Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
Those were but fortune's gifts that made her great All was without herself that made her praised: Her imperfections did but stain the state, To which another's merits had her raised. For when she first with famous Philip matched, Than her behaviour was not free from blame: But even though she with Argos eyes was watched, As 'twas supposed she forfeited her fame. At least, her husband feared for some disgrace, From her himself had publicly divorced: And entertained another in her place, Which, for the time, to suffer she was forced. Yet this in th'end did his destruction breed, For which her spiteful thoughts had laboured long, She was acquainted with Pausanias' deed, And spurred him to perform th'intended wrong. She sought, that by such means t'ambitious will, Her husband's murder might enlarge the rains, Whilst with authority she did all th'ill, Of which too late th'afflicted realm complains. Long suffered for the greatness of her son, She played the tyrant safely as she pleased: But by the course that I have else begun, I hope those whom she plagued shall now b'appeased. Yet of Olimpias, though abased by you, The sight her son, and husband will revive: And so may make the Macedonians now, For her relief strange courses to contrive. Of those whose greatness doth regard extort, Th'afflictions must entender every mind: And still th'affections of the vulgar sort, Are headlong led, too cruel, or too kind. O, but I can precipitate her fall, Even by the means that might support her most: For pity shall spoil pity, whilst they all, Sigh for their friends that through her pride was lost. As those to whom all other things are free, Must have their life, and reign both of one date: So private men that pass their own degree, Can hardly turn to take their former state. Thus you commit your fortune to the fates, None can retire that enters in such things: For those that ought attempt against great states, Must die as traitors, or else live as kings. And though you would but some disorders stay, You deal with those that borne not to be thrall As torrents bear away what stops their way, And either must do nothing, or do all. No, keep not such, to sigh when they are gone, That scorn to take the thing that they should give; For all must die, that dare but touch a throne, Those that might take their life, they must not live. Since in this course that I can once but err, I shall be sure ere she herself withdraw. And yet what surety can you have of her? Can Laws bind them that are above the Law? It's hard t'establish concord twixt the two, Where th'one must hate, and th'other always fear. O but I mind to use the matter so, That both from hence shall further strife forbear.
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)
Thoſe were but fortunes gifts that made her great All was without her-ſelfe that made her praiſde: Her imperfections did but ſtaine the ſtate, To which anothers merits had her raiſde. For when ſhe firſt with famous Philip match'd, Then her behauior was not free from blame: But euen though ſhe with Argos eyes was watch'd, As t'was ſuppoſde ſhe forfeited her fame. At leaſt, her husband fear'd for ſome diſgrace, From her himſelfe had publikly deuorc'd: And entertain'd another in her place, Which, for the time, to ſuffer ſhe was forc'd. Yet this in th'end did his diſtruction breede, For which her ſpightfull thoughts had labour'd long, She was acquainted with Pauſanias deede, And ſpurr'd him to performe th'intended wrong. She ſought, that by ſuch meanes t'ambitious will, Her husbands murder might enlarge the raines, Whilſt with authoritie ſhe did all th'ill, Of which too late th'afflicted realme complaines. Long ſuffred for the greatneſſe of her ſonne, She plaid the tirant ſafely as ſhe pleaſde: But by the courſe that I haue elſe begunne, I hope thoſe whom ſhe plagu'd ſhall now b'appeaſde. Yet of Olimpias, though abaſde by you, The ſight her ſonne, and husband wil reuiue: And ſo may make the Macedonians now, For her reliefe ſtrange courſes to contriue. Of thoſe whoſe greatneſſe doth regard extort, Th'afflictions muſt entender euerie minde: And ſtill th'affections of the vulgar ſort, Are head-long led, too cruell, or too kind. O, but I can precipitate her fall, Euen by the meanes that might ſupport her moſt: For pittie ſhall ſpoile pittie, whilſt they all, Sigh for their friends that through her pride was loſt. As thoſe to whom all other things are free, Muſt haue their life, and raigne both of one date: So priuate men that paſſe their owne degree, Can hardly turne to take their former ſtate. Thus you commit your fortune to the fates, None can retire that enters in ſuch things: For thoſe that ought attempt againſt great ſtates, Muſt die as traitors, or elſe liue as kings. And though you would but ſome diſorders ſtay, You deale with thoſe that borne not to be thrall As torrents beare away what ſtoppes their way, And either muſt do nothing, or doe all. No, keepe not ſuch, to ſigh when they are gone, That ſcorne to take the thing that they ſhould giue; For all muſt die, that dare but touch a throne, Thoſe that might take their life, they muſt not liue. Since in this courſe that I can once but erre, I ſhall be ſure ere ſhe herſelfe withdraw. And yet what ſuretie can you haue of her? Can Lawes binde them that are aboue the Law? It's hard t'eſtabliſh concord twixt the two, Where th'one muſt hate, and th'other alwayes feare. O but I minde to vſe the matter ſo, That both from hence ſhall further ſtrife forbeare.