Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
O, he but undermines the sovereign state, That cares not who be weak so he be strong: More studious for himself then for the state, Or if for it that he may hold it long. For where Ioue him for all men's good ordains, He thinks both them and theirs made him to please, As if a charge of weight, a place of pains, Were but a bed of rest, a haven of ease. The world's great weight that Atlas shoulders bear, Is not so weighty all to weigh one down, As that which on his head a king doth wear. There is no burden heavier than a crown. The Aegean waves more easy are t'appease, Than are their thoughts whose mind for state prepares: Can they have rest that toil for all men's ease? The purple ever must be lined with cares. Good kings are like the fire, which flaming bright Doth waste itself, to serve another's turn: And sovereignty is like fires glancing light, Which if but viewed, delights, if touched, doth burn. I like for warmness to stand Vulcan by, More than to burn amidst the Lemnian flame: And rather in the Cedars shadow lie, Than on the top to stand the wind-gods game. All th'eye-attracting pomp, and splendorous shows Do merit scorn, though they amazement breed: The world them pity more than envy owes, That to seem happy would be wretched indeed. For alterations strange attend a throne; As if the sphere of fortune were a crown, The great still tossde, like Sisyphus his stone, Whilst highest up, rest readiest to fall down. Of this what greater proof can Fame afford, Then mighty Philip's memorable fall: That daunted had the Grecians by the sword, Though not till then t'a stranger being made thrall? He, he, then whilst he solemnized with state, His daughter's marriage, suddenly was lost: So that it seemed that monarch's days to date, That Hymen's torch gave light to Pluto's post. Then when that I conceived with grief of heart The miseries that proper were to court: I thought them happy that retired apart, Could never know such things, but by report. I might have lived with Alexander still, To virtuous men, whose savours were not scarce: Yet rather chose, though having both at will, T'obey with Pallas, then command with Mars. And whilst he toiled over others Lord to be, I laboured over myself to be made Lord: Yet made as great a conquest too as he: My pen shall be as famous as his sword. And had I willingly engaged my rest, The way to trace, that to vainglory tends: I might have lived respected with the best, As one of Alexander's chiefest friends. For though of him that I did merit nought, He entertained my friendship till his death: And when he once our cities o'erthrow sought, At my request he pacified his wrath.
seed 43: T25 · seed 44: T6 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
O, he but vndermines the ſoueraigne ſtate, That cares not who be weake ſo he be ſtrong: More ſtudious for himſelfe then for the ſtate, Or if for it that he may hold it long. For where Ioue him for all mens good ordaines, He thinkes both them and theirs made him to pleaſe, As if a charge of weight, a place of paines, Were but a bed of reſt, a hauen of eaſe. The worlds great weight that Atlas ſhoulders beare, Is not ſo weightie all to weigh one downe, As that which on his head a king doth weare. There is no burthen heauier than a crowne. The Aegean waues more eaſie are t'appeaſe, Then are their thoughts whoſe minde for ſtate prepares: Can they haue reſt that toile for all mens eaſe? The purple euer muſt be lin'd with cares. Good kings are like the fire, which flaming bright Doth waſte it ſelfe, to ſerue anothers turne: And ſoueraigntie is like fires glancing light, Which if but view'd, delights, if touch'd, doth burne. I like for warmneſſe to ſtand Vulcan by, More than to burne amidſt the Lemnian flame: And rather in the Cedars ſhadow lie, Than on the top to ſtand the wind-gods game. All th'eie-attracting pompe, and ſplendrous ſhowes Do merit ſcorne, though they amazement breed: The world them pittie more then enuie owes, That to ſeeme happy would be wrech'd indeed. For alterations ſtrange attend a throne; As if the ſpheare of fortune were a crowne, The great ſtill toſſde, like Siſiphus his ſtone, Whilſt higheſt vp, reſt readieſt to fall downe. Of this what greater proofe can Fame afford, Then mightie Philips memorable fall: That daunted had the Grecians by the ſword, Though not till then t'a ſtranger being made thrall? He, he, then whilſt he ſolemniz'd with ſtate, His daughters marriage, ſuddenly was loſt: So that it ſeem'd that Monarchs dayes to date, That Hymens torch gaue light to Plutoes poſt. Then when that I conceiude with griefe of heart The miſeries that proper were to court: I thought them happie that retir'd apart, Could neuer know ſuch things, but by report. I might haue liu'd with Alexander ſtill, To vertuous men, whoſe ſauours were not ſcarſe: Yet rather choſe, though hauing both at will, T'obey with Pallas, then command with Mars. And whilſt he toyl'd ouer others Lord to be, I labor'd ouer my ſelfe to be made Lord: Yet made as great a conqueſt too as hee: My pen ſhall be as famous as his ſword. And had I willingly engag'd my reſt, The way to trace, that to vaine-glory tends: I might haue liu'd reſpected with the beſt, As one of Alexanders chiefeſt friendes. For though of him that I did merit nought, He entertainde my friendſhip till his death: And when he once our cities ore-throw ſought, At my requeſt he pacified his wrath.