Alexander, William · published 1607 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi · 492 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
Thus though that I mine enemies did abate, I made my greatest friends become my foes, Who did my barbarous insolencies hate, And for the like afraid, wailed others woes. Those tyrannies which thousands chanced to see As inhuman a multitude admire: And feared to be familiar more with me, As from an odious tyrant stood retired: Yea there were many too that did conspire, By base ambushments whiles t'entrap my life. Of all my labours, lo this was the hire, Those must have store of toils, that toil for strife: And I remember that amidst my joys, Even whilst the chase of armies was my sport, There wanted not a portion of annoys To counterpoise my pleasures in some sort. Of those in th'earth most happy that remain, (As aged experience constantly records) The pleasures far exceeded are by pain, Life greater grief than comfort still affords. What rage and sorrow seized upon my soul, Whilst big with hopes a battle bent to prove! That sudden sickness did my course control, Which Cydnus cold embracings chanced to move. From the Physician then (though deemed for ill) I took his drink, and gave th'invective lines. Then whilst he red did drink, yet eyed him still, And by accusing looks searched guilty signs. Not that suspicious fears could make me sad. This was the ground whence did proceed my pain, Lest death that victory prevented had, Which I was sure (if present once) t'obtain. But when that I extended had my state, From learned Athens to the barbarous Indes, Still my tumultuous troops my pride did hate, As monstrous mutinies unmasked their minds. I (so my name more wonderful to make) Of Hercules and Bacchus past the bounds. And (whilst that Memnon's sun burnt bands did quake) Did write my worth in many a monarch's wounds, Kings were my subjects, and my subjects kings: Yet my contentment further did require, For I imagined still more mighty things, And to a greater greatness did aspire, The compass of the career of the sun, By many a famous victory I won: Yet wept that there were no more worlds to win, As all had been too little for one man. Was I not honoured as a God by some, Whilst what I enterprised it still prevailed? Whom I assailed I always did o'ercome, No project of my fancies ever failed. This made me thought immortalized to be, Which in all minds amazement yet contracts, For I led Fortune, Fortune followed me, As forced t'attend the greatness of my acts. Yet I have found it a more easy thing, To conquer all the mansions of the wind, Than mine own self; and of my passion's king To order the disorders of my mind. What comfort justly could my soul receive Of all my conquests past, if that even then Whilst I triumphed, (to wrath and wine as slave) I scaped not scandal more than other men.
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)
Thus though that I mine enemies did abate, I made my greateſt friends become my foes, Who did my barbarous inſolencies hate, And for the like afraid, waild others woes. Thoſe tyrannies which thouſands chanc'd to ſee As inhumane a multitude admirde: And fear'd to be familar more with mee, As from an odious tyrant ſtoode retirde: Yea there were many too that did conſpire, By baſe ambuſhments whiles t'entrap my life. Of all my labours, loe this was the hire, Thoſe muſt haue ſtore of toiles, that toyle for ſtrife: And I remember that amidſt my ioyes, Euen whilſt the chaſe of armies was my ſport, There wanted not a portion of annoyes To counterpoiſe my pleaſures in ſome ſort. Of thoſe in th'earth moſt happy that remaine, (As ag'd experience conſtantly records) The pleaſures farre exceeded are by paine, Life greater greife then comfort ſtill affords. What rage and ſorrow ſeaz'd vpon my ſoule, Whilſt big with hopes a battell bent to proue! That ſudden ſickneſſe did my courſe controule, Which Cidnus cold imbracings chanc'd to moue. From the Phiſition then (though deem'd for ill) I tooke his drinke, and gaue th'inuectiue lines. Then whilſt he red did drinke, yet eyd him ſtil, And by accuſing lookes ſearch'd guilty ſignes. Not that ſuſpitious feares could make me ſad. This was the ground whence did proceed my paine, Leſt death that victorie preuented had, Which I was ſure (if preſent once) t'obtaine. But when that I extended had my ſtate, From learned Athens to the barbarous Indes, Still my tumultuous troupes my pride did hate, As monſtrous mutinies vnmask'd their mindes. I (ſo my name more wonderful to make) Of Hercules and Bacchus paſt the bounds. And (whilſt that Memnons ſun burnt bands did quake) Did write my worth in many a Monarchs wounds, Kings were my ſubiects, and my ſubiects kings: Yet my contentment further did require, For I imagind ſtill more mighty things, And to a greater greatneſle did aſpire, The compaſſe of the carriere of the ſunne, By many a famous victory I wan: Yet wept that there were no more worlds to win, As all had beene to little for one man. Was I not honord as a God by ſome, Whilſt what I interprizd it ſtill preuaild? Whom I aſſaild I alwayes did ore-come, No project of my fancies euer faild. This made me thought immortalizd to be, Which in all mindes amazement yet contracts, For I led Fortune, Fortune followed me, As forc'd t'attend the greatneſſe of my acts. Yet I haue found it a more eaſie thing, To conquer all the manſions of the winde, Then mine owne ſelfe; and of my paſſions king To order the diſorders of my minde. What comfort iuſtly could my ſoule receiue Of all my conqueſts paſt, if that euen then Whilſt I triumph'd, (to wrath and wine as ſlaue) I ſcap'd not ſcandall more then other men.