Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T36 Hell, Furies and the language of punishm · 545 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T36: hell, earth, gods, death, ghosts, blood, bloody, heaven, night, ghost.
Each of their spirits that hath a spark of mine, To ruin all the world, may furnish fires. The Beauties of the Earth shall all look red, Whilst my Lieutenants through that pride of theirs, With Arms unkind huge streams of blood do shed, By murdering of my heirs, to be my heirs. Is this that Greatness which I did design, By being eminent, to be o'erthrown, To ruin first myself, than root out mine; As conquering others, but to lose mine own? O happy I, more happy far my race! If pleased with that which was our ancient rent, I managed had th' Aemaethian power in peace, Which was made lawful by a long descent: Then far sequestered from Bellona's rage, I had the true delights of Nature tried, And aged with honour, honoured in my age, Had left my Son secure before I died; And he inheriting a quiet state (Which then because less great had been more sure) Had (free from envy) not been harmed by hate, Which of most States the ruin doth procure; But since they will en-earth my earthly part. Which now no badge of majesty retains, To roaring Phlegeton I must departed far from the lightsome bounds of th'airy plaines And must I there who did the world surmount (Arrested by the Monarch of the Ghosts) To Rhadamanthus render an account Of all the deeds done by my ravenous hosts▪ There whilst with Minos Aeacus sits down, A rigorous judge in hell's most horrid Court, With me who pass his Nephew in renown, (Though of his race) he no way will comport. O what pale Ghosts are here together brought, Which were of bodies spoiled by my Decree! And first Parmenio without whom I nought But who did many great things without me: At the tribunal of Tartarian powers, He aggravates ingratitude too great, And (whilst the raging Tyrant foaming lours) All whom I wronged, for vengeance do entreat: Yet guilty thoughts torment me most of all, No spirit can be by plaguing furies pined, (Though charged without with snakes, within with gall) As by the stings of a remording mind. If it be true that drowsy Lethe's streams In dark oblivion drown all things at last, There, let me bury far from Phoebus' beams, The loathed remembrance of my labours past. WHat strange adventures now Distract distressed minds With such most monstrous forms? When silence doth allow The peace that Nature finds, And that tumultuous winds Do not disturb with storms An universal rest: When Morpheus hath repressed Th'impetuous waves of cares, And with a soft sleep binds, Those Tyrants of the breast, Which would spread forth most dangerous snares To sink affliction in despairs: Huge horrors than arise The Elements to mar, With most disastrous signs: Armed Squadrons in the skies, With lances thrown from far, Do make a monstrous war, Whilst fury nought confines: The Dragon's vomit fire, And make the Stars retire Cut of their Orbs for fear, To satisfy their ire, Which heavens high buildings not forbear, But seem the Crystal Towers to tear; Amidst the air, fierce blasts Do boast with blustering sounds, To crush this mighty frame, Which (whilst the tempest lasts) Doth rend the stately rounds, To signify what wounds
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)
Each of their ſprits that hath a ſpark of mine, To ruine all the world, may furniſh fires. The Beauties of the Earth ſhall all look red, Whil'ſt my Lievtenants through that pride of theirs, With Armes unkinde huge ſtreames of bloud do ſhed, By murthering of my heires, to be my heires. Is this that Greatneſſe which I did deſigne, By being eminent, to be o're-throwne, To ruine firſt my ſelfe, then root out mine; As conquering others, but to loſe mine owne? O happie I, more happie farre my race! If pleas'd with that which was our ancient rent, I manag'd had th'Aemaethian pow'r in peace, Which was made lawfull by a long diſcent: Then farre ſequeſtred from Bellona's rage, I had the true delights of Nature tri'd, And ag'd with honour, honour'd in my age, Had left my Sonne ſecure before I dy'd; And he inheriting a quiet ſtate (Which then becauſe leſſe great had beene more ſure) Had (free from envy) not beene harm'd by hate, Which of moſt States the ruine doth procure; But ſince they will en-earth my earthly part. Which now no badge of majeſtie retaines, To roaring Phlegeton I muſt depart Farre from the lightſome bounds of th'aiery plain And muſt I there who did the world ſurmount (Arreſted by the Monarch of the Ghoſts) To Rhadamanthus render an account Of all the deeds done by my ravenous hoſts▪ There whil'ſt with Minos Aeacus ſits downe, A rigorous Iudge in hels moſt horrid Court, With me who paſſe his Nephew in renowne, (Though of his race) he no way will comport. O what pale Ghoſts are here together brought, Which were of bodies ſpoil'd by my Decree! And firſt Parmenio without whom I nought But who did many great things without me: At the tribunall of Tartarian pow'rs, He aggravates ingratitude too great, And (whil'ſt the raging Tyrant foaming lowres) All whom I wrong'd, for vengeance do entreat: Yet guilty thoughts torment me moſt of all, No ſprit can be by plaguing furies pin'd, (Though charg'd without with ſnakes, within with gall) As by the ſtings of a remording minde. If it be true that drowſie Lethes ſtreames In darke oblivion drowne all things at laſt, There, let me bury farre from Phoebus beames, The loath'd remembrance of my labours paſt. VVHat ſtrange adventures now Diſtract diſtreſſed mindes With ſuch moſt monſtrous formes? When ſilence doth allow The peace that Nature findes, And that tumultuous windes Do not diſturbe with ſtormes An univerſall reſt: When Morpheus hath repreſt Th'impetuous waves of cares, And with a ſoft ſleepe bindes, Thoſe Tyrants of the breſt, Which would ſpread forth moſt dangerous ſnares To ſink affliction in deſpaires: Huge horrours then ariſe The Elements to marre, With moſt diſaſtrous ſignes: Arm'd Squadrons in the skies, With lances throwne from farre, Do make a monſtrous warre, Whil'ſt furie nought confines: The Dragons vomit fire, And make the Starres retire Cut of their Orbes for feare, To ſatisfie their ire, Which heavens high buildings not forbear, But ſeem the Cryſtall Towres to teare; Amidſt the ayre, fierce blaſts Doe boaſt with bluſtring ſounds, To cruſh this mighty frame, Which (whilſt the tempeſt laſts) Doth rent the ſtately rounds, To ſignifie what wounds