Alexander, William · published 1607 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 507 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
Life is the subject of distress and grief That still ministers matters to bemoan; And only but by death can have relief, To live and to be wretched are both but one. Yet foolish worldlings tossde with endless care, Though at too dear a rate would still buy breath; And following after feathers thrown through th'air, Like life (though wretched) more than a happy death. When thus the world Olimpias plagued did spy, All sought Cassander, though for several ends. As from a pest all from th'unhappy fly, Th'eclipse of Fortune threatens loss of friends. And she considering that she could not long Hold out the siege, since victuals were grown scant, Did send (as weak) for peace t'entreat the strong. What cannot time and travel sometime daunt? Then did Cassander know that need constrained Her so to bow as strangely being diseased: And though he her request not quite disdained, Th'agreement was appointed as he pleased. For all the favour that she could procure, Was leave to live a private person still; And yet of that she could not be made sure, Which did depend upon her enemies will. Then whilst Cassander fought his enemy's ends, There wanted not strange troops with him t'abide; Yet might have many followers, and few friends: Friends by the touchstone of distress are tried. But though the Queen was rendered in this sort, With protestation t'have her life preserved. The tyrant with her spirit could not comport, But from his faith for her confusion swerved. The Macedonians were together brought, There to consult what did concern their Queen; But when of them a number deeply thought, Both what she was, and what she once had been; Even as Cassander had suborned them all, Their parents came whom she had damned to death, And did her rigour to remembrance call, By which the multitude was moved to wrath. Whilst from their brazen breasts all ruth was barred, They did conclude, their Queen behooved to die. Durst subjects damn their sovereign, and not heard? So still may clouds obscure the world's bright eye. Yet did Cassander put (all sleights t'assay) A mask of pity on a cruel mind, And offered her a ship to fly away, As if to death against his will assigned. Nor Was this course for her deliverance framed, But only as by chance that she might drown: So for her death that he might not be blamed, But only Neptune, that had thrown her down. Yet she a princess of a mighty sprite, Whose lofty courage nothing could o'ercome, Said, ere she scaped by such a shameful flight, That she would hear the Macedonians doom. But when Cassander's counsel was contemned, Lest that the multitude had changed their mind, When they remembered whom they had condemned, And warily weighed what rashly they designed. To rid her soon from pain, and him from fear, He sent some bands from pity most estranged; Yet she 'gainst fortune did a banner bear, And not her heart, no, not her countenance changed.
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)
Life is the ſubiect of diſtreſſe and griefe That ſtill miniſters matters to bemone; And onely but by death can haue reliefe, To liue and to be wretch'd are both but one. Yet fooliſh worldlings toſſde with endleſſe care, Though at too deare a rate would ſtill buy breath; And following after feathers thrown through th'aire, Like life (though wretch'd) more then a happie death. When thus the world Olimpias plagu'd did ſpie, All ſought Caſſander, though for ſeuerall ends. As from a peſt all from th'vnhappy flie, Th'eclipſe of Fortune threatens loſſe of friends. And ſhe conſidering that ſhe could not long Hold out the ſiege, ſince vittailes were growne ſcant, Did ſend (as weake) for peace t'intreat the ſtrong. What cannot time and trauell ſometime daunt? Then did Caſſander know that need conſtrain'd Her ſo to bow as ſtrangely being diſeaſde: And though he her requeſt not quite diſdain'd, Th'agreement was appointed as he pleaſde. For all the fauour that ſhe could procure, Was leaue to liue a priuate perſon ſtill; And yet of that ſhe could not be made ſure, Which did depend vpon her enemies will. Then whilſt Caſſander fought his enemies ends, There wanted not ſtrange troupes with him t'abide; Yet might haue many followers, and few friends: Friends by the touchſtone of diſtreſſe are try'd. But though the Queene was rendred in this ſort, With proteſtation t'haue her life preſeru'd. The tyrant with her ſpirit could not comport, But from his faith for her confuſion ſweru'd. The Macedonians were togither brought, There to conſult what did concerne their Queene; But when of them a number deepely thought, Both what ſhe was, and what ſhe once had beene; Euen as Caſſander had ſubborn'd them all, Their parents came whom ſhe had damn'd to death, And did her rigour to remembrance call, By which the multitude was mou'd to wrath. Whilſt from their braſen breaſts all ruth was barr'd, They did conclude, their Queen behou'd to die. Durſt ſubiects damne their ſoueraigne, and not heard? So ſtill may cloudes obſcure the worlds bright eye. Yet did Caſſander put (all ſleights t'aſſay) A maske of pittie on a cruell minde, And offred her a ſhip to flye away, As if to death againſt his will aſſign'de. Nor Was this courſe for her deliuerance fram'd, But onely as by chance that ſhe might drowne: So for her death that he might not be blam'd, But onely Neptune, that had throwne her downe. Yet ſhe a princeſſe of a mightie ſpright, Whoſe loftie courage nothing could ore-come, Said, ere ſhe ſcap'd by ſuch a ſhamefull flight, That ſhe would heare the Macedonians doome. But when Caſſanders counſel was contem'nd, Leſt that the multitude had chang'd their mind, When they remembred whom they had condemn'd, And warily weigh'd what raſhly they deſign'd. To rid her ſoone from paine, and him from feare, He ſent ſome bands from pittie moſt eſtrang'd; Yet ſhe gainſt fortune did a banner beare, And not her heart, no, not her count'nance chang'd.