Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1604 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 552 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.
Yet how comes this? and O how can Clear knowledge thus (the soul's chief treasure) Because of such a cross to man, Which should afford him greatest pleasure? This is, because we cannot measure The limits that to it belong, But (bend to tempt forbidden things) Do soar too high with Nature's wings, Still weakest whilst we think us strong; The heavens which hold, we do them wrong To try their grounds, and what thence springs, This cross upon us justly brings: With knowledge, knowledge is confused, And grows a grief ere it be long; That which a blessing is when rightly used, Doth grow the greatest cross when once abused. Ah! what avaiels this unto us, Who in this veil of woes abide, With endless toils to study thus To learn the thing that heaven would hide? And trusting to too blind a guide, To spy the Planets how they move, And too (transgressing common Bars) The constellation of the stars, And all that is decreed above, Whereof (as oft the end doth prove) A secret sight our welfare mars, And in our breasts breeds endless wars, Whilst what our horoscopes foretell, Our expectations do disprove: Those apprehended plagues prove such a hell, That then we would unknown them till they fell. This is the pest of great estates, They by a thousand means devise How to foreknow their doubtful fates; And like new Giants, scale the skies, Heaven's secret store-house to surprise; Which sacrilegious skill we see With what great pain they apprehend it, And then how foolishly they spend it. To learn the thing that once must be; Why should we seek our destiny? If it be good, we long attend it; If it be ill, none may amend it: Such knowledge but torments the mind; Let us attend the heaven's decree: For those whom this ambiguous Art doth blind, May what they seek to fly, the rather find. And lo of late, what hath our King By his preposterous travels gained, In searching out each threatened thing, Which Atis horoscope contained? For what the heavens had once ordained, That by no means he could prevent; And yet he labours to find out Through all the Oracles about, Of future things the hid event. This doth his raging mind torment: (Now in his age unwisely stout) To fight with Cyrus, but no doubt The heavens are grieved thus to hear told Long ere the time their dark intent. Let such of Tantalus the state behold, Who dare the secrets of great Iove unfold. LEt us triumph o'er them (though proud of late) Whose glory now doth with their greatness fail: Since with their fortune forfeiting their state: No war's approved unless that it prevail: The world, that whilst we fought, did doubtful stand, As for the one, ordained to be a prey, Saw how the heavens placed lightning in my hand, Those thundering down, who would not us obey: Go pay our vows, ere enterprising more; The Gods detest a mind that is ingrate; And who delight their Deities to adore, Are always bend to establish their estate; Cause burden Altars, smoke each sacred place With Bullocks, Incense, Odours of all kinds; But none can give the Gods (still great in grace) A sacrifice more sweet, than thankful minds.
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)
Yet how comes this? and O how can Cleare knowledge thus (the ſoules chiefe treaſure) Becauſe of ſuch a croſſe to man, Which ſhould afford him greateſt pleaſure? This is, becauſe we cannot meaſure The limits that to it belong, But (bent to tempt forbidden things) Doe ſoare too high with Natures wings, Still weakeſt whil'ſt we thinke us ſtrong; The heavens which hold, we do them wrong To try their grounds, and what thence ſprings, This croſſe upon us juſtly brings: With knowledge, knowledge is confus'd, And growes a griefe ere it be long; "That which a bleſsing is when rightly us'd, "Doth grow the greateſt croſſe when once abus'd. Ah! what avaiels this unto us, Who in this vaile of woes abide, With endleſſe toyles to ſtudy thus To learn the thing that heaven would hide? And truſting to too blinde a guide, To ſpy the Planets how they move, And too (tranſgreſsing common Barres) The conſtellation of the ſtarres, And all that is decreed above, Whereof (as oft the end doth prove) A ſecret ſight our wel-fare marres, And in our breſts breeds endleſſe warres, Whil'ſt what our horoſcopes foretell, Our expectations doe diſprove: Thoſe apprehended plagues prove ſuch a hell, That then we would unknow them till they fell. This is the peſt of great eſtates, They by a thouſand meanes deviſe How to fore-know their doubtfull fates; And like new Gyants, ſcale the skies, Heavens ſecret ſtore-houſe to ſurpriſe; Which ſacrilegious skill we ſee With what great paine they apprehend it, And then how fooliſhly they ſpend it. To learne the thing that once muſt be; Why ſhould we ſeeke our deſtiny? If it be good, we long attend it; If it be ill, none may amend it: Such knowledge but torments the minde; Let us attend the heavens decree: For thoſe whom this ambiguous Art doth blinde, May what they ſeeke to flye, the rather finde. And loe of late, what hath our King By his prepoſterous travels gain'd, In ſearching out each threatned thing, Which Atis horoſcope contain'd? For what the heavens had once ordain'd, That by no meanes he could prevent; And yet he labours to finde out Through all the Oracles about, Of future things the hid event. This doth his raging minde torment: (Now in his age unwiſely ſtout) To fight with Cyrus, but no doubt The heavens are griev'd thus to heare told Long ere the time their darke intent. Let ſuch of Tantalus the ſtate behold, Who dare the ſecrets of great Iove unfold. LEt us triumph o're them (though proud of late) Whoſe glory now doth with their greatneſſe faile: Since with their fortune forfeiting their ſtate: No warre's approv'd unleſſe that it prevaile: The world, that whil'ſt we fought, did doubtfull ſtand, As for the one, ordain'd to be a prey, Saw how the heavens plac'd lightning in my hand, Thoſe thund'ring downe, who would not us obey: Goe pay our vowes, ere enterpriſing more; The Gods deteſt a minde that is ingrate; And who delight their Deities to adore, Are alwaies bent to ſtabliſh their eſtate; Cauſe burden Altars, ſmoke each ſacred place With Bullockes, Incenſe, Odours of all kindes; "But none can give the Gods (ſtill great in grace) "A ſacrifice more ſweet, than thankefull mindes.