Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1604 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T53 The crown: kingship claimed, resigned an · 500 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T53: crown, king, state, life, lord, lords, live, queen, tullia, prince.
Since our own child shall get a stately tomb, And we a Princely brood, which may remain, Still nursed with us as th'issue of my womb. The husband liked so well his wife's design, That he performed all what she did require, And when I had directed one of mine, This Tragedies last act, who might inquire: My man who spied a babe there breathless lie, With that rich funeral furniture arrayed, Told what the fellow told, (a generous lie) So that thus tried, I trusted what they said. I end, Time (posting with houre-feathered wings) Had given you strength, with others of your years You haunted games, 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 sport, who still the Sceptre swayed, And as but borne for that, that best discharged: With other children then, as once it chanced, A Nobleman of Medea's Son remained, Who swollen with envy to see you advanced, Your childish charge with scornful words disdained; You raging at that proud attempt of his, Did punish him, as it became a Prince, I doubt now (Sir) if that you think of this: The rest of rashness did your deed convince. Though now my breast doth greater thoughts embrace, Of youthful sport, yet do not spare to speak; Let cares alternatly give pleasure place: That which is bended still, must sometime break. The child's great Father did inform the King, How that so base a boy his Son abused, And of the guard one hasted you to bring, As for an odious crime to be accused; But when the King (expostulating long) By terrors strived to cast your courage down: You boldly said, that you had done no wrong, To punish one who had contemned your Crown; You so magnanimous amazed to find, Whilst pausing long with an attentive Eye, That speech imperious told the King your kind: Whose brood but th'Eagles durst have soared so high? The feigned Father to the King was brought, Who (feared for torture) telling truth in time, Where he reward deserved, but pardon sought, As if the saving you had been a crime. Then (as it seemed) delighted with the rest, The King did cause a sumptuous feast prepare, And me desired as his most special guest, That with my Son I would to Court repair; When I was come, the King great joy disclosed, And soothed my words which did his chance applaud, But for another end than I supposed: What fairer cloak than courtesy for fraud? When th'absence of the Sun did darkness breed, The Candle's light inheriting his place, On my Son's flesh they caused myself to feed, Then did upbraid me with his bloodless face; What anguish, or what rage overflowed my soul, A loving Father may imagine best, Yet at that time I did my rage control, But laid it high up in a stormy breast.
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)
Since our owne childe ſhall get a ſtately tombe, And we a Princely brood, which may remaine, Still nurſt with us as th'iſſue of my wombe. The husband lik't ſo well his wives deſigne, That he perform'd all what ſhe did require, And when I had directed one of mine, This Tragedies laſt act, who might enquire: My man who ſpy'd a babe there breathleſſe lye, With that rich funerall furniture array'd, Told what the fellow told, (a generous lye) So that thus try'd, I truſted what they ſaid. I end, Time (poſting with houre-feather'd wings) Had given you ſtrength, with others of your yeares You haunted games, not nephewes unto Kings, But for that time admitted for your Peeres, They faile call fortune blinde, ſhe ſight bewray'd, And your authority by lot enlarg'd, In paſtorall ſport, who ſtill the Scepter ſway'd, And as but borne for that, that beſt diſcharg'd: With other children then, as once it chanc'd, A Noble-man of Medeas Sonne remain'd, Who ſwolne with envy to ſee you advanc'd, Your childiſh charge with ſcornfull words diſdain'd; You raging at that proud attempt of his, Did puniſh him, as it became a Prince, I doubt now (Sir) if that you thinke of this: The reſt of raſhneſſe did your deed convince. Though now my breaſt doth greater thoughts embrace, Of youthfull ſport, yet do not ſpare to ſpeake; "Let cares alternatly give pleaſure place: "That which is bended ſtill, muſt ſometime breake. The childes great Father did inform the King, How that ſo baſe a boy his Sonne abuſ'd, And of the guard one haſted you to bring, As for an odious crime to be accuſ'd; But when the King (expoſtulating long) By terrours ſtriv'd to caſt your courage downe: You boldly ſaid, that you had done no wrong, To puniſh one who had contemn'd your Crowne; You ſo magnanimous amaz'd to finde, Whil'ſt pauſing long with an attentive Eye, That ſpeech imperious told the King your kinde: Whoſe brood but th'Eagles durſt have ſoar'd ſo high? The fained Father to the King was brought, Who (fear'd for torture) telling truth in time, Where he reward deſerv'd, but pardon ſought, As if the ſaving you had beene a crime. Then (as it ſeem'd) delighted with the reſt, The King did cauſe a ſumptuous feaſt prepare, And me deſir'd as his moſt ſpeciall gueſt, That with my Sonne I would to Court repaire; When I was come, the King great joy diſclos'd, And ſooth'd my words which did his chance applaud, But for another end then I ſuppoſ'd: "What fairer cloke then courteſie for fraud? When th'abſence of the Sunne did darkneſſe breed, The Candles light inheriting his place, On my Sonnes fleſh they caus'd my ſelfe to feed, Then did upbraid me with his bloudleſſe face; VVhat anguiſh, or what rage o're-flow'd my ſoule, A loving Father may imagine beſt, Yet at that time I did my rage controull, But laid it high up in a ſtormie breſt.