Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 510 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.
None needs to wonder much, though we neglect One whose election might procure our shame: His mother's baseness, justice might object, Whom bastardy secludes from such a claim. But yet had Nature purged the spot she made, We with his birth the better might comport, If (like his Sire, fierce squadrons fit to lead) His parts were such as might the State import; He falsifies his race, of wit so weak, That all his inward wants are soon perceived, All of his judgement in derision speak, By which great things can hardly be conceived: And though his body might from pains be spared, Whose constitution is not very strong; But with infirmities so far impaired, That it alive cannot continue long; Yet since in State he never hath been schooled, His ignorance would rack him still with fears: Whilst he who ruled, still needing to be ruled, Spoke but w●th others tongues, heard with their ears. "A K ng inconstant, great conusion makes, Wh●m ●ll mistrust, and most amidst a Camp: Whilst (soft like wax) he each impression takes, A little labour changing still the stamp; Ah, should our lives depend upon his breath, Who of himself cannot discern a crime: But for each rash report damns men to death, Then yields a fruitless pity out of time. Thus whilst some always must his judgement sway, Which still doth harbour in another's head, Of Sycophants this Prince may be the prey, Who where they list him (as quite blind) will lead. And since but base, that they may be the best, Such still will toil, that we may be o'erthrown: And to the credulous King may means suggest, To taint our fame, lest it obscure their own. What grief were this to us, whilst such as those Might make their vantage of th' all-pow'rfull breath? And that our actions balanced by our foes, Were guerdoned with disdain, or else with death? Since private hopes your judgements do bewitch, I'll leave this counsel where no good can please: Come follow me all those who would be rich: Few have regard (poor soldiers) to your ease. That shall prove best which first I went about, Though some would wrest my words from what I thought: Lo, Meleager's spite doth now burst out, Like flaming fires which burn themselves to nought. Thus, naughty minds which never dream but ill, Do construe all things to a crooked sense: What I proposed, reposing on your will, He would interpret for a great offence. And (thus puffed up) this parting hence of his, To many former faults hath added one: By his seditious words incensed ere this, The soldiers are to sack the treasure gone. With one consent then let us all conclude, That Alexander's race (when borne) must reign: So shall we establish still that sacred blood, Which raised our state, and may it best maintain. And let us now (before we part) appoint Who shall command till that the babe be borne: And circumspectly ponder every point, That success so our Council may adorn.
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)
None needs to wonder much, though we neglect One whoſe election might procure our ſhame: His mothers baſeneſſe, juſtice mght object, Whom baſtardy ſecludes from ſuch a claime. But yet had Nature purg'd the ſpot ſhe made, We with his birth the better might comport, If (like his Syre, fierce ſquadrons fit to leade) His parts were ſuch as might the State import; He falſifies his race, of wit ſo weake, That all his inward wants are ſoone perceivd, All of his judgement in deriſion ſpeake, By which great things can hardly be conceiv'd: And though his body might from paines be ſpar'd, Whoſe conſtitution is not very ſtrong; But with infirmities ſo farre impair'd, That it alive cannot continue long; "Yet ſince in State he never hath beene ſchool'd, "His ignorance would racke him ſtill with feares: "Whilſt he who rul'd, ſtill needing to be rul'd, "Spoke but wth others tongues, heard with their eares. "A K ng inconſtant, great conuſion makes, "Whm ll miſtruſt, and moſt amid'ſt a Campe: "Whilſt (ſoft like waxe) he each impreſſion takes, "A ltle labour changing ſtill the ſtampe; "Ah, ſhoul our lives depend upon his breath, "Who of himſelfe cannot diſcerne a crime: "But for each raſh report damnes men to death, "Then yeelds a fruitleſſe pitty out of time. "Thus whilſt ſome alwaies muſt his judgement ſway, "Which ſtill doth harbour in anothers head, "Of Sycophants this Prince may be the prey, "Who where they liſt him (as quite blinde) will leade. "And ſince but baſe, that they may be the beſt, "Such ſtill will toyle, that we may be o'rethrowne: "And to the credu ous King may meanes ſuggeſt, "To taint our fame, leſt it obſcure their owne. What griefe were this to us, whilſt ſuch as thoſe Might make their vantage of th' all-pow'rfull breath? And that our actions ballanc'd by our foes, Were guerdon'd with diſdaine, or elſe with death? Since private hopes your judgements doe bewitch, I'le leave this counſell where no good can pleaſe: Come follow me all thoſe who would be rich: Few have regard (poore ſouldiers) to your eaſe. That ſhall prove beſt which firſt I went about, Though ſome would wreſt my words from what I thought: Loe, Meleagers ſpite doth now burſt out, Like flaming fires which burne themſelves to nought. Thus, naughty mindes which never dreame but ill, Doe conſtrue all things to a crooked ſenſe: What I propos'd, repoſing on your will, He would interpret for a great offence. And (thus puff d up) this parting hence of his, To many former faults hath added one: By his ſeditious words incens'd ere this, The ſouldiers are to ſacke the treaſure gone. With one conſent then let us all conclude, That Alexanders race (when borne) muſt raigne: So ſhall we ſtabliſh ſtill that ſacred bloud, Which rais'd our ſtate, and may it beſt maintaine. And let us now (before we part) appoint Who ſhall command till that the babe be borne: And circumſpectly ponder every point, That ſucceſſe ſo our Councell may adorne.