Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 499 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.
With eyes that flame for rage, our deeds heaven views, And (moved for us) a high disdain doth bear; Lo, all men's heads are heavy for ill news, And though we know not what, yet still we fear: For, since the widowed world doth want a head, Each member now doth labour to be chief, Which (whilst they diverse ways the body lead) May give beginning to some endless grief; Some (like the fool who thunder feigned like Iove) Would make their fame like Alexander's sound, And (all brought low) to be themselves above, Would order all, or else would all confound; Then some vain wits which only would seem wise, (By flattering mirrors of their shape deceived) Do every thing that is not theirs despise, And perish would, ere them another saved. A number too whom all things do content, What each one thinks, are still resolved to do: They make a choice, then do the choice repent, And strait repent of that repentance too. The public good is spoiled by private hope, Whilst many thus high dignities do claim; This discord gives to rash ambition scope: For, all would fish within a troubled stream. See how dissension hath dissolved so soon, All kind of order, and confusion brought: Our Council quite this variance hath undone, Whilst one would have done all, all have done nought▪ Although Perdiccas (as it would have seemed) Whilst for his master's race he only stood, Sought (by that means more virtuous to be deemed) His Prince's honour, and his Country's good; Yet his companions having in contempt, He did by subtle means himself advance: And so to shadow his disguised attempt, Aimed at the royal place as but by chance; He toils that the unborn none should beguile, As by the heavens for th' Orphans good reserved: Yet wanting of a King nought but the style, He would not want that when th' occasion served. And Meleager partially disposed, To hinder others, doth pretend a love To bastard Philip, by effect disclosed, Since he but seeks Perdiccas to disprove; And if that foe, whom he doth fear, but fail, He cares not much what Emperor they proclaim: And his design with many may prevail: A cloak of right, apparels any claim; They whose descent some title doth disclose (As by their birth made capable to reign:) Must be preferred by reason unto those, Who of all right without the bounds remain. The furious footmen (insolently stout) A title to maintain, did brave our band, And (indignation thundering threatenings out) Would with our blood have bathed this barbarous land. O! what indignity would this have been, Whilst those whom we subdued with such great toils, Had in this sort their victors vanquished seen, So of their spoilers purchasing the spoils▪ Thus darkening all that we had done before, (Our swords first stained by ignominious wounds) We, of our conquests could have kept no more, But burials base (if those) in th' enemy's bounds.
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)
VVith eyes that flame for rage, our deeds heaven viewes, And (mov'd for us) a high diſdaine doth beare; Loe, all mens heads are heavy for ill newes, And though we know not what, yet ſtill we feare: For, ſince the widow'd world doth want a head, Each member now doth labour to be chiefe, VVhich (whilſt they divers wayes the body lead) May give beginning to ſome endleſſe griefe; Some (like the foole who thunder fayn'd like Iove) VVould make their fame like Alexanders ſound, And (all brought low) to be themſelves above, VVould order all, or elſe would all confound; Then ſome vaine wits which onely would ſeeme wiſe, (By flatt'ring mirrours of their ſhape deceiv'd) Doe every thing that is not theirs deſpiſe, And periſh would, ere them another ſav'd. A number too whom all things doe content, VVhat each one thinkes, are ſtill reſolv'd to doe: They make a choice, then doe the choice repent, And ſtraight repent of that repentance too. The publike good is ſpoil'd by private hope, VVhilſt many thus high dignities doe claime; This diſcord gives to raſh ambition ſcope: "For, all would fiſh within a troubled ſtreame. See how diſſention hath diſſolv'd ſo ſoone, All kinde of order, and confuſion brought: Our Councell quite this variance hath undone, "VVhilſt one would have done all, all have done nought▪ Although Perdiccas (as it would have ſeem'd) VVhilſt for his maſters race he onely ſtood, Sought (by that meanes more vertuous to be deem'd) His Princes honour, and his Countries good; Yet his companions having in contempt, He did by ſubtile meanes himſelfe advance: And ſo to ſhadow his diſguis'd attempt, Aym'd at the royall place as but by chance; He toyles that the unborne none ſhould beguile, As by the heavens for th' Orphanes good reſerv'd: Yet wanting of a King nought but the ſtile, He would not want that when th' occaſion ſerv'd. And Meleager partially diſpos'd, To hinder others, doth pretend a love To baſtard Philip, by effect diſclos'd, Since he but ſeekes Perdiccas to diſprove; And if that foe, whom he doth feare, but faile, He cares not much what Emperour they proclaime: And his deſigne with many may prevaile: "A cloake of right, apparels any claime; "They whoſe deſcent ſome title doth diſcloſe "(As by their birth made capable to raigne:) "Muſt be preferr'd by reaſon unto thoſe, "Who of all right without the bounds remaine. The furious foot-men (inſolently ſtout) A title to maintaine, did brave our band, And (indignation thundring threatnings out) Would with our bloud have bath'd this barbarous land. O! what indignity would this have been, Whilſt thoſe whom we ſubdu'd with ſuch great toiles, Had in this ſort their victors vanquiſh'd ſeen, So of their ſpoilers purchaſing the ſpoiles▪ Thus darkening all that we had done before, (Our ſwords firſt ſtayn'd by ignominious wounds) We, of our conqueſts could have kept no more, But burials baſe (if thoſe) in th' enemies bounds.