Alexander, William · published 1607 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 498 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
Ah, seizing without right on every state, I but myself too great a Monarch made: Since all men gaped to get the golden bate, Which by my death seemed easy to be had. Whilst from humanity too much divorced My deeds all hearts with fear and horror filled: I whom the force of foes yet never forced, Was by my friends most fraudulently killed. But now I see the troublous time draws near, When they shall keep my obsequies with blood. No wonder too, though such a warriors bier, At last do swim amids a scarlet flood: For as my life did breed huge broils over all, My death must be th'occasion of great cumbers, And it doth best become a strong man's fall, To be renowned by ruining of numbers. The snaky-tressed sisters shall not need T'use fatal firebrands, loathsome Pluto's pests, Or poisonous inspirations, so to bred, A thirst of murder in transported breasts. Yet my ambitious ashes once may shine T'inflame my Minions minds with strange desires: If of their spirits each keep a spark of mine, To waste the world, their breasts may furnish fires. The beauties once of th'earth shall all look red, Whilst my lieutenants through that pride of theirs With unkind arms, huge streams of blood do shed, By murdering of mine heirs to be mine heirs. Is this the gain of greatnesses did I pine To be made eminent, to be overthrown, To ruin first myself then root out mine; As conquering others, but to lose mine own? O happy I, but happier far my race, If with my father's conquests still content, I managed had th'Aemathian power in peace, Which was made lawful by a long descent. Then far sequestered from Bellona's rage, I had the true delights of nature tried, And aged with honour; honoured in my age Had left my sceptre to my son and died, And he succeeded had t'a quiet state, Which then because less great had been more sure. And not exposed to envy, nor to hate, That do against the greatest States conjure. But since they mind t'unearth mine earthly part; Which now no badge of majesty retains. To roaring Phlegeton I must depart, Far from the lightsome bounds of th'airy Plains. And must I there, that did the world surmount, (Arrested by the Monarch of the Ghosts) To Radamanthus render an account, Of all the deeds done by my ravenous hosts? There whilst with Minos Aeacus sits down, A rigorous judge in hell's most horrid court. Though far before his Nephew in renown, He will not with one of his race comport. O what pale troops of ghosts are gathered here, That were of bodies spoiled by my decree! And first the wronged Parmenio doth compear, From whom I nought, but who did much from me, At the tribunal of Tartarian powers: He aggravates a ingratitude too great. And (whilst th'infernal tyrant foaming lowers) All whom I wronged for vengeance stand t'entreat:
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Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Ah, ſeazing without right on euery ſtate, I but my ſelfe too great a Monarch made: Since all men gapt to get the golden bate, Which by my death ſeemd eaſie to be had. Whilſt from humanitie too much deuorc'd My deeds all hearts with feare and horror fild: I whom the force of foes yet neuer forc'd, Was by my friends moſt fraudulently kill'd. But now I ſee the troublous time drawes neere, When they ſhall keepe my obſequies with blood. No wonder too, though ſuch a warriours biere, At laſt do ſwim amids a ſcarlet flood: For as my life did breed huge broyles ouer all, My death muſt be th'occaſion of great cumbers, And it doth beſt become a ſtrong mans fall, To be renown'd by ruining of numbers. The ſnaky-treſſed ſiſters ſhal not neede T'vſe fatall firebrands, lothſome Plutoes peſtes, Or poiſonous inſpirations, ſo to bred, A thirſt of murder in tranſported breſts. Yet my ambitious aſhes once may ſhine T'enflame my Minions minds with ſtrange deſires: If of their ſpirits each keepe a ſparke of mine, To waſte the world, their breſts may furniſh fires. The beauties once of th'earth ſhall all looke red, Whilſt my lieuetenants through that pride of theirs With vnkind armes, huge ſtreames of blood do ſhed, By murthering of mine heires to be mine heires. Is this the gaine of greatneſſes did I pine To be made eminent, to be ouerthrowne, To ruine firſt my ſelfe then roote out mine; As conquering others, but to loſe mine owne? O happy I, but happier far my race, If with my fathers conqueſts ſtill content, I manag'd had th'Aemathian power in peace, Which was made lawfull by a long diſcent. Then farre ſequeſtred from Bellonaes rage, I had the true delites of nature tryed, And ag'd with honor; honor'd in my age Had left my ſcepter to my ſonne and dyed, And he ſucceeded had t'a quiet ſtate, Which then becauſe leſſe great had bin more ſure. And not expoſd to enuy, nor to hate, That do againſt the greateſt States coniure. But ſince they minde t'enearth mine earthly part; Which now no badge of maieſtie reraines. To roaring Phlegeton I muſt depart, Farre from the lightſome bounds of th'ayrie Plaines. And muſt I there, that did the world ſurmount, (Arreſted by the Monarke of the Ghoſts) To Radamanthus render an account, Of all the deedes done by my rauenous hoſtes? Ther whilſt with Minos Aeacus ſits downe, A rigorous Iudge in Hells moſt horride court. Though farre before his Nephew in renowne, He will not with one of his race comport. O what pale troops of ghoſts are gathered heere, That were of bodies ſpoild by my decree! And firſt the wrong'd Parmenio doth compeere, From whom I nought, but who did much from me, At the tribunall of Tartarian powres: He aggrauates a ingratitude too great. And (whilſt th'infernall tyrant foming lowres) All whom I wrong'd for vengeance ſtand t'intreat: