Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T50 Fleets, armies and generals: war by sea · 512 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T50: sea, honour, general, soldiers, men, ship, fight, soldier, king, vittori.
With endless glory bend to change his breath, Of desp'rate valour all the power was proved, And for great Captains no more glorious death, Then to die fight with a mind unmoved. When it appeared where victory did tend, That army's courage with their Captain fell▪ And whilst I safely might be seen a friend, I went where death his Spirits did expel; And whilst I told how both to be betrayed, By Neoptolemus were brought about, My woe with tears I to the world bewrayed: Mild pity and true kindness must burst out. Ah, if the news of this that I express Had come in time unto Perdiccas' ears, He might have lived their pride now to repress, Who by his fall were first divorced from fears. The humour of that man was too well known, Can he have parted other men from pride, Whose soul was sold a slave unto his own, And for the same (forced by his followers) died? The proud must still be plagued by prouder ones, There must be had sharp steel to smooth rough stones, No vice then pride doth greater hate procure, Which foes do scorn, and friends cannot endure. Yet Majesty must not itself deject; A lofty carriage doth procure respect. A haughty gesture shows a tyrant's heart; All love a courteous countenance, void of Art. Yet manners too submiss as much condemned, do make Kings scorned, and Captains be contemned. A humble port, kind looks, words smooth and soft, Are means by which great minds may mount aloft. Those are indeed for such as raise their flight, They may do more whose course is at the height: Imperious forms an Empire must defend. Thus hastened was Perdiccas to his end. That worthy man had many fair designs, But virtue still by envy is pursued, Though (as a Candle in the night best shines) It in a vicious age may best be viewed. There was a man who scorned secure delights, As still despising pain, attemptive, bold, A brave observer of the ancient Rites, Steel strictly grasping, prodigal of gold; He loved to have the Soldiers of his band, choosed at the Musters, not in markets bought, And would not flatter where he might command; More meet to have, then seek that which he sought; But Soldiers now in this degenered age, Are (fawned on by faint minds) bribed in such sort, That all the reins enlarged unto their rage, They with so strait a course cannot comport. What was misfortune known unto them all, Their malice as some great neglect did cite: All things must help th' unhappy men to fall, Thus forth they spewed the poison of their spite, For, hating his frank form, and naked words, By that occasion whetting their desires, They in his body boldly sheathed their swords, A deed which even barbarity admires. Those traitorous troops may spot the purest bands, If for a fact so vile they be excused: This will set swords all our soldiers' hands, Against us, and not for us, to be used.
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)
With endleſſe glory bent to change his breath, Of deſp'rate valour all the pow'r was prov'd, "And for great Captaines no more glorious death, "Then to dy fighting with a minde unmov'd. When it appear'd where victory did tend, That armies courage with their Captaine fell▪ And whilſt I ſafely might be ſeene a friend, I went where death his Spirits did expell; And whilſt I told how both to be betrayd, By Neoptolemus were brought about, My woe with teares I to the world bewray'd: "Milde pitty and true kindeneſſe muſt burſt out. Ah, if the newes of this that I expreſſe Had come in time unto Perdiccas eares, He might have liv'd their pride now to repreſſe, Who by his fall were firſt divorc'd from feares. The humour of that man was too well knowne, Could he have parted other men from pride, Whoſe ſoule was ſold a ſlave unto his owne, And for the ſame (forc'd by his followers) dy'd? The proud muſt ſtill be plagu'd by prouder ones, "There muſt be had ſharp ſteel to ſmooth rough ſtones, No vice then pride doth greater hate procure, "Which foes doe ſcorne, and friends cannot endure. Yet Majeſty muſt not it ſelfe deject; "A lofty carriage doth procure reſpect. A haughty geſture ſhewes a tyrants heart; "All love a courteous count'nance, voyd of Art. Yet manners too ſubmiſſe as much condemn'd, "Doe make Kings ſcorn'd, and Captains be contemn'd. A humble port, kinde looks, words ſmooth and ſoft, "Are meanes by which great mindes may mount aloft. Thoſe are indeed for ſuch as raiſe their flight, "They may doe more whoſe courſe is at the height: "Imperious formes an Empire muſt defend. Thus haſtned was Perdiccas to his end. That worthy man had many faire deſignes, "But vertue ſtill by envy is purſu'd, "Though (as a Candle in the night beſt ſhines) "It in a vitious age may beſt be view'd. There was a man who ſcorn'd ſecure delights, As ſtill deſpiſing paine, attemptive, bold, A brave obſerver of the antient Rites, Steele ſtrictly graſping, prodigall of gold; He lov'd to have the Souldiers of his band, Chus'd at the Muſters, not in markets bought, And would not flatter where he might command; More meet to have, then ſeeke that which he ſought; But Souldiers now in this degener'd age, Are (fawn'd on by faint mindes) brib'd in ſuch ſort, That all the reynes enlarg'd unto their rage, They with ſo ſtraight a courſe cannot comport. What was miſ-fortune knowne unto them all, Their malice as ſome great neglect did cite: "All things muſt helpe th' unhappy men to fall, Thus forth they ſpu'd the poyſon of their ſpite, For, hating his franke forme, and naked words, By that occaſion whetting their deſires, They in his body boldly ſheath'd their ſwords, A deed which even barbarity admires. Thoſe trait'rous troups may ſpot the pureſt bands, If for a fact ſo vile they be excus'd: This will ſet ſwords all our ſouldiers hands, Againſt us, and not for us, to be us'd.