Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 504 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.
O! what excellency consists in th' one, (Though oft not marked till missed) clear at this hour: Some with a word, or look, do more alone, Then thousands joined with policy and power. When squadrons armed with Ensigns full displayed, As of their Prince all due regard quite lost, His generous course would (obstinate) have stayed, By them abandoned, when endangered most; Then of disorder yielding bitter fruits, They boldly marched with brags before his Tent, And charged their Sovereign with unlawful suits, To innovations violently bend; Of duty then, they by no band detained, First grudged, grew factious next, last rebels plain, Like waters for a time (by Art restraied) Their bounds once passed, which do all bounds disdain: But from that pattern of accomplished worth, Whom imitate none may, all must admire, Through just disdain when fury spark'led forth, These troops (astonished) trembling did retire; His stately countenance calmed tumultuous sounds, And lightened Majesty through clouds of wrath, That (even as if his words had given them wounds) They fell, afraid of him, though not of death: Those lofty bands which were of late so proud, That they disdained to wait their Emperor's will: Then (by his look all at an instant bowed) Did beg but leave that they might serve him still; And yet what wonder though he gained all hearts; Which to his presence happened to repair, With that perfection of all virtuous parts, As large in him, as in all others rare? Lo, when we meet to treat, by peace or wars, How all our conquests may be best secured, The Soldiers do burst out in public jars, Even by their Captains no respect procured. And who can call that valorous Prince to mind, That unto virtue any reverence bears, But he must be constrained, or prove unkind, To offer up a tribute of some tears? His death doth make my soul faint sorrows prey, Though many thought that I for it had longed; For, if by any whom he should obey, One can be wronged, than I indeed was wronged. Though fame abroad by diverse tongues did bring, To what huge danger you were once exposed; It did not paint out each particular thing, Which by yourself I long to hear disclosed. When wise Calisthenes for no request, With superstitious customs could comport, But with frank words all flattery did detest, He was abused, and in a barbarous sort: So plaguing him (no doubt) the King did ill, Yet to prosperity we must impute Those fatal faults which follow fortune still, As of great minds a kind of bastard fruit; We should in Kings, as loath their state to touch, Speak sparingly of vice, praise virtue much. But I whose soul that wise man dearly loved, Whilst his perfections spying thus injured, (To tender passions by compassion moved) Would his relief have willingly procured. But when my credit failed, all hope quite past, That I could purchase grace in any sort: I desp'rate physic did afford at last,
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)
O! what excellency conſiſts in th' one, (Though oft not mark'd till miſs'd) cleare at this houre: "Some with a word, or look, doe more alone, "Then thouſands joyn'd with policy and pow'r. When ſquadrons arm'd with Enſignes full diſplaid, As of their Prince all due regard quite loſt, His generous courſe would (obſtinate) have ſtaid, By them abandon'd, when endanger'd moſt; Then of diſorder yeelding bitter fruits, They boldly march'd with bragges before his Tent, And charg'd their Soveraigne with unlawfull ſuits, To innovations violently bent; Of duty then, they by no band detain'd, Firſt grudg'd, grew factious next, laſt rebels plaine, Like waters for a time (by Art reſtrai'd) Their bounds once paſs'd, which do all bounds diſdain: But from that patterne of accompliſh'd worth, Whom imitate none may, all muſt admire, Through juſt iſdaine when fury ſpark'led forth, Theſe troupes (aſtoniſh'd) trembling did retire; His ſtately count'nance calm'd tumultuous ſounds, And lightned Majeſty through clouds of wrath, That (even as if his words had given them wounds) They fell, afraid of him, though not of death: Thoſe lofty bands which were of late ſo proud, That they diſdain'd to wait their Emperours will: Then (by his looke all at an inſtant bow'd) Did beg but leave that they might ſerve him ſtill; And yet what wonder though he gain'd all hearts; Which to his preſence happened to repaire, With that perfection of all vertuous parts, As large in him, as in all others rare? Loe, when we meet to treat, by peace or warres, How all our conqueſts may be beſt ſecur'd, The Souldiers doe burſt out in publike jarres, Even by their Captaines no reſpect procur'd. And who can call that valorous Prince to minde, That unto vertue any reverence beares, But he muſt be conſtrain'd, or prove unkinde, To offer up a tribute of ſome teares? His death doth make my ſoule faint ſorrows prey, Though many thought that I for it had long'd; For, if by any whom he ſhould obey, One can be wrong'd, then I indeed was wrong'd. Though fame abroad by divers tongues did bring, To what huge danger you were once expos'd; It did not paint out each particular thing, Which by your ſelfe I long to heare diſclos'd. When wiſe Caliſtenes for no requeſt, With ſuperſtitious cuſtomes could comport, But with franke words all flattery did deteſt, He was abus'd, and in a barbarous ſort: "So plaguing him (no doubt) the King did ill, "Yet to proſperity we muſt impute "Thoſe fatall faults which follow fortune ſtill, "As of great mindes a kinde of baſtard fruit; "We ſhould in Kings, as loth their ſtate to touch, "Speake ſparingly of vice, praiſe vertue much. But I whoſe ſoule that wiſe man dearely lov'd, Whilſt his perfections ſpying thus injur'd, (To tender paſſions by compaſſion mov'd) Would his reliefe have willingly procur'd. But when my credit fail'd, all hope quite paſt, That I could purchaſe grace in any ſort: I deſp'rate phyſike did afford at laſt,