Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T53: crown, king, state, life, lord, lords, live, queen, tullia, prince.
When that great Monarch marched t'encounter death, Whist all his captains were assembled there: And did demand whilst he might use his breath, Whom he himself adopted for his heir. Then that such doubtful questions should not need, As loving valour more than his own race: He that t'a brave man, brave men might succeed, Said, let the worthiest have the worthiest place. Nor did he speak this in a secret part With Sphinx his phrase, a greater doubt t'have moved: As breathing thoughts in each ambitious heart, To have his worth in Vulcan's furnace proved For whilst ye hedged the fatal bed about, With an unpartial care distracted long: Than he amongst you all did choose one out, That for so great a burden seemed most strong. He to Perdiccas did present the ring That used to seal the secrets of the state: By which it seemed that he designed him king, Ad so would seize him of the highest seat. Thus made this worthy man a worthy choice, That no new troubles might the state deform: And all the world now justly may rejoice, That thus prevented was a'mpetuous storm. For if this had not been his latest will, Ye Mars his Minions should have lived at jar: Whilst emulation amongst equals still, Had made the trumpet sound t'intestine wars. What huge disorders threatened to burst forth, If that our sovereign had no prince designed: That oft hath been a witness of our worth, And can weigh virtue in a virtuous mind. I see consenting signs applaud my speech, Rise, do Perdiccas that which they decree, Whilst modesty doth majesty impeach, Though thou cravest not this crown, this crown craves thee. I wonder not though thus Perdiccas shrink, T'accept so mighty a charge amidst th'alarms: The Sun must make Nictimine to wink, This Sceptre weighs too much for so weak arms. The Gods will never grant, nor men agree That such a one should domineer over us. Though vulgar minds might yield his thralls to be, Those that his betters are scorn to how thus. He prays us all Roxana's birth t'attend, Which though it came to pass as some expect: He can exchange or cause be brought t'an end, As bent t'allow all means when one effect. Thus would he temporize though t'our great scorn, Till time assist t'accomplish his designs: No kings Perdiccas likes but babes unborn, He labours well in undiscovered mines. I need not now insist to tell at large, What brave men be amids this martial band, That better do deserve so great a charge, Both for their skill and courage to command. Yet are the best not worthy to succeed, To that rare man that never can be matched: Whose memory must make our minds to bleed, Whose adversaries for this advantage watched. But if that great man did consent so soon, That our obedience should be thus abused: Of all that ever he desired t'have done, I think this only aught to be refused.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T6 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
When that great Monark march'd t'encounter death, Whiſt all his captaines were aſſembled there: And did demand whilſt he might vſe his breath, Whom he himſelfe adopted for his heire. Then that ſuch doubtfull queſtions ſhould not need, As louing valour more then his owne race: He that t'a braue man, braue men might ſucceed, Said, let the worthieſt haue the worthieſt place. Nor did he ſpeake this in a ſecret part With Sphinx his phraſe, a greater doubt t'haue moou'd: As breathing thoughts in each ambitious hart, To haue his worth in Vulcans furnace proou'd For whilſt ye hedg'd the fatall bed about, With an vnpartiall care diſtracted long: Then he amongſt you all did chuſe one out, That for ſo great a burthen ſeem'd moſt ſtrong. He to Perdiccas did preſent the ring That vſ'd to ſeale the ſecrets of the ſtate: By which it ſeemd that he deſign'd him king, Ad ſo would ſeize him of the higheſt ſeate. Thus made this worthy man a worthy choice, That no new troubles might the ſtate deforme: And all the world now iuſtly may reioyce, That thus preuented was a'mpetuous ſtorme. For if this had not been his lateſt will, Ye Mars his Minions ſhould haue liu'd at iarre: Whilſt emulation amongſt equals ſtill, Had made the trumpet ſound t'inteſtine warres. What huge diſorders threatned to burſt forth, If that our ſoueraigne had no prince deſignd: That oft hath been a witneſſe of our worth, And can weigh vertue in a vertuous mind. I ſee conſenting ſignes applaud my ſpeach, Riſe, do Perdicas that which they decree, Whilſt modeſtie doth maieſtie impeach, Though thou crau'ſt not this crowne, this crowne craues thee. I wonder not though thus Perdicas ſhrinke, T'accept ſo mighty a charge amidſt th'alarmes: The Sunne muſt make Nictimine to winke, This Scepter weighes too much for ſo weake armes. The Gods will neuer grant, nor men agree That ſuch a one ſhould domineer ouer vs. Though vulgar minds might yeeld his thrales to be, Thoſe that his betters are ſcorne to how thus. He prayes vs all Roxanaes birth t'attend, Which though it came to paſſe as ſome expect: He can exchange or cauſe be brought t'n end, As bent t'allow all meanes when one effect. Thus would he temporize though t'our great ſcorne, Till time aſſiſt t'accompliſh his deſignes: No kings Perdicas likes but babes vnborne, He labours well in vndiſcouered mines. I need not now inſiſt to tell at large, What braue men be amids this martiall band, That better do deſerue ſo great a charge, Both for their skill and courage to command. Yet are the beſt not worthy to ſucceede, To that rare man that neuer can be match'd: Whoſe memorie muſt make our mindes to bleed, Whoſe aduerſar's for this advantage watch'd. But if that great man did conſent ſo ſoone, That our obedience ſhould be thus abus'd: Of all that euer he deſird t'haue done, I thinke this onely ought to be refuſd.