Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T53 The crown: kingship claimed, resigned an · 515 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T53: crown, king, state, life, lord, lords, live, queen, tullia, prince.
Though silence (I confess) becomes me best, Who, am a stranger, and the less believed, Yet of your toils since I a partner rest, I must unfold my mind, a mind much grieved: And think you that a Babe repairs our loss? How can good wits so grossly be beguiled? This in all Countries hath been thought a cross: Woe to that soil whose Sovereign is a child. Nor would these great men (as is thought) agree, They be too many bodies for one mind: Ah (pardon Ptolemy) it cannot be, This union would disjoin us all I find: Thus would the Army from good order swerve, If many might forgive, all would offend, As thinking well though they did death deserve: No man so bad, but some will him befriend. And when so many Kings were in one Court, One Court would then have many humours too, Which fostering factions for each light report, Would make them jar as neighbouring Princes do; No, let this strange design be quite suppressed, Whilst equal all, all would unequal be, So that their minds (by jealousy possessed) From pale suspicion never could be free. But ah! what needs contention at this time, To cloud a matter that was made so clear: And do you now account it not a crime, To damn his will, who once was held so dear? When that great Monarch marched to match with death, Whilst all his Captains were assembled there, And did demand (whilst he disposed of breath) Whom he himself adopted for his heir: Then (that none might such doubtful questions breed) As loving valour more than his own race: He (that a brave man, brave men might succeed) Said: let the worthiest have the worthiest place. Nor did he speak this in a secret part, With double words which might more doubt have moved, As breathing thoughts in each ambitious heart, To have his worth in Vulcan's furnace proved: For▪ whilst ye hedged the fatal bed about, (With an unpartial care distracted long) Then he amongst you all did choose one out, Who for so great a charge did seem most strong. He to Perdiccas did present the Ring That used to seal the secrets of the State, By which it seemed that he designed him King, And so would seize him of the regal seat. Thus made this worthy man a worthy choice, That further strife might not the state deform, And all the world now justly may rejoice, That who raised many, did prevent this storm. For, if he had not thus declared his will, Ye (Mars his Minions) should have lived at jars: Whilst emulation amongst equals still, Had made stern Trumpets thunder civil wars; What huge disorders threatened to burst forth, If that our Sovereign had no Prince designed, Who oft hath been a witness of our worth, And can weigh virtue in a virtuous mind? I see consenting signs applaud my speech: Rise, do, Perdiccas, that which they decree, Whilst modesty doth Majesty impeach, Though thou cravest not this Crown, this Crown craves thee.
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)
Though ſilence (I confeſſe) becomes me beſt, Who, am a ſtranger, and the leſſe beleev'd, Yet of your toyles ſince I a partner reſt, I muſt unfold my minde, a minde much griev'd: And thinke you that a Babe repaires our loſſe? How can good wits ſo groſly be beguil'd? This in all Countries hath been thought a croſſe: "Woe to that ſoile whoſe Soveraigne is a childe. Nor would theſe great men (as is thought) agree, They be too many bodies for one minde: Ah (pardon Ptolomie) it cannot be, This union would disjoyne us all I finde: Thus would the Army from good order ſwerve, "If many might forgive, all would offend, "As thinking well though they did death deſerve: "No man ſo bad, but ſome will him befriend. And when ſo many Kings were in one Court, One Court would then have many humours too, Which foſtring factions for each light report, Would make them jarre as neighbouring Princes doe; No, let this ſtrange deſigne be quite ſuppreſt, "Whilſt equall all, all would unequall be, So that their mindes (by jealouſie poſſeſt) From pale ſuſpition never could be free. But ah! what needs contention at this time, To cloud a matter that was made ſo cleare: And doe you now account it not a crime, To damne his will, who once was held ſo deare? When that great Monarch march'd to match with death, Whilſt all his Captaines were aſſembled there, And did demand (whilſt he diſpos'd of breath) Whom he himſelfe adopted for his heire: Then (that none might ſuch doubtfull queſtions breed) As loving valour more then his owne race: He (that a brave man, brave men might ſucceed) Said: let the worthieſt have the worthieſt place. Nor did he ſpeake this in a ſecret part, With double words which might more doubt have mov'd, As breathing thoughts in each ambitious heart, To have his worth in Vulcans fornace prov'd: For▪ whil'ſt ye hedg'd the fatall bed about, (With an unpartiall care diſtracted long) Then he amongſt you all did chuſe one out, Who for ſo great a charge did ſeeme moſt ſtrong. He to Perdiccas did preſent the Ring That us'd to ſeale the ſecrets of the State, By which it ſeem'd that he deſign'd him King, And ſo would ſeaze him of the regall ſeat. Thus made this worthy man a worthy choice, That further ſtrife might not the ſtate deforme, And all the world now juſtly may rejoyce, That who rais'd many, did prevent this ſtorme. For, if he had not thus declar'd his will, Yee (Mars his Minions) ſhould have liv'd at jarres: Whil'ſt emulation amongſt equals ſtill, Had made ſterne Trumpets thunder civill warres; What huge diſorders threatned to burſt forth, If that our Soveraigne had no Prince deſign'd, Who oft hath beene a witneſſe of our worth, And can weigh vertue in a vertuous minde? I ſee conſenting ſignes applaud my ſpeech: Riſe, doe, Perdiccas, that which they decree, Whil'ſt modeſty doth Majeſty impeach, Though thou crav'ſt not this Crowne, this Crowne craves thee.