Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 515 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
The first who spoiled the public rest, And did disturb this quiet state, Was Avarice, the greatest pest Which doth of darkness fill the seat: A Monster very hard to daunt, Lean, as dried up with inward care, (Though full of wealth) for fear of want, Still at the borders of despair; Scarce taking food for Nature's ease, Nor for the cold sufficient clothing, She whom her own could never please, Thinks all have much, and she hath nothing: This daughter of stern Pluto, still Her father's dungeon strives to fill. That Monster-tamer most renowned, The great Alcides, Thebes glory, Who (for twelve several labours crowned) Was famous made by many a story, As one who all his time had toiled To purge the world of such like pests, Who robbers robbed, and spoilers spoilt, Still humbling haughty Tyrant's crests, He by this Monster once o'erthrown, Did pass in Spain o'er lands and floods, And there took more than was his own, What right had he to Gerion's goods▪ Thus Avarice the world deceives, And makes the greatest Conquerors slaves. Ah! when to plague the world with grief, This poor-rich Monster once was borne: Then weakness could find no relief, And subtlety did conscience scorn: Yet some who laboured to recall That bliss which guilded the first age, Did punishment prepare for all, Who did their thoughts to vice engage; And yet the more they laws did bring, That to be good might men constrain, The more they sought to do the thing From which the laws did them restrain: So that by custom altered quite, The world in ill doth most delight. NOw Fortune smiles upon my rising State, And seems to promise more than I require; Lo, by degrees my glory doth grow great, And by their death who did my death conspire. Proud Meleager who disdained to bow, And my advancement always did mislike, Hath with his blood sealed my assurance now, To fright all those who would attempt the like. Yet of his fall the form my mind appalls, Even at Jove's Altar, and without regard; We were too rash to violate those walls Which the most impious could not but have spared. Lascivious Ajax by Minerva's spite, Erst for profaning such a sacred place, On the Capharian Rocks did lose the light, And all his Navy too for one's disgrace. We should not irritate celestial powers; And, all beginnings are considered most: Such horror breeds this odious act of ours, That we (I fear) opinions power have lost. Let others seek to keep such points as those, I am not scrupulous, for, I protest, o'er all, and by all means I'll kill my foes, And then thereafter argue of the rest. They wrong the Gods who think their Church should be A refuge free for Malefactors still: For, with their justice this cannot agree: Who guard ill doers, guilty are of ill. Was he not stained with many a monstrous crime, And Salamander-like amidst the fire (Contentiously disposed) did spend his time, And (never pleased) did still some change required?
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)
The firſt who ſpoyl'd the publike reſt, And did diſturbe this quiet ſtate, Was Avarice, the greateſt peſt Which doth of darkneſſe fill the ſeat: A Monſter very hard to daunt, Leane, as dry'd up with inward care, (Though full of wealth) for feare of want, Still at the borders of deſpayre; Scarce taking food for Natures eaſe, Nor for the cold ſufficient clothing, She whom her owne could never pleaſe, Thinks all have much, and ſhe hath nothing: This daughter of ſterne Pluto, ſtill Her fathers dungeon ſtrives to fill. That Monſter-tamer moſt renown'd, The great Alcides, Thebes glory, Who (for twelve ſeverall labours crown'd) Was famous made by many a ſtory, As one who all his time had toyl'd To purge the world of ſuch like peſts, Who robbers rob'd, and ſpoylers ſpoyld, Still humbling hauty Tyrants creſts, He by this Monſter once o're-throwne, Did paſſe in Spaine o're lands and flouds, And there took more then was his owne, What right had he to Gerions goods▪ Thus Avarice the world deceives, And makes the greateſt Conquerours ſlaves. Ah! when to plague the world with griefe, This poore-rich Monſter once was borne: Then weakneſſe could finde no reliefe, And ſubtiltie did conſcience ſcorne: Yet ſome who labour'd to recall That bliſſe which guilded the firſt age, Did puniſhment prepare for all, Who did their thoughts to vice engage; And yet the more they laws did bring, That to be good might men conſtraine, The more they ſought to do the thing From which the laws did them reſtraine: So that by cuſtome altred quite, The world in ill doth moſt delight. NOw Fortune ſmyles upon my riſing State, And ſeemes to promiſe more then I require; Loe, by degrees my glory doth grow great, And by their death who did my death conſpire. Proud Meleager who diſdain'd to bow, And my advancement alwayes did miſlike, Hath with his bloud ſeal'd my aſſurance now, To fright all thoſe who would attempt the like. Yet of his fall the forme my minde appalls, Even at Ioves Altar, and without regard; We were too raſh to violate thoſe walls Which the moſt impious could not but have ſpar'd. Laſcivious Ajax by Minerva's ſpight, Earſt for prophaning ſuch a ſacred place, On the Capharian Rocks did loſe the light, And all hi Navie too for ones diſgrace. "We ſhould not irritate celeſtiall powr's; "And, all beginnings are conſidered moſt: Such horrour breeds this odious act of ours, That we (I feare) opinions pow'r have loſt. Let others ſeek to keep ſuch points as thoſe, I am not ſcrupulous, for, I proteſt, Ov'r all, and by all meanes I'le kill my foes, And then thereafter argue of the reſt. "They wrong the Gods who think their Church ſhould be "A refuge free for Malefactors ſtill: "For, with their juſtice this cannot agree: "Who guard ill doers, guilty are of ill. Was he not ſtain'd with many a monſtrous crime, And Salamander-like amidſt the fire (Contentiouſly diſpos'd) did ſpend his time, And (never pleas'd)did ſtill ſome change required?