Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T54 Antony and Cleopatra: love, death and mo · 513 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T54: antony, caesar, anthony, cleopatra, antonius, love, death, die, heart, breast.
To ruin lofty minds when least afraid, Whilst careless carriage jealous censures sift, By spies abroad to foes at Court betrayed, Then by preferment what more subtle drift? Their hearts with hate are parted all by pride; One is already to confusion gone: I long to learn how Leonatus died, Not that I mind his funerals to bemoan. That Prince magnanimous whom all admire, (As was his custom) clemently proclaimed, That banished Grecians might to Greece retire, Save only such whom murder had defamed; But who them banished, grieved for their return, Did fear what just revenge might have designed, As knowing well (whilst wrongs make wrath to burn) How misery doth irritate a mind; The indignation which they had conceived, Did breed rebellion bursting out with rage, The which our King (deep in his mind engraved) By Athens spoils did purpose to assuage: But since that death afforded them relief, Grown bold to prosecute their proud attempt, Th' Athenians, and th' Aetolians were the chief Who brought Antipater first in contempt; And by their power constrained to quite the field, He (in a little Town enclosed) at last, Was once reduced in danger near to yield, And stain the glory of his actions past; But yet by accident as oft it falls, (It better is to happy be, then wise) An unsuspected shaft thrown from the walls, Their foes chief Captain happened to surprise; Then did Antipater his courage rear, Which had almost his staggering hopes betrayed: Yet still in doubt, and not quite free from fear, He Leonatus did entreat for aid; And he who seemed his friendship to affect, To further him desirous did appear; But (if he had prevailed) some do suspect, Antipater had bought his succours dear. Yet by the end his purpose bend to show (How ever in effect) he seemed a friend; But when th' Athenians did his coming know, They him to fight did all directly tend. And though their thoughts in depths of doubts did fleet, They when alone, to match him thought it best, And whilst they marched th'adventurous troops to meet, Did hardly welcome the unwelcome Guest: When both the Armies were to battel1 brought, And show with what bright flames their breasts were stored, Brave Leonatus like a Lion fought, So to prove worthy of his wont Lord: But whilst he bravely did his charge acquit, Yet lost himself, who others came to save, And by their Captains fall discouraged quite, His scattered troops great damage did receive; When old Antipater was surely told Of their mishap, who came for his relief, He not one sign of sorrow did unfold: A little gain doth mitigate much grief: Well did he know that though his foes prevailed, Yet this great fight enfeebled had their host, And then he took to him which much availed Those beaten bands who had their Captain lost; Yet that in which he did most comfort find, Was his delivery from a secret foe, Who did with jealousy torment his mind, Though outwardly not seeming to be so.
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)
"To ruine loftie mindes when leaſt afraid, "Whil'ſt careleſſe carriage jealous cenſures ſift, "By ſpyes abroad to foes at Court betray'd, "Then by preferrement what more ſubtle drift? Their hearts with hate are parted all by pride; One is already to confuſion gone: I long to learne how Leonatus dy'd, Not that I minde his funerals to bemone. That Prince magnanimous whom all admire, (As was his cuſtome) clemently proclaim'd, That baniſh'd Grecians might to Greece retyre, Save onely ſuch whom murder had defam'd; But who them baniſh'd, griev'd for their returne, Did feare what juſt revenge might have deſign'd, As knowing well (whil'ſt wrongs make wrath to burne) "How miſery doth irritate a minde; The indignation which they had conceiv'd, Did breed rebellion burſting out with rage, The which our King (deep in his minde ingrav'd) By Athens ſpoyles did purpoſe to aſſwage: But ſince that death afforded them releefe, Growne bold to proſecute their proud attempt, Th'Athenians, and th'Aetolians were the chiefe Who brought Antipater firſt in contempt; And by their powr conſtrain'd to quite the field, He (in a little Towne enclos'd) at laſt, Was once reduc'd in danger neere to yeeld, And ſtaine the glory of his actions paſt; But yet by accident as oft it falls, "(It better is to happy be, then wiſe) An unſuſpected ſhaft throwne from the walls, Their foes chiefe Captaine happened to ſurpriſe; Then did Antipater his courage reare, Which had almoſt his ſtagg'ring hopes betray'd: Yet ſtill in doubt, and not quite free from feare, He Leonatus did intreat for aide; And he who ſeem'd his friendſhip to affect, To further him deſirous did appeare; But (if he had prevail'd) ſome do ſuſpect, Antipater had bought his ſuccours deare. Yet by the end his purpoſe bent to ſhow (How ever in effect) he ſeem'd a friend; But when th'Athenians did his coming know, They him to fight did all directly tend. And though their thoughts in depths of doubts did fleete, They when alone, to match him thought it beſt, And whil'ſt they march'd th'adventrous troups to meet, Did hardly welcome the unwelcome Gueſt: When both the Armies were to battel1 brought, And ſhew with what bright flames their breaſts were ſtor'd, Brave Leonatus like a Lyon fought, So to prove worthy of his wonted Lord: But whil'ſt he bravely did his charge acquite, Yet loſt himſelfe, who others came to ſave, And by their Captains fall diſcourag'd quite, His ſcatt'red troups great damage did receive; When old Antipater was ſurely told Of their miſhap, who came for his reliefe, He not one ſigne of ſorrow did unfold: "A little gaine doth mitigate much griefe: Well did he know that though his foes prevail', Yet this great fight enfeebled had their hoſt, And then he took to him which much avail'd Thoſe beaten bands who had their Captaine loſt; Yet that in which he did moſt comfort finde, Was his delivery from a ſecret foe, Who did with jealouſie torment his minde, Though outwardly not ſeeming to be ſo.