Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T54 Antony and Cleopatra: love, death and mo · 515 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.
Thus, we who erst below one ensign warred, Slept in one Tent, and all one Fortune proved, And (with a friendship then, that never jarred) Like Pylades, and mad Orestes loved, Since that we want a Lord, and all are Lords; We (lo) renounce all kind of kindness now, And (secret rancour budding in discords) Do others harms procure, at least allow. Such is the sacred famine of a Crown, That it to satisfy, before we fail, What in our way doth stand, all must go down, And bands of blood, or friendship not avail- These glory-ravished souls that would be great, No means omit, although they be unjust, None bears with patience partners in the state; What jealous lover can his Rivals trust? Well, I perceive Antipater doth tend With all his power to gain that sacred prey, Whose means (of late enlarged) to reach his end: Through every danger may enforce a way; And Alexander sometimes spoke at large, Then whilst Antipater with Agis strived, That he (without the limits of his charge) More like a King, than a Lieutenant lived. Antigonus, and Ptolemy in Arms Are joined in one, our ruin bend to breed; I fear that friendship procreate our harms, Unless their spite prevented be with speed. I'll lodge you how (Eumenes) in my breast, And let you see the ground of my intent: Since that we both alike must toil, or rest, As those whose courses must have one event. Since at his death, I by our dying Lord, Was in his place appointed to succeed, And that my Fortune doth a means afford, How I may compass that which he decreed. To leave that place I cannot well agree, As if I wanted courage to command, I'll take that which the fates do force on me: For, if without a Throne I cannot stand. And those who would perform difficult things, Must not regard what way, so they prevail: Oft fraud, than force, greater furtherance brings, The Fox must help, if that the Lion fail. So old Antipater to have betrayed, His daughter I in marriage did require, That so the time might but have been delayed, Till that I had accomplished my desire: For, with the shadow of pretended love, And hoped affinity which seemed designed, I from his bounds some bands aimed to remove, By raising me that he might have declined; But who can snare a mind all eyed with fears▪ He quickly did mistrust the purposed wrong, And from my Messengers strait barred his ears, As did Ulysses from the Sirens song. Yet this, (if rightly weighed) might much import, If that you match yourself with such a Mate, Whose beauty, pleasure, birth might bring support, And both concur in one to bless your state, If you to make your high attempts more sure, By Hymen's means with some yourself ally, Thus of some Prince you may the power procure, On whom for help you boldly may rely. What grief were this if you have hap to gain, That fair Idea which your fancies frame,
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)
Thus, we who earſt below one enſigne warr'd, Slept in one Tent, and all one Fortune prov'd, And (with a friendſhip then, that never jarr'd) Like Pilades, and mad Oreſtes lov'd, Since that we want a Lord, and all are Lords; We (loe) renounce all kinde of kindneſſe now, And (ſecret rancour budding in diſcords) Do others harmes procure, at leaſt allow. "Such is the ſacred famine of a Crowne, "That it to ſatisfie, before we faile, "What in our way doth ſtand, all muſt go down, "And bands of bloud, or friendſhip not availe- "Theſe glory-raviſh'd ſouls that would be great, "No meanes omit, although they be unjuſt, "None beares with patience partners in the ſtate; "What jealous lover can his Rivals truſt? Well, I perceive Antipater doth tend With all his pow'r to gaine that ſacred prey, Whoſe meanes (of late enlarg'd) to reach his end: Through every danger may enforce a way; And Alexander ſometimes ſpake at large, Then whil'ſt Antipater with Agis ſtriv'd, That he (without the limits of his charge) More like a King, then a Lieutenant liv'd. Antigonus, and Ptolomie in Armes Are joyn'd in one, our ruine bent to breed; I feare that friendſhip procreate our harmes, Unleſſe their ſpight prevented be with ſpeed. I'le lodge you how (Eumenes) in my breſt, And let you ſee the ground of my intent: Since that we both alike muſt toyle, or reſt, As thoſe whoſe courſes muſt have one event. Since at his death, I by our dying Lord, Was in his place appointed to ſucceed, And that my Fortune doth a meanes afford, How I may compaſſe that which he decreed. To leave that place I cannot well agree, As if I wanted courage to command, I'le take that which the fates do force on me: For, if without a Throne I cannot ſtand. "And thoſe who would performe difficult things, "Muſt not regard what way, ſo they prevaile: "Oft fraud, then force, greater furtherance brings, The Foxe muſt help, if that the Lyon faile. So old Antipater to have betray'd, His daughter I in marriage did require, That ſo the time might but have beene delay'd, Till that I had accompliſh'd my deſire: For, wi h the ſhadow of pretended love, And hop'd affinity which ſeem'd deſign'd, I from his bounds ſome bands aym'd to remove, By raiſing me that he might have declin'd; "But who can ſnare a minde all ey'd with fears▪ He quickly did miſtruſt the purpos'd wrong, And from my Meſſengers ſtraight barr'd his eares, As did Vlyſſes from the Syrens ſong. Yet this, (if rightly weigh'd) might much import, If that you match your ſelfe with ſuch a Mate, Whoſe beauty, pleaſure, birth might bring ſupport, And both concurre in one to bleſſe your ſtate, If you to make your high attempts more ſure, By Hymens meanes with ſome your ſelfe allie, Thus of ſome Prince you may the pow'r procure, On whom for help you boldly may relye. What griefe were this if you have hap to gaine, That faire Idea which your fancies frame,