Alexander, William · published 1607 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 493 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
His death of sorrow makes my soul the prey, Though many thought that I for it had longed: For if by those that he rests bound t'obey, One can be wronged, than I indeed was wronged. Fame to mine ears by divers tongues did bring, T'a danger huge how you were once exposed, But specified not each particular thing, Which by yourself I long to hear disclosed. When sage Calistines for no request, With superstitious customs could comport: But with frank words all flattery did detest, He was abused, and in a barbarous sort. So plaguing him (no doubt) the king did ill, Yet to prosperity we must impute Those fatal faults that follow Fortune still, As being of all great minds a bastard fruit. We should in kings, as loath their states to touch, Speak sparingly of vice, praise virtue much. But I whose soul that wise man dearly loved, Whilst spying his perfections thus injured: To tender passions by compassion moved, Would his relief have willingly procured. But when my credit failed, all hope being passed, That I could purchase grace in any sort: I gave him desp'rate physic at the last, That if his life was evil, it might be short. The king enraged that I had thus presumed, To limit his revenge by sudden death: That by a Lion I should be consumed, Did throw my doom out of the depths of wrath. But when with rolling eyes the Lion roared, He by my strength as strengthless was o'erthrown: Which to the king whose mind did then remord, My courage and my constancy made known. So that incontinent I was set free, By this rare proof esteemed amongst the strong: And with a mind from inward rancour free; As he his wrath, so I forgot my wrong. For whilst alone he through a forest ranged; If it had been but so, to purchase fame: Some by that means had former wrongs revenged, Bent like Erostratus t'acquire a name. Yet that which others did attempt in vain, And tired by travel, of a surfeit died, I did perform him bringing back again, Whilst I did run as swift as he could ride. And of that deed my sprite rests well apaid, For since that time my sovereign held me dear, Which afterwards he to the world bewrayed, Whilst in this form his favour did appear. When unawares he chanced my brow to wound, To stay my blood that strived to die his lance: My temples with his diadem he crowned, A happy sign, though coming but by chance. And O! who knows but once before I die, That the success may second the presage? What hinders us our fortune now to try?, And for a diadem our cares t'engage? Those bended minds that aim at greatness still, Grown popular by th'army to be praised: Do wind themselves in every man's goodwill, And would seem humble that they may be raised.
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)
His death of ſorrow makes my ſoule the prey, Though many thought that I for it had long'd: For if by thoſe that he reſts bound t'obey, One can be wrong'd, then I indeede was wrong'd. Fame to mine eares by diuers tongues did bring, T'a danger huge how you were once expoſde, But ſpecifide not each particular thing, Which by your ſelfe I long to heare diſcloſde. When ſage Calistines for no requeſt, With ſuperſtitious cuſtomes could comport: But with franke wordes all flatterie did deteſt, He was abuſde, and in a barbarous ſort. So plaging him (no doubt) the king did ill, Yet to proſperitie we muſt impute Thoſe fatall faults that follow Fortune ſtill, As being of all great mindes a baſtard fruit. We ſhould in kings, as loth their ſtates to tuch, Speake ſparingly of vice, praiſe vertue much. But I whoſe ſoule that wiſe man deerely lou'd, Whilſt ſpying his perfections thus iniur'd: To tender paſſions by compaſſion mou'd, Would his reliefe haue willingly procur'd. But when my credite faild, all hope being paſt, That I could purchaſe grace in any ſort: I gaue him deſp'rate phyſicke at the laſt, That if his life was euill, it might be ſhort. The king enrag'd that I had thus preſumde, To limite his reuenge by ſodaine death: That by a Lion I ſhould be conſumde, Did throw my doome out of the depths of wrath. But when with rolling eyes the Lion roard, He by my ſtrength as ſtrengthleſſe was orethrowne: Which to the king whoſe mind did then remord, My courage and my conſtancie made knowne. So that incontinent I was ſet free, By this rare proofeeſteem'd amongſt the ſtrong: And with a minde from inward rancor free; As he his wrath, ſo I forgot my wrong. For whilſt alone he through a forreſt rang'd; If it had bin but ſo, to purchaſe fame: Some by that meanes had former wrongs reueng'd, Bent like Erostratus t'acquire a name. Yet that which others did attempt in vaine, And tirde by trauell, of a ſurffet dide, I did performe him bringing backe againe, Whilt I did runne as ſwift as he could ride. And of that deede my ſprite reſts well apaide, For ſince that time my ſoueraigne held me deere, Which afterwards he to the world bewraid, Whilſt in this forme his fauour did appeare. When vnawares he chanc'd my brow to wound, To ſtay my blood that ſtriu'd to die his launce: My temples with his diademe he crownd, A happy ſigne, though comming but by chaunce. And O! who knowes but once before I die, That the ſucceſſe may ſecond the preſage? What hinders vs our fortune now to trie?, And for a diademe our cares t'engage? Thoſe bended mindes that ayme at greatneſſe ſtill, Growne popular by th'armie to be praiſde: Doe winde themſelues in euery mans good-will, And would ſeeme humble that they may be raiſde.