Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
He, and his brother then th'advantage watched, And for their prince a cup of poison made: Thus he that never was by th'enemies matched, Doth by the treason of his friends lie dead. And could, or durst those traitors be so bold, The glory of the world to undermine: But ah, Madam, Antipater of old, Against your greatness always did repine. And I remember on a time he sent A Messenger, of mind to make you bow: That to your son a letter did present, Full of invectives to discredit you. The king whilst reading what it did comprise, Did with a scornful smile t'hephestion say: In writing of such things he is not wise, Which straight one mother's tear will wash away. My son indeed I many a time advised, How that disloyal man strived to be great: But as a woman's wit, mine was despised, And wrested still unto the sense of hate. Yet of my son I thought the deeds were such, That t'admiration comed they past envy: And that none durst his sacred person touch, On which the daunted world did whole rely. How oft have I those bitter throws allowed, By which I brought that demi-god to light? And well I might of such a birth be proud, That made me glorious in the people's sight. Though divers too, as I have sometime known, T'estrange his love from me did ways t'prepare: Yet were their slights by duteous love o'erthrown, And I respected with a reverent care. His tender love towards me was much extolled, Then when he sought t'establish a decree: That I amongst th'immortals might b'enrolled, And as t'a Goddess, honours done to me. Ah, how can I this tragic time survive, That lost a son so great, a son so kind? And th'only means that make me now to live, Is with revenge, hope t'entertain my mind. His love towards you no doubt behooved t'abound (By nature parents of their own are loved) But those towards whom he by no bond was bound, Of his humanity the fruits have proved. His clemency did make his state more sure, Than all the terrors rising from his name: Which whilst he lived did public love procure, And after death a never dying fame. Th'unhappy Sisigambis taking heart Of her own natural son, the death survived: And t'alexander did that love impart, The which was due to Darius whilst he lived. But when the tidings wounded had her ears, That from the world was robbed that glory of men: Then suddenly dissolved in floods of tears, She hated life as never spoiled till then. And with her widowed-nephew at her feet, That of Hephestion did the death bewail: Her soul amidst a sea of woes did fleet, Whose forces as overwhelm began to fail. Then barred from food she groveling did abide, Till that the course of life t'an end was run: Thus she survived her son, yet with him died, In whom she found th'affections of a son.
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)
He, and his brother then th'advantage watchde, And for their prince a cup of poyſon made: Thus he that neuer was by th'enemies matchde, Doth by the treaſon of his friends lye dead. And could, or durſt thoſe traytors be ſo bold, The glory of the world to vndermine: But ah, Madam, Antipater of old, Againſt your greatneſſe alwayes did repine. And I remember on a time he ſent A Meſſenger, of minde to make you bow: That to your ſonne a letter did preſent, Full of inuectiues to diſcredite you. The king whilſt reading what it did compriſe, Did with a ſcornefull ſmile t'Hepheſtion ſay: In writing of ſuch things he is not wiſe, Which ſtraight one mothers teare will waſh away. My ſonne indeed I many a time aduiſde, How that diſloyall man ſtriu'd to be great: But as a womans wit, mine was deſpiſde, And wreſted ſtill vnto the ſenſe of hate. Yet of my ſonne I thought the deeds were ſuch, That t'admiration com'd they paſt enuy: And that none durſt his ſacred perſon touch, On which the daunted world did whole relye. How oft haue I thoſe bitter throwes allowde, By which I brought that demi-god to light? And well I might of ſuch a birth be prowde, That made me glorious in the peoples ſight. Though diuers too, as I haue ſometime knowne, T'eſtrange his loue from me did wayes t'prepare: Yet were their ſlights by duteous loue ore-t hrowne, And I reſpected with a reuerent care. His tender loue towards me was much extolde, Then when he ſought t'eſtabliſh a decree: That I amongſt th'Imortalls might b'enrold, And as t'a Goddeſſe, honors done to me. Ah, how can I this tragicke time ſuruiue, That loſt a ſonne ſo great, a ſonne ſo kinde? And th'only meanes that make me now to liue, Is with reuenge, hope t'entertaine my minde. His loue towards you no doubt behoou'd t'abound (By nature parents of their owne are lou'd) But thoſe towards whom he by no bond was bound, Of his humanitie the fruits haue prou'd. His clemencie did make his ſtate more ſure, Then all the terrors riſing from his name: Which whilſt he liu'd did publike loue procure, And after death a neuer dying fame. Th'vnhappy Siſigambis taking heart Of her owne naturall ſonne, the death ſuruiu'd: And t'Alexander did that loue impart, The which was due to Darius whilſt he liu'd. But when the tidings wounded had her eares, That from the world was robde that glory of men: Then ſuddenly diſſoulde in floods of teares, She hated life as neuer ſpoilde till then. And with her widdow'd-nephew at her feete, That of Hepheſtion did the death bewayle: Her ſoule amidſt a ſea of woes did fleet, Whoſe forces as ouer-whelmde began to fayle. Then barrde from food ſhe groueling did abide, Till that the courſe of life t'an end was runne: Thus ſhe ſuruiude her ſonne, yet with him dide, In whom ſhe found th'affections of a ſonne.