Alexander, William · published 1607 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi · 499 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
O brave Leonides, I like thy strife, That with so few performed so glorious things: And death preferred before th'infamous life, That bondage still from a Barbarian brings. Those loathed t'accept a stranger for their Lord, And with their blood gave flame t'an unknown field, Yet we would honour them that they abhorred, And though being victors to the vanquished yield. For Whereto tended that renowned attempt, Which makes the Persians yet abase their brow; But even t'our countries scorn in a contempt. To take by force that which we offer now. Was this the scope of all our conquests then, Of our own captives to be made the prey? No, let us still command like valorous men, And rule our Empire by some other way. May we not use this policy a space, Till better wits some better means devise? Lest dangerous discords do disturb our peace, Still when we would of serious things advice. Let a majestic Senat gathered be, And them amongst the Imperial chare of state: That of th'authority all signs may see, Then whilst we compass that respected seat. There those that were in credit with the king, Whose merits in men's minds have reverence bred: Shall in their judgements balance every thing, How kingdoms should be ruled, how Armies led. And what the greatest part hath once approved, To that the rest must obliged be t'incline: All th'army by this harmony being moved, Will execute whatever we design. This concord would prove happy for us all, Since it each state in greatest surety renders: And by this means our Macedony shall, In place of one have many Alexanders. Though silence I confess becomes me best, That am a stranger, and the less believed: Yet since a partner of your toils I rest, I must unfold my mind, a mind that's grieved. And think you that a babe repairs our loss, How are the deep est judgements thus beguiled? This in all Countries hath been thought a cross, Woe to that soil whose sovereign is a child. Nor would these great men as is thought agree, They be too many bodies for one mind: Ah, pardon Ptolomie, it can not be, This union would all disunite I find. Thus would all th'army from good order swerve, When many might forgive, all would offend: As thinking well though they did death deserve, there's none so bad but some man will defend. And when so many kings were in one court, One court would then have many humours too: Which fostering factions for each light report, Would make them jar as neighbouring princes do. No, let this strange opinion be suppressed, Whilst equals all, all would unequal be: So that their minds by jealousy possessed, From pale suspicion never could be free. But ah, what needs contention at this time, T'obscure a matter that was made so clear: And do ye now account it for no crime, T'impugn his will that once was held so dear?
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)
Obraue Leonides, I like thy ſtrife, That with ſo few perforrnd ſo glorious things: And death preferrd before th'infamous life, That bondage ſtill from a Barbarian brings. Thoſe loth'd t'accept a ſtranger for their Lord, And with their blood gaue flame t'an vnknowne feild, Yet we would honour them that they abhorrd, And though being victors to the vanquiſh'd yeild. For where-to tended that renownd attempt, Which makes the Perſians yet abaſe their brow; But euen t'our countreys ſcorne in a contempt. To take by force that which we offer now. Was this the ſcope of all our conquerſts then, Of our owne captiues to be made the prey? No, let vs ſtill command like valerous men, And rule our Empire by ſome other way. May we not vſe this policie a ſpace, Till better wits ſome better meanes deuiſe? Leſt dangerous diſcords do diſturbe our peace, Still when we would of ſerious things aduice. Let a maieſticke Senat gathered be, And them amongſt the Imperiall chare of ſtate: That of th'authoritie all ſignes may ſee, Then whilſt we compaſſe that reſpected ſeate. There thoſe that were in credite with the king, Whoſe merits in mens minds haue reuerence bred: Shall in their iudgements ballance euery thing, How kingdomes ſhould be ruld, how Armies led. And what the greateſt part hath once approu'd, To that the reſt muſt oblig'd be t'incline: All th'armie by this harmony being mou'd, Will execute what euer we deſigne. This concord would proue happy for vs all, Since it each ſtate in greateſt ſuretie renders: And by this meanes our Macedony ſhall, In place of one haue many Alexanders. Though ſilence I confeſſe becomes me beſt, That am a ſtranger, and the leſſe beleeu'd: Yet ſince a partner of your toyles I reſt, I muſt vnfold my mind, a minde that's greeeu'd. And thinke you that a babe repaires our loſſe, How are the deep eſt iudgements thus beguild? This in all Countryes hath bin thought a croſſe, Wo to that ſoyle whoſe ſoueraigne is a child. Nor would theſe great men as is thought agree, They be too many bodies for one minde: Ah, pardon Ptolomie, it can not be, This vnion would all diſunite I finde. Thus would all th'armie from good order ſwarue, When many might forgiue, all would offend: As thinking well though they did death deſerue, Ther's none ſo bad but ſome man will defend. And when ſo many kings were in one court, One court would then haue many humors too: Which foſtring factions for each light report, Would make them iarre as neighbouring princes doe. No, let this ſtrange opinion be ſuppreſſd, Whilſt equals all, all would vnequall be: So that their mindes by iealouſie poſſeſſd, From pale ſuſpition neuer could be free. But ah, what needs contention at this time, T'obſcure a matter that was made ſo cleere: And doye now account it for no crime, T'impugne his wil that once was held ſo deere?