Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
Thus doth a partial judgement aim amiss, At things that stand without our reach retired: Which whilst not ours as treasures we define, But not the same whilst we the same enjoy. Some things afar do like the glow-worm shine, That looked too near have of that light no sign. No charge on th'earth more weighty to discharge, Than that which of a kingdom doth dispose. O those that manage must the reins of state, Till that their ghost b'embarked in Charon's barge, Do never need t'attend a true repose. How hard is it to please each man's conceit? When gaining one they must another lose. Thus hardly kings themselves can evenly bear, Whom if severe, as cruel subjects hate, Contempt dare to the mild itself oppose. In time who spare as niggards are despised, Men from too frank a mind exactions fear. Though in all shapes as Proteus being disguised, Kings by some scandal always are surprised, Yet one might well with every thing comport, That on th'opinion only doth depend, If further danger followed not by deeds. But every monarch lo in many a sort, Death doth disguised in divers shapes attend, Of some by mutinous swords the life forth bleeds, By unsuspected poison others end, Which whilst they always labour to prevent, A thousand deaths within their breasts life breeds. Lo, this is all for which the great contend. Who (whilst their pride themselves and others spoils) With their dominions do their cares augment. And O vain man, that toils t' abound in toils; Though still the victory the victor foils. Thus Alexander still himself diseased, Whilst he t'undo his state did wale prepare, Which when made most, diminished most remained, Where with his father's bounds had he been pleased, He might have left our crown in peace t' his heir; That by his conquest nought but death hath gained: Yet for no pains a number now doth spare, To work for that by which his wreak was wrought, Which (though from it they rage to be restrained:) Would (if possessed) their pleasures but impair: Yet they by harm of others seek the thing, That by their harm of others will be sought; To him and his, each of them death would bring, That it might once be said he was a King. We may securely sitting on the shore, To see the great (as tossed on th'Ocean) groan, Learn by their toils t'esteem much of our rest, For this doth thousands with affliction store. That as th'unhappiest in the world do moan, If they but chance to view some few more blessed, Where if they would but mark how many a one More wretched than they in misery doth live; It would straight calm the most unquiet breast. The cottage whiles is happier than the throne, To think our own state good, and others ill, It could not but a great contentment give: There much consists in the conceit and will, Since t'us all things are as we think them still.
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)
Thus doth a partiall iudgement aime amiſſe, At things that ſtand without our reach retir'd: Which whilſt not ours as treaſures we define, But not the ſame whilst we the ſame enioy. Some things afarre doe like the Glow-worme ſhine, That lookt to neere haue of that light no ſigne. No charge on th'earth more weighty to diſcharge, Than that which of a kingdome doth diſpoſe. O thoſe that manage must the reines of ſtate, Till that their ghoſt b'imbarkt in Charons barge, Doe neuer neede t'attend a true repoſe. How hard is it to pleaſe each mans conceat? When gaining one they must another loſe. Thus hardly kings themſelues ca euenly beare, Whom if ſeuere, as cruell ſubiects hate, Contempt dare to the milde it ſelfe oppoſe. In time who ſpare as niggardes are deſpiſde, Men from too franke a minde exactions feare. Though in all ſhapes as Proteus being ſguiſde, Kings by ſome ſcandall alwayes are ſurpriſde, Yet one might well with euery thing comport, That on th'opinion onely doth depend, If further danger follow'd not by deedes. But euery monarke loe in many a ſort, Death doth diſguiſd in diuers ſhapes attend, Of ſome by mut'nous ſwords the life foorth bleedes, By vnſuſpected poiſon others end, Which whilst they alwayes labour to preuent, A thouſand deaths within their breasts life breedes. Loe, this is all for which the great contend. Who (whilst their pride hemſelues and others ſpoiles) With their dominions doe their cares augment. And O vaine man, that toyles t' abound in toiles; Though ſtill the victorie the victor foiles. Thus Alexander ſtill himſelfe diſaſde, Whilst he t'vndoe his ſtate did wale prepare, Which when made most, diminiſht most remaind, Where with his fathers bounds had he bin pleaſde, He might haue left our crowne in peace t' his heire; That by his conqueſt nought but death hath gaind: Yet for no paines a number now doth ſpare, To worke for that by which his wreake was wrought, Which (though from it they rage to be reſtraind:) Would (if poſſest) their pleaſures but impaire: Yet they by hurme of others ſeeke the thing, That by their harme of others will be ſought; To him and his, each of them death would bring, That it might once be ſaide he was a King. We may ſecurely ſitting on the ſhore, To ſee the great (as toſſd on th'Ocean) grone, Learne by their toiles t'esteeme much of our rest, For this doth thouſands with affliction ſtore. That as th'vnhappiest in the world do mone, If they but chaunce to view ſome few more bleſt, Where if they would but marke how many a one More wretch'd than they in miſerie doth liue; It would ſtrait calme the moſt vnquiet breaſt. The cottage whiles is happier than the throne, To thinke our owne ſtate good, and others ill, It could not but a great contentment giue There much conſiſtes in the conceit and will, Since t'vs all things are as we thinke them ſtill.