Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 428 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
I wonder not though thus Perdiccas shrink, To take this place, still bragged with new alarms: The Sun must make nights ugly bird to wink: This Sceptre weighs, too much for so weak arms. The Gods will never grant, nor men agree, That such a one should tyrannize o'er us: Though vulgar minds might yield his thralls to be, His betters scorn to bow so basely thus. He would have us Roxanes birth t'attend, Which though it come to pass as some expect, He can exchange, or cause be brought to end, As bend to like all means, when one effect. Thus would he temporize to our great scorn, Till time might help to further his designs: No Kings Perdiccas likes, but babes unborn; He labours well in undiscovered Mynes. I need not now insist to tell at large, What brave men are amidst this martial band, Who better do deserve so great a charge, Both for their skill, and courage to command; Yet are the best not worthy to succeed, That man admired who never can be matched, The thought of whom must make our minds to bleed, Whose adversaries this advantage watched. But, if that great man did consent so soon, That our obedience should be thus abused, Of all that ever yet he would have done, I think this only aught to be refused. That valorous band, whose worth the world oft proved, Then, whilst their glory shined through silver shields: By all that Monarch's deeds when no way moved, (As conquered) would have left the conquered fields. And when despising such a Prince's throne, To whom his ancestors their Sceptre brought. What reverence would they bear to such a one, Who all this time was as their equal thought? To those who o'er their equals raise their state, Advancement envy breeds, and envy hate; If such with all would rest familiar still, This in contempt the Sovereign title brings: And if they second not their Subjects will, Men cannot bear with them, as with borne Kings. Our lofty bands some lofty mind must tame, Whose Princely birth doth procreate regard; Whose Country may confound each slanderous claim, As one with whom none else can be compared. Lo, Alexander's brother, Philip's son, Who always was a partner of our pain: Can there be any else below the Sun, O'er Macedonians who deserves to reign? And I must wonder what so strange offence Hath forfeited his title, maymed his right? That any now with a disguised pretence Dare wrong him thus, even in his people's sight.
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)
I wonder not though thus Perdiccas ſhrinke, To take this place, ſtill brag'd with new alarmes: The Sunne muſt make nights ugly bird to winke: This Scepter weighs, too much for ſo weake armes. The Gods will never grant, nor men agree, That ſuch a one ſhould tyrannize o're us: Though vulgar mindes might yeeld his thralls to be, His betters ſcorne to bow ſo baſely thus. He would have us Roxanes birth t'attend, Which though it come to paſſe as ſome expect, He can exchange, or cauſe be brought to end, As bent to like all meanes, when one effect. Thus would he temporize to our great ſcorne, Till time might helpe to further his deſignes: No Kings Perdiccas likes, but babes unborne; He labours well in undiſcovered Mynes. I need not now inſiſt to tell at large, What brave men are amid'ſt this martiall band, Who better doe deſerve ſo great a charge, Both for their skill, and courage to command; Yet are the beſt not worthy to ſucceed, That man admir'd who never can be match'd, The thought of whom muſt make our mindes to bleed, Whoſe adverſaries this advantage watchd. But, if that great man did conſent ſo ſoone, That our obedience ſhould be thus abus'd, Of all that ever yet he would have done, I thinke this onely ought to be refus'd. That valorous band, whoſe worth the world oft prov'd, Then, whil'ſt their glory ſhind through ſilver ſhields: By all that Monarchs deeds when no way movd, (As conquer'd) would have left the conquer'd fields. And when deſpiſing ſuch a Princes throne, To whom his anceſtors their Scepter brought. What reverence would they beare to ſuch a one, Who all this time was as their equall thought? "To thoſe who o're their equals raiſe their ſtate, "Advancement envy breeds, and envy hate; "If ſuch with all would reſt familiar ſtill, "This in contempt the Soveraigne title brings: "And if they ſecond not their Subjects will, "Men cannot beare with them, as with borne Kings. Our lofty bands ſome lofty minde muſt tame, Whoſe Princely birth doth procreate regard; Whoſe Country may confound each ſlandrous clayme, As one with whom none elſe can be compar'd. Loe, Alexanders brother, Philips ſonne, Who alwayes was a partner of our paine: Can there be any elſe below the Sunne, O're Macedonians who deſerves to raigne? And I muſt wonder what ſo ſtrange offence Hath forfeited his title, maymd his right? That any now with a diſguis'd pretence Dare wrong him thus, even in his peoples ſight.