Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 492 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.
No chance of late hath brought me so to bow, But I have thrown some thoughts at those high hopes: Yet in my mind that man do most allow Who doth with judgement mother are fancies scopes: Those Provinces which are to us assigned, As calm in mind, we manage must a space: Till all attempt that which they have designed, By interchanging damage and disgrace: Then living but like those whose force is small, From which the world no great thing can expect: We shall profess a favour to them all, As who nought else, save public peace affect; Yet then, our thoughts shall not have leave to sleep, But subtle plots must circumspectly frame, Those whom we fear at variance still to keep, So always strengthening us, and weakening them; If wrongs provoke, or when occasion claims, Like cunning wrestlers at th'olympic games, Who exercise themselves to be more strong; And when themselves have thus prepared the way, Whilst that their pomp doth bear a lower sail. (For at the last their force must much decay, Since all must always lose, though one prevail) Then prompt to tempt that which we now contrive, (By ruining the remnant that remains) We may possess the state for which they strive; Thus they the toils, and we shall get the gains. O Happy was that guiltless age, When a● Astraea lived below: And that Bellona's barbarous rage Did not all order choir o'erthrow Then whilst all did themselves content With that thing which they did possess, And gloried in a little rent, As wanting means to make excess; Those could no kind of want bemoan, For, craving nought, they had all things: And since none sought the regal Throne, Whilst none were Subjects, all were Kings: O! to true bliss their course was set, Who got to live, not lived to get. Then innocency naked lived, And had no need, nor thought of Arms, Whilst spiteful spirits no means contrived, To plague the simple sort with harms; Then snaring laws did not extend The bounds of Reason as they do, Strife oft begun where it should end, One doubt but cleared to foster two: By conscience than all order stood, By which dark things were soon discerned, Whilst all behoved there to be good, Where as no evil was to be learned: And how could any than prove naught, Whilst by example virtue taught? Then mortals minds all strong and pure, Free from corruption lasted long, (By innocency kept secure) When none did know how to do wrong; Then stinged with no suspicious thought, Men mischief did from none expect: For, what in them could not be wrought, In others they would not suspect; And though none did stern laws impart, That might to virtue men compel, Each one by habit in his heart, Had graved a law of doing well: And all did wickedness forbear Of their freewill, and not for fear.
seed 43: T1 · seed 44: T2 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
No chance of late hath brought me ſo to bow, But I have throwne ſome thoughts at thoſe high hopes: "Yet in my minde that man do moſt allow "Who doth with judgement moder are fancies ſcopes: Thoſe Provinces which are to us aſſign'd, As calme in minde, we manage muſt a ſpace: Till all attempt that which they have deſign'd, By enterchanging damage and diſgrace: Then living but like thoſe whoſe force is ſmall, From which the world no great thing can expect: We ſhall profeſſe a favour to them all, As who nought elſe, ſave publicke peace affect; Yet then, our thoughts ſhall not have leave to ſleep, But ſubtle plots muſt circumſpectly frame, Thoſe whom we feare at variance ſtill to keep, So alwayes ſtrengthning us, and weakening them; If wrongs provoke, or when occaſion claimes, Like cunning wreſtlers at th'Olympick games, Who exerciſe themſelves to be more ſtrong; And when themſelves have thus prepar'd the way, Whil'ſt that their pompe doth beare a lower ſayle. (For at the laſt their force muſt much decay, Since all muſt alwayes loſe, though one prevaile) Then prompt to tempt that which we now contrive, (By ruining the remnant that remaines) We may poſſeſſe the ſtate for which they ſtrive; Thus they the toils, and we ſhall get the gaines. O Happy was that guiltleſſe age, When a Aſtraea liv'd below: And that Bellona's barbarous rage Did not all order quire o'rethrow Then whil'ſt all did themſelves content With that thing which they did poſſeſſe, And gloried in a little rent, As wanting meanes to make exceſſe; Thoſe could no kinde of want bemone, For, craving nought, they had all things: And ſince none ſought the regall Throne, Whil'ſt none were Subjects, all were Kings: "O! to true bliſſe their courſe was ſet, "Who got to live, not liv'd to get. Then innocency naked liv'd, And had no need, nor thought of Armes, Whil'ſt ſpightfull ſprits no meanes contriv'd, To plague the ſimple ſort with harmes; Then ſnaring laws did not extend The bounds of Reaſon as they do, Strife oft begun where it ſhould end, One doubt but clear'd to foſter two: By conſcience then all order ſtood, By which darke things were ſoone diſcern'd, Whil'ſt all behov'd there to be good, Where as no evill was to be learn'd: And how could any then prove naught, Whil'ſt by example vertue taught? Then mortals mindes all ſtrong and pure, Free from corruption laſted long, (By innocency kept ſecure) When none did know how to do wrong; Then ſting'd with no ſuſpitious thought, Men miſchiefe did from none expect: For, what in them could not be wrought, In others they would not ſuſpect; And though none did ſterne laws impart, That might to vertue men compell, Each one by habite in his heart, Had grav'd a law of doing well: And all did wickedneſſe forbeare Of their free-will, and not for feare.