fortune brings, To break (by bending) foolish mortals minds, I saw but senseless heaps of melting things; A waving wealth, exposed to many winds: This but the body serving to decore, As foolish owners it, it th' owners spends, Where minds more circumspect seek better store Of wealth from danger free that never ends. I wots not what you mean, whilst thus in love, With feigned Ideas of imagined bliss; By fancies drawn, such portraits do but move Sick brains to dream, that which indeed they miss; But more I have then their conceits can show, Whose rich conjectures breed but poor effects, And (I beseech you) did you ever know A man more blessed than I in all respects? I, Tellus knew, a man whom Athens loved, Who to do good, at no occasion failed, And in my judgement hath most happy proved, Since while he lived, beloved, whilst dead, bewailed; And last (that he might reap all fruits of bliss) His Country's beaten bands, near put to flight, By him encouraged, scorned to be submiss, Who died victorious in two Armies sight; More glorious now then when he was alive, As he in heaven, on earth his happy rest, To trace his steps, who led by Virtue strive, Heirs of his worth, and honoured by the best. Since this first place a private person gains, Whose fortunes treasure in short time was told, Now next in rank, who registered remains, Whose happiness you most accomplished hold? Of Cleobis, and Bitons virtuous way, The prosperous course doth to my thoughts approach: Their mother wanting on a solemn day, The horses which were used to draw her Coach, Them to supply the place, love kindly raised, Who drew her to that place of public mirth, Whilst both of them abundantly were praised, They for their piety, she for her birth: This charitable work, when brought to end, Both died, whilst offering incenie to the Gods, Who (favoured so) to draw them did intent, From further danger of afflictions rods: O happy mother! who (with true delight) Of labours past such pleasant fruits enjoyed, And happy children! who did thus acquit The mother's pain, and died whilst well employed. Ah, ah, our lives are frail, do what we can, And like the brittle glass, break whilst they glance, Then oft the heavens to curb the pride of man, Do inter-sowre our sweets with some sad chance. Is there no place appointed then for me? Or is my state so abject in thine eyes, That thou dost think me blessed in no degree, As one, whose best in fortune's balance lies? Or thinkest thou me (of judgement too remiss) A wretch exposed to want, to scorn, or pains, The bastard child of fortune, barred from bliss, Whom heavens do hate, and all the world disdains? Are those poor creatures then to be compared, With one who may consume such in his wrath? Who (as I please) do punish or reward, Whose words, nay even whose looks give life or death.
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)
"Thoſe be but dreams of bliſſe which fortune brings, "To breake (by bending) fooliſh mortalls mindes, "I ſaw but ſenceleſſe heapes of melting things; "A waving wealth, expos'd to many windes: "This but the body ſerving to decore, "As fooliſh owners it, it th' owners ſpends, "Where mindes more circumſpect ſeek better ſtore "Of wealth from danger free that never ends. I wot not what you meane, whil'ſt thus in love, With fain'd Ideas of imagin'd bliſſe; By fancies drawn, ſuch portraits doe but move Sicke braines to dreame, that which indeed they miſſe; But more I have then their conceits can ſhow, Whoſe rich conjectures breed but poore effects, And (I beſeech you) did you ever know A man more bleſt then I in all reſpects? I, Tellus knew, a man whom Athens lov'd, Who to doe good, at no occaſion fail'd, And in my judgement hath moſt happy prov'd, Since while he liv'd, belov'd, whil'ſt dead, bewail'd; And laſt (that he might reape all fruits of bliſſe) His Countries beaten bands, neere put to flight, By him encourag'd, ſcorn'd to be ſubmiſſe, Who dy'd victorious in two Armies ſight; More glorious now then when he was alive, As he in heaven, on earth his happy reſt, To trace his ſteps, who led by Vertue ſtrive, Heires of his worth, and honour'd by the beſt. Since this firſt place a private perſon gaines, Whoſe fortunes treaſure in ſhort time was told, Now next in ranke, who regiſtred remaines, Whoſe happineſſe you moſt accompliſh'd hold? Of Cleobis, and Bitons vertuous way, The proſp'rous courſe doth to my thoughts approch: Their mother wanting on a ſolemne day, The horſes which were us'd to draw her Coach, Them to ſupply the place, love kindely rais'd, Who drew her to that place of publike mirth, Whil'ſt both of them abundantly were prais'd, They for their piety, ſhe for her birth: This charitable worke, when brought to end, Both dy'd, whil'ſt offering incenie to the Gods, Who (favour'd ſo) to draw them did intend, From further danger of afflictions rods: O happy mother! who (with true delight) Of labours paſt ſuch pleaſant fruits enjoy'd, And happy children! who did thus acquite The mothers paine, and dyed whil'ſt well imploy'd. "Ah, ah, our lives are fraile, doe what we can, "And like the brittle glaſſe, breake whil'ſt they glance, "Then oft the heavens to curbe the pride of man, "Doe inter-ſowre our ſweets with ſome ſad chance. Is there no place appointed then for me? Or is my ſtate ſo abject in thine eyes, That thou do'ſt thinke me bleſt in no degree, As one, whoſe beſt in fortunes ballance lyes? Or think'ſt thou me (of judgement too remiſſe) A wretch expos'd to want, to ſcorne, or paines, The baſtard childe of fortune, barr'd from bliſſe, VVhom heavens doe hate, and all the world diſdaines? Are thoſe poore creatures then to be compar'd, With one who may conſume ſuch in his wrath? Who (as I pleaſe) doe puniſh or reward, Whoſe words, nay ev'n whoſe lookes give life or death.