Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 503 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 hear a tumult raised amongst the Tents, And Arideus is proclaimed King: To which the multitude (soon changed) consents, As bend for all whose course a change may bring, The footmen are to indignation moved, In this assembly that they want a seat, Where our proceed they might have approved, As knowing all that did concern the state. They soon forget their Prince (expecting spoils) That dare revolt from what we all advised: Thus too much liberty breeds many broils, And makes the giver still to be despised. The want of discipline all things confounds. Their deeds want order, and their pride all bounds. And dare they then against that fortress rise, Where Alexander's Ensigns are displayed? Or violate the walls where as he lies? May not his shadow make them all afraid? What? how comes this? and dare they then presume, To brag their Captains, and abuse their Arms? Arms▪ arms, just wrath these Rebels must consume, Our countenance will them curb, sound, sound th'alarms. Lo, here a great and more than sudden change! All men for mirth were like to have gone mad, So that of late it would have been thought strange, In all this City to have seen one sad. Each wall resounded some melodious song, To ravish curious ears with rare delight; Strange Tapestries were stretched the streets along, And stately objects made to charm the sight; As if our King his conquests so would crown, Of all the world a Parliament to hold, He (placed with pomp in this imperial town) Did of magnificence the height unfold. Here glory (in her richest robes arrayed) Should have shown all that Greatness could expect. Yet were our hopes even at the height betrayed: To death those Trophies fortune did erect. A tragic end this triumph quite confounds, All our applauses vanish in complaints, Our Music marred by melancholy sounds, Lo, by the Cypress pressed, the laurel faints. To funeral shrieks, our shouts of joy we turn, (With gorgeous garments, Grief cannot comport,) We that so much rejoiced, far more must mourn, Days spent with woe are long, with pleasure short. This breeds most anguish, when that one compares The present time with others that are past, Whilst wont hopes are balanced with despairs, Which all heroic minds with woe do waste. Betwixt these two, what difference find we forth, The rising Sun, and it that is declined? Where is that Zodiac (lodging of all worth) Whence valours beams (still lightning courage) shined? Now desolation spreads itself o'er all: A solitary silence, grief allows, Ah, (as quite crush'd by that great Monarches fall) How many malcontents cast down their brows? A strange suspicion hath possessed the streets, Whilst every man his neighbour's fall conspires, Each one who unawares another meets, (As fearing treason) with distrust retires. Of rumours strange each ear is greedy grown, Which (though but doubtful) move the mind to rue, And (doting still on that which is their own) What they conjecture, all affirm for true.
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 heare a tumult rais'd amongſt the Tents, And Arideus is proclaimed King: To which the multitude (ſoone chang'd) conſents, As bent for all whoſe courſe a change may bring, The foot-men are to indignation mov'd, In this aſſembly that they want a ſeat, Where our proceedings they might have approv'd, As knowing all that did concerne the ſtate. They ſoone forget their Prince (exſpecting ſpoiles) That dare revolt from what we all advis'd: "Thus too much liberty breeds many broiles, "And makes the giver ſtill to be deſpis'd. "The want of diſcipline all things confounds. Their deeds want order, and their pride all bounds. And dare they then againſt that fortreſſe riſe, Where Alexanders Enſignes are diſplaid? Or violate the walles where as he lyes? May not his ſhadow make them all afraid? What? how comes this? and dare they then preſume, To bragge their Captaines, and abuſe their Armes? Armes▪ armes, juſt wrath theſe Rebels muſt conſume, Our count'nance will them curbe, ſound, ſound th'alarmes. Loe, here a great and more then ſudden change! All men for mirth were like to have gone mad, So that of late it would have beene thought ſtrange, In all this Citie to have ſeene one ſad. Each wall reſounded ſome melodious ſong, To raviſh curious eares with rare delight; Strange Tapeſtries were ſtretch'd the ſtreets along, And ſtately objects made to charme the ſight; As if our King his conqueſts ſo would crowne, Of all the world a Parliament to hold, He (plac'd with pompe in this imperiall towne) Did of magnificence the height unfold. Here glory (in her richeſt robes array'd) Should have ſhewne all that Greatneſſe could expect. Yet were our hopes even at the height betraid: To death thoſe Trophees fortune did erect. A tragicke end this triumph quite confounds, All our applauſes vaniſh in complaints, Our Muſicke marr'd by melancholy ſounds, Loe, by the Cypreſſe preſs'd, the lawrell faints. To funerall ſhrikes, our ſhouts of joy we turne, (With gorgeous garments, Griefe cannot comport,) We that ſo much rejoyc'd, farre more muſt mourne, "Dayes ſpent with woe are long, with pleaſure ſhort. This breeds moſt anguiſh, when that one compares The preſent time with others that are paſt, Whilſt wonted hopes are ballanc'd with deſpaires, Which all heroicke mindes with woe doe waſte. Betwixt theſe two, what difference finde we forth, The riſing Sunne, and it that is declin'd? Where is that Zodiacke (lodging of all worth) Whence valours beames (ſtill lightning courage) ſhin'd? Now deſolation ſpreads it ſelfe o're all: A ſolitary ſilence, griefe allowes, Ah, (as quite crſh'd by that great Monarchs fall) How many male-contents caſt downe their browes? A ſtrange ſuſpition hath poſſeſs'd the ſtreets, VVhilſt every man his neighbours fall conſpires, Each one who unawares another meets, (As fearing treaſon) with diſtruſt retires. Of rumours ſtrange each eare is greedy growne, VVhich (though but doubtfull) move the minde to rue, And (doting ſtill on that which is their own) VVhat they conjecture, all affirme for true.