Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 500 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.
One humorous head that doth in brawls delight, May poison thousands with the gall of spite. As still seditiously affecting strife, He but abused the credit of his King: And sent some of his slaves to take my life, Such bitter envy did his stomach sting. I saw, how that advanced before our band, You first did check, then chase the them in the end: And did with courage resolutely stand, Our Sovereign's corpse (though dead) bent to defend, He but a dastard is who basely yields, And in no conflict: hath his Fortune tried, We (if in time not venturing to the fields) Like beasts (all sacrificed) had poorly died: But when without we masters did remain, (Lest Babylon had strait been barred from food): I those proud squadrons quickly did constrain Even as we pleased, a Treaty to conclude. Graced whilst my foe (as in some kind compared) A chief in charge, he many minds did sway, But (found inferior) when a friend declared, My credit did increase, and his decay. Yet in this course all (who observe) do see, That of the multitude the mind prevailed: He whom they did elect our Prince must be, And our design hath altogether failed: But how comes this? that every Captain gets A certain Realm committed to his charge, And with an Army bravely forward sets, Their bounds allowed to guard, or to enlarge? I by my means have every great man crowned, That from my greatness great things might proceed: Yet by that means to make my power renowned, The Alexandra an Tragedy. The doing liked me better than the deed; I this division chief did procure To h●ve those great-men from the Court removed, Where they might be employed, yet I secure, Their favour purchased, or at least thus proved: For, him who hath them to such honour brought, They must be bound to hold in high account, And their advancement for this end I sought, That by their means I with more ease might mount. O! but your fancies may be much deceived, There is no bond can bind unthankful minds: I fear the favour that they thus received, Hath shown them ways to sail by other winds. So long, of late, as they had need of you, To seem your friends they (courting kindness) sought: But since their greatness is well grounded now, They will disdain what derogates in aught. To those all great men friends most frankly prove, Whom (for their pleasure) freely they affect, And (loathing bands) cannot be forced to love, As braved by worth, when merits urge respect. Few mark from whence they rose, when once aloft, None can endure that they should owe their state: Deserts grow odious when upbraided oft, And are depraved, not guerdoned, when too great. Yea, in my judgement you have greatly erred, Them to exalt, whose state you would surprise: Their common custom is who are preferred, That they may stand, not to let others rise.
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)
"One hum'rous head that doth in brawls delight, "May poyſon thousands with the gall of ſpight. As ſtill ſeditiouſly affecting ſtrife, He but abus'd the credit of his King: And ſent ſome of his ſlaves to take my life, Such bitter envy did his ſtomack ſting. I ſaw, how that advanc'd before our band, You firſt did check, then chaſe the them in the end: And did with courage reſolutely ſtand, Our Soveraignes corps (though dead) bent to defend, "He but a daſtard is who baſely yeelds, "And in no conflict: hath his Fortune try'd, We (f in time not ventring to the fields) Like beaſts (all ſacrific'd) had poorely dy'd: But when without we maſters did remaine, (Leſt Babylon had ſtraight beene barr'd from food): I thoſe proud ſquadrons quickly did conſtraine Even as we pleas'd, a Treaty to conclude. Grac'd whil'ſt my foe (as in ſome kinde compar'd) A chiefe in charge, he many mindes did ſway, But (found inferiour) when a friend declar'd, My credit did increaſe, and his decay. Yet in this courſe all (who obſerve) do ſee, That of the multitude the minde prevail'd: He whom they did elect our Prince muſt be, And our deſigne hath altogether fail'd: But how comes this? that every Captaine gets A certaine Realme committed to his charge, And with an Army bravely forward ſets, Their bounds allow'd to guard, or to enlarge? I by my means have every great man crown'd, That from my greatneſſe great things might proceed: Yet by that meanes to make my pow'r renown'd, The Alexandra an Tragedy. The doing lik't me better then the deed; I this diviſion chiefly did procure To hve thoſe great-men from the Court remov'd, Where they might be imploy'd, yet I ſecure, Their favour purchas'd, or at leaſt thus prov'd: For, him who hath them to ſuch honour brought, They muſt be bound to hold in high account, And their advancement for this end I ſought, That by their meanes I with more eaſe might mount. O! but your fancies may be much deceiv'd, "There is no bond can binde unthankfull mindes: I feare the favour that they thus receiv'd, Hath ſhowne them wayes to ſayle by other windes. So long, of late, as they had need of you, To ſeeme your friends they (courting kindneſſe) ſought: But ſince their greatneſſe is well grounded now, They will diſdaine what derogates in ought. "To thoſe all great men friends moſt frankly prove, "Whom (for their pleaſure) freely they affect, "And (loathing bands) cannot be forc'd to love, "As brav'd by worth, when merits urge reſpect. "Few mark from whence they roſe, when once aloft, "None can endure that they ſhould owe their ſtate: "Deſarts grow odious when upbraided oft, "And are deprav'd, not guerdon'd, when too great. "Yea, in my judgement you have greatly err'd, "Them to exalt, whoſe ſtate you would ſurpriſe: "Their common cuſtome is who are preferr'd, "That they may ſtand, not to let others riſe.