Alexander, William · published 1607 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T1 Death, grief and revenge · 501 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
If but by hearing of his dolorous end, A stranger (once his captive) died for grief. Ah, shall his mother on new hopes depend, As such a loss might look for some relief? And so I will, for 'twere a great disgrace To me the mother of th'all conquering man: Like other women to give fortune place, And yield to misery as many can. Though grief at first must mollify me once, (Else as unnatural I might be admired) Yet will I not still burst my breast with groans, Than that of me more courage is required. I'll not degener from my generous kind, (fainthearted hinds brought never Lion forth) Nor yet a mother of an abject mind, Had never borne a monarch of such worth. And, O, who knows, but once the time may come, That I t'avenge myself a means may have? And may against these traitors yet move some, That with their blood may bathe their sovereign's grave. Now on Perdiccas' repose my trust, That with Eumenes would our wrongs redress: Their valour venturing in a cause so just, Doth by appearance promise good success. Lo, now of late delivered of a son, I to these captains scarce dare make it known: That else to part his kingdoms have begun, And might, by killing him, make all their own. Ay me (Madam) this makes me most to pause, That still th'ambition of those great men fear: Lest by pretending but a public cause, They seek themselves th'authority to bear. Ah, they of my young babe as moved with ruth, Would but be Tutors first, and traitors then: Void of obedience, duty, love, or truth, No dearer things then diadems to men. As those whose courage cannot be dismayed, Let us a faction study now to find: And whilst that pity doth procure for aid, Go tune the people's passions now t'our mind. Unless their love have perished with his life, Of Alexander, in a high degree: I think the son, the mother, and the wife, Must of the Macedonians reverenced be. And this doth with disdain my soul consume, That Arideus amongst other wrongs: And proud Eurydice his wife presume, To usurp those honours that but t'us belongs. O they shall find my fortune not so changed, But I am able yet t'abate their pride: What? what? Olimpias must be revenged: That (save herself) a Queen disdains t'abide. Lo how all good decayed And evils begin t'abound, In this sky-compassed round: There is no kind of trust For mankind whilst it strays, In pleasure-paved ways With floods of vice is drowned, And doth far from refuge In endless shadows lodge: Yet strives to rise no more, No doubt as most unjust, The world once perish must: And worse now to restore, Then that it was before, When at the last deluge, Men by Deucalion once, Were made again of stones. And well this wicked race bewrays a stony kind, That bears a stubborn mind, Still hardened unto sin.
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Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
If but by hearing of his dolorous end, A ſtranger (once his captiue) dide for griefe. Ah, ſhall his mother on new hopes depend, As ſuch a loſſe might looke for ſome reliefe? And ſo I will, for twere a great diſgrace To me the mother of th'all conquering man: Like other women to giue fortune place, And yeeld to miſerie as many can. Though griefe at firſt muſt molifie me once, (Elſe as vnnaturall I might be admirde) Yet will I not ſtill burſt my breſt with grones, Than that of me more courage is requirde. Ile not degener from my generous kinde, (Faint-hearted hindes brought neuer Lyon forth) Nor yet a mother of an abiect minde, Had neuer borne a monarch of ſuch worth. And, O, who knowes, but once the time may come, That I t'auenge my ſelfe a meanes may haue? And may againſt theſe traytors yet mooue ſome, That with their blood may bathe their ſou'raignes graue. Now on Perdiccas repoſe my truſt, That with Eumenes would our wrongs redreſſe: Their valor ventring in a cauſe ſo iuſt, Doth by appearance promiſe good ſucceſſe. Loe, now of late deliuered of a ſonne, I to theſe captaines ſcarce dare make it knowne: That elſe to part his kingdomes haue begunne, And might, by killing him, make all their owne. Ay me (Madam) this makes me moſt to pauſe, That ſtill th'ambition of thoſe great men feare: Leſt by pretending but a publike cauſe, They ſeeke themſelues th'authoritie to beare. Ah, they of my yong babe as mou'd with ruth, Would but be Tutors firſt, and traytors then: Voyd of obedience, dutie, loue, or truth, No deerer things then diadems to men. As thoſe whoſe courage cannot be diſmaide, Let vs a faction ſtudie now to finde: And whilſt that pittie doth procure for aide, Go tune the peoples paſſions now t'our minde. Vnleſſe their loue haue periſhde with his life, Of Alexander, in a high degree: I thinke the ſonne, the mother, and the wife, Muſt of the Macedonians reuerenc'd be. And this doth with diſdaine my ſoule conſume, That Arideus amongſt other wrongs: And prowde Euridice his wife preſume, To vſurpe thoſe honours that but t'vs belongs. O they ſhall finde my fortune not ſo changde, But I am able yet t'abate their pride: What? what? Olimpias muſt be reuengde: That (ſaue her ſelfe) a Queene diſdaynes t'abide. LOe how all good decayed And euills begin t'abound, In this skie-compaſſt round: There is no kinde of truſt For mankind whilſt it ſtrayes, In pleaſure-paued wayes With floods of vice is drown'd, And doth farre from refuge In endleſſe ſhaddowes lodge: Yet ſtriues to riſe no more, No doubt as moſt vniuſt, The world once periſh muſt: And worſe now to reſtore, Then that it was before, When at the laſt deluge, Men by Ducalion once, Were made againe of ſtones. And well this wicked race Bewrayes a ſtonie kinde, That beares a ſtubborne minde, Still hardned vnto ſinne.