Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla · 504 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T34: thebes, antigone, polynices, creon, eteocles, war, theban, gods, dear, country.
What danger huge was threatened to his state, The which elsewhere might better be controlled: But he who was not capable of fear, And could not muse of misadventures then, Would triumph there, and the world's Sceptre bear, Backed with more Kings than other Kings with men. There (as a God) transporting mortals sights, (Which mirth with mourning I must still record) He spent, or lost a time, in all delights, Which Fortune could (when flattering most) afford, Till Thessalus, for mischief but reserved, Once to his house invited him to dine, Where false Cassander at the Table served, And as he used with water mixed his wine. Alas, alas, and so it proved in th'end, But who could fear a benefited friend? There were all creatures valued for their worth, As wholesome, dainty, sumptuous, stately, rare, Which (forced by Phoebus) th'eastern Realms bring forth, To live by Sea, by Land, or in the air. Then when that Reason drunk with pleasure slept, Which all the senses with abundance stored, And whilst (save Music) nothing measure kept, With Ceres, Bacchus only was adored. Even when the King beginning was to drink, (As strangely moved) he thund'red forth a groan: And from the Table suddenly did shrink, His wont vigour at an instant gone; Whilst he was softly to a Chamber led, That death a title to his body claimed, The sorrowing Soldiers swarmed about his bed; With looks once fierce, then for compassion framed: But he whom victory had still arrayed, With others past this battle bend to even, Did look like one whom all the world obeyed, And boasted shortly then to take the heaven: Whilst (lightning comfort to afflicted bands) He stretched them forth to kiss in several parts, By Sword than Sceptre his more honoured hands, On which, it seemed, they melted all their hearts. Last, unto them those generous words he told: Yet to my life my death doth bring no blot: Thus, to dye young in years, in glory old, Of all our Family is still the lot; And since no worlds are resting to overcome, Life serves for nought; I did an Empire found: Lived, warred, and reigned (all done) for which I come: Then go great Ghost (not grieved) below the ground. No further Weighing what belonged to life, He with a countenance constant even in death, (As too victorious in that fatal strife) The air perfuming, spent th'imperious breath. But through the Camp when that it once was known, That from the world that world of worth was gone, What anguish was, it cannot well be shown, I had my part, yet had not all alone. O! let that day which makes my days all night, Be registered amongst the dismal days, Whose melancholy, and portentous light With some disaster still the world dismays. And Babylon, cursed be thy fatal towers, Once seat of Monarches, Mistress of the earth, But from henceforth (a slave to foreign powers) Still burdened be thy bounds with blood and dearth▪
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)
What danger huge was threatned to his ſtate, The which elſe-where might better be contrould: But he who was not capable of feare, And could not muſe of miſadventures then, Would triumph there, and the worlds Scepter beare, Back'd with moe Kings then other Kings with men. There (as a God) tranſporting mortals ſights, (Which mirth with mourning I muſt ſtill record) He ſpent, or loſt a time, in all delights, Which Fortune could (when flatt'ring moſt) afford, Till Theſſalus, for miſchiefe but reſerv'd, Once to his houſe invited him to dine, Where falſe Caſſander at the Table ſerv'd, And as he us'd with water mixt his wine. Alas, alas, and ſo it prov'd in th'end, "But who could feare a benefited friend? There were all creatures valued for their worth, As wholſome, daity, ſumptuous, ſtately, rare, Which (forc'd by Phoebus) th'Eaſterne Realmes bring forth, To live by Sea, by Land, or in the ayre. Then when that Reaſon drunk with pleaſure ſlept, Which all the ſenſes with abundance ſtor'd, And whil'ſt (ſave Muſicke) nothing meaſure kept, With Ceres, Bacchus onely was ador'd. Even when the King beginning was to drinke, (As ſtrangely mov'd) he thund'red forth a grone: And from the Table ſuddenly did ſhrinke, His wonted vigour at an inſtant gone; Whil'ſt he was ſoftly to a Chamber led, That death a title to his body claim'd, The ſorrowing Souldiers ſwarm'd about his bed; With looks once fierce, then for compaſſion fram'd: But he whom victory had ſtill array'd, With others paſt this battell bent to even, Did look like one whom all the world obey'd, And boaſted ſhortly then to take the heaven: Whil'ſt (lightning comfort to afflicted bands) He ſtretch'd them forth to kiſſe in ſeverall parts, By Sword then Scepter his more honour'd hands, On which, it ſeem'd, they melted all their hearts. Laſt, unto them thoſe gen'rous words he told: Yet to my life my death doth bring no blot: Thus, to dye yong in yeares, in glory old, Of all our Family is ſtill the lot; And ſince no worlds are reſting to o're-come, Life ſerves for nought; I did an Empire found: Liv'd, warr'd, and raign'd (all done) for which I come: Then goe great Ghoſt (not griev'd) below the ground. No further Weighing what belong'd to life, He with a count'nance conſtant even in death, (As too victorious in that fatall ſtrife) The ayre perfuming, ſpent th'imperious breath. But through the Campe when that it once was knowne, That from the world that world of worth was gone, What anguiſh was, it cannot well be ſhowne, I had my part, yet had not all alone. O! let that day which makes my dayes all night, Be regiſtred amongſt the diſmall dayes, Whoſe melancholy, and portentuous light With ſome diſaſter ſtill the world diſmayes. And Babylon, curſt be thy fatall towers, Once ſeate of Monarchs, Miſtreſſe of the earth, But from hence-forth (a ſlave to forraine pow'rs) Still burden'd be thy bounds with bloud and dearth▪