Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T53 The crown: kingship claimed, resigned an · 499 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T53: crown, king, state, life, lord, lords, live, queen, tullia, prince.
That if his life was ill, it might be short. The King ●nrag'd, that I had thus presumed To limit his revenge by giving death, That by a Lion I should be consumed, Did throw my doom out of the depths of wrath; But when with rolling eyes the Lion roared, He, by my strength (as strengthless) was overthrown, Which to the King whose did then remord, My constancy and courage both made known, So that incontinent I was set free, By this rare proof esteemed amongst the strong, And with a mind from inward rancour free, As he his wrath, so I forgot the wrong: For, whilst alone he through a Forest ranged; A prey exposed, yet did no danger dream, Some at that time had former wrongs revenged, If but for mischief bent to gain a names; Yet that which others did attempt in vain, And (tyred by travel) of a surfeit died, I did perform, and brought him back again, As swiftly running as his horse could ride; And of that deed my spirit rests well apaid: For, since that time my Sovereign held me dear, Which afterwards he to the world bewrayed, Whilst by this means his favour did appear. When unawares my brow he chanced to wound, To stay my blood which strived to dye his Lance, He with his Diadem my Temples crowned, A happy sign though coming but by chance; And O! who knows but once before I die, Some good event may second the presage? What hinders us but we should fortune try, And for a Crown our travels strait engage? Those bended minds which aim at Greatness still, (Grown popular, of purpose to be praised:) Do wind themselves every man's good will, And would seem humble, that they may be raised. What counterfeited friends seal trustless bands, Whilst in the general cause that wit pretends, Though never joining hearts, all join their hands▪ And work one way, yet work for diverse ends? Yea, those whose minds move in the sphere of State, Have purchased powers, as purposed for the fields, With jealous minds their rivals to abate, Whilst (equals all) none to another yields; Yet with suspended thoughts they doubtful stand, And their designs to venture do forbear, Lest all the rest joined by a general band, Do him o'erthrow, who first gives cause of fear; But he may speed who for a Crown doth thirst, And (free from fear) with courage doth advance: Some to be second, doubting to be first, Will make their course depend upon his chance; And by a battle if that one prevail, There will rich hopes at easy rates be sold, Whilst those seek help, whose Fortune then doth fail, As first by hope, last by despair made bold; All this to me great cause of fear affords, Lest that we two protract the time too long; And wounded be before we draw our swords: All at such times must do, or suffer wrong.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T6 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
That if his life was ill, it might be ſhort. The King nrag'd, that I had thus preſum'd To limit his revenge by giving death, That by a Lyon I ſhould be conſum'd, Did throw my doome out of the depths of wrath; But when with rowling eyes the Lyon roar'd, He, by my ſtrength (as ſtrengthleſſe) was o're-thrown, Which to the King whoſe did then remord, My conſtancy and courage both made knowne, So that incontinent I was ſet free, By this rare proofe eſteem'd amongſt the ſtrong, And with a minde from inward rancour free, As he his wrath, ſo I forgot the wrong: For, whilſt alone he through a Forreſt rang'd; A prey expos'd, yet did no danger dreame, Some at that time had former wrongs reveng'd, If but for miſchiefe bent to gaine a names; Yet that which others did attempt in vaine, And (tyrd by travell) of a ſurfet dy'd, I did performe, and brought him backe againe, As ſwiftly running as his horſe could ride; And of that deed my ſprite reſts well appaid: For, ſince that time my Soveraigne held me deare, Which afterwards he to the world bewraid, Whilſt by this meanes his favour did appeare. VVhen unawares my brow he chanc'd to wound, To ſtay my bloud which ſtriv'd to dye his Launce, He with his Diadem my Temples crown'd, A happy ſigne though comming but by chance; And O! who knowes but once before I dye, Some good event may ſecond the preſage? What hinders us but we ſhould fortune try, And for a Crowne our travels ſtraight engage? Thoſe bended mindes which ayme at Greatneſſe ſtill, "(Growne popular, of purpoſe to be prais'd:) "Doe winde themſelves every mans good will, And would ſeeme humble, that they may be rais'd. "What counterfeited friends ſeale truſtleſſe bands, "VVhilſt in the generall cauſe that wit pretends, "Though never joining hearts, all joyne their hands▪ "And worke one way, yet worke for divers ends? Yea, thoſe whoſe mindes move in the ſphere of State, Have purchas'd pow'rs, as purpos'd for the fields, VVith jealous mindes their rivals to abate, VVhilſt (equals all) none to another yields; Yet with ſuſpended thoughts they doubtfull ſtand, And their deſignes to venture doe forbeare, Leaſt all the reſt joyn'd by a generall band, Doe him o're-throw, who firſt gives cauſe of feare; But he may ſpeed who for a Crowne doth thirſt, And (free from feare) with courage doth advance: Some to be ſecond, doubting to be firſt, Will make their courſe depend upon his chance; And by a battell if that one prevail, There will rich hopes at eaſie rates be ſold, Whil'ſt thoſe ſeek help, whoſe Fortune then doth faile, As firſt by hope, laſt by deſpaire made bold; All this to me great cauſe of feare affords, Leſt that we two protract the time too long; And wounded be before we draw our ſwords: "All at ſuch times muſt do, or ſuffer wrong.