Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1604 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla · 492 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
He, since his father's age-worn course expired, Hath ruled his people free from blood or strife, Till now a Viper hath his death conspired, Who from his loins extracted had his life; I mean this Cyrus, (base Cambyses brood,) Who by a Bitch, nursed with the Country swains, (No sign observed importing Princely blood:) The doggish nature of his Nurse retains. He came against his Grandfather to field, And unexpected with a mighty power, His forces forced, did force himself to yield, Who (captive kept) now waits for death each hour. That you may mark how great my in t' rest is, This ruthful story I did largely touch; Those circumstances show that shame of his Doth from our glory derogate too much; Dare any Prince presume to trouble thus One whom our kingdom's favour should defend? In strict affinity combined with us, Yet not regarded for▪ so great a friend. This with some joy doth smooth my stormy mind, Whilst I for Medes against the Persians go, I hope that both by brave effects shall find How kind a friend I prove, how fierce a foe. Though nature's law you cared not to transgress, Nor this your wronged ally would not repair; Yet the regard to Monarches in distress, Should move the mighty with a mutual care; Those terrors too which thunder in your ear, I think the Lydians will not well allow: For when the Cedar falls, the Oak may fear, That which o'erthrows the Medes may trouble you. And when a neighbour's house they burning view, Then their own dangers men may apprehend; It better is with others to pursue, Then be when but alone, forced to defend. Ah! this is but the outside of your course, A dangerous ambush which ambition plants: There may come Rivers raging from this source, To drown your state, whilst such high thoughts nought daunts; I know those newborn monsters of your mind Have armed your ravished heart with fair conceits, Yet may those wonders which you have divined, Prove traitorous projects, painted for deceits; And (pardon Sir) it is not good to be Too rashly stout, nor curiously wise, Lest that you leave that which we certain see, And not attain to that which you devise. I grant indeed (this very few shall know) Though I profess but to relieve my friend, My thoughts conceive, as success best may show, And not without great cause, a greater end: You see how fortune nought but change affects, Some are reproached, that others may be praised, And every age brings forth some strange effects, Some men must fall, that others may be raised: I doubt not, you have heard who was the first, For warring with the world, whom fame revives, Who had of sovereignty, so great a thirst, That it could not be quenched with thousands lives Even he who first obtained the name of Iove, And rests reputed for his glorious acts,
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)
He, ſince his fathers age-worne courſe expir'd, Hath rul'd his people free from bloud or ſtrife, Till now a Viper hath his death conſpir'd, Who from his loynes extracted had his life; I meane this Cyrus, (baſe Cambyſes brood,) Who by a Bitch, nurſt with the Country ſwaines, (No ſigne obſerv'd importing Princely bloud:) The doggiſh nature of his Nurſe retaines. He came againſt his Grand-father to field, And unexpected with a mighty pow'r, His forces forc'd, did force himſelfe to yeeld, Who (captive kept) now waites for death each houre. That you may marke how great my int' reſt is, This ruthfull ſtory I did largely touch; Thoſe circumſtances ſhew that ſhame of his Doth from our glory derogate too much; Dare any Prince preſume to trouble thus One whom our kingdomes favour ſhould defend? In ſtrict affinity combin'd with us, Yet not regarded for▪ ſo great a friend. This with ſome joy doth ſmooth my ſtormy minde, Whil'ſt I for Medes againſt the Perſians goe, I hope that both by brave effects ſhall finde How kinde a friend I prove, how fierce a foe. Though natures law you car'd not to tranſgreſſe, "Nor this your wrong'd ally would not repaire; "Yet the regard to Monarchs in diſtreſſe, "Should move the mighty with a mutuall care; "Thoſe terrours too which thunder in your eare, "I thinke the Lydians will not well allow: "For when the Cedar falles, the Oake may feare, "That which o'rethrowes the Medes may trouble you. "And when a neighbours houſe they burning view, "Then their owne dangers men may apprehend; "It better is with others to purſue, "Then be when but alone, forc'd to defend. "Ah! this is but the out-ſide of your courſe, "A dangerous ambuſh which ambition plants: "There may come Rivers raging from this ſource, "To drown your ſtate, whil'ſt ſuch high thoughts nought daunts; "I know thoſe new-borne monſters of vour minde "Have arm'd your raviſh'd heart with faire conceits, "Yet may thoſe wonders which you have divin'd, "Prove traiterous projects, painted for deceits; "And (pardon Sir) it is not good to be "Too raſhly ſtout, nor curiouſly wiſe, "Leſt that you leave that which we certaine ſee, "And not attaine to that which you deviſe. I grant indeed (this very few ſhall know) Though I profeſſe but to relieve my friend, My thoughts conceive, as ſucceſſe beſt may ſhow, And not without great cauſe, a greater end: You ſee how fortune nought but change affects, Some are reproach'd, that others may be prais'd, And every age brings forth ſome ſtrange effects, "Some men muſt fall, that others may be rais'd: I doubt not, you have heard who was the firſt, For warring with the world, whom fame revives, Who had of ſoveraignty, ſo great a thirſt, That it could not be quench'd with thouſands lives Even he who firſt obtain'd the name of Iove, And reſts reputed for his glorious acts,