Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla · 481 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.
And yet I think you have an easy part, To whom his State your Father did resign, For, it may make you smile, which made him smart: Some press the grape, and others drink the wine. I'll not believe that ever any ill Was bred for me within my Father's breast, Since children must suppose their Parents will (Though seeming bad) still purposed for the best. And yet my Father's Ghost must pardon me, Though when from us he minded to remove; I think the tenor of his last Decree, Showed lack of judgement, or at least of love: For, what base course had ever been begun To make me seem not worthy of his place, That he preferred a Stranger to his Son, As bend to cloud the glory of his race? Thus since in such a sort he did neglect, The Son who should his name from death exempt, (As disregarded for some great defect) All other men may have me in contempt. But ere his age attained the fatal date, He saw my brows with laurel boughs arrayed, And spied my skill in war, and wit in state, Which grew as much as his had then decayed. Nor can my courage so be brought to bow, But Polypercon shall by proof find soon, That in my Father's will, I Will allow, Not what he did; but what he should have done; And since by him high dignities were won, I mind to prosecute what he began; For (though I would) so great a Father's Son Can not securely live a private man. Lo, Polypercon by our power repelled From Macedon hath retired dismayed, And for the fear of us hath been compelled To rest beholding for another's aid. Let him not think that shadows (though of Kings) Can match my power with these his borrowed bands: A doubtful flight all framed with others wings Will never bear him from Cassander's hands; And though Olympias count'nanced once his cause, As from Epirus come to ruin me: Now of her own misfortune she must pause, Since brought of late unto a low degree. And yet Olympias once did prosper well, When first she touched the Macedonian bounds, Whilst Polypercon proudly did repel all those who durst resist with words, or wounds. Though Philip and Eurydice his Queen, (To give them battle bend) in time arrived, The Macedonians when they had her seen, As their own Queen to do her honour strived. And hapless Philip whilst constrained to yield, There, for a Kings did take a captives state: And with his mate (though flying from the field) Was followed by their force, and by her fate. Then ●id her husband and herself give place, Whose brows of late a Diadem had borne: But then thrown down in depths of black disgrace, Were made of pride the prey, the butt of scorn.
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)
And yet I thinke you have an eaſie part, To whom his State your Father did reſigne, For, it may make you ſmile, which made him ſmart: "Some preſſe the grape, and others drinke the wine. Ile not beleeve that ever any ill Was bred for me within my Fathers breſt, Since children muſt ſuppoſe their Parents will (Though ſeeming bad) ſtill purpos'd for the beſt. And yet my Fathers Ghoſt muſt pardon me, Though when from us he minded to remove; I thinke the tenor of his laſt Decree, Show'd lack of judgement, or at leaſt of love: For, what baſe courſe had ever beene begun To make me ſeeme not worthy of his place, That he preferr'd a Stranger to his Sonne, As bent to cloud the glory of his race? Thus ſince in ſuch a ſort he did neglect, The Sonne who ſhould his name from death exempt, (As diſ-regarded for ſome great defect) All other men may have me in contempt. But ere his age attain'd the fatall date, He ſaw my brows with lawrell boughs array'd, And ſpy'd my skill in warre, and wit in ſtate, Which grew as much as his had then decay'd. Nor can my courage ſo be brought to bow, But Polypercon ſhall by proofe finde ſoone, That in my Fathers will, I Will allow, Not what he did; but what he ſhould have done; And ſince by him high dignities were wonne, I minde to proſecute what he began; "For (though I would) ſo great a Fathers Sonne "Can not ſecurely live a private man. Loe, Polypercon by our pow'r repell'd From Macedonie hath retyr'd diſmay'd, And for the feare of us hath beene compell'd To reſt beholding for anothers aid. Let him not think that ſhadows (though of Kings) Can match my pow'r with theſe his borrow'd bands: A doubtfull flight all fram'd with others wings Will never beare him from Caſſanders hands; And though Olympias count'nanc'd once his cauſe, As from Epirus come to ruine me: Now of her owne misfortune ſhe muſt pauſe, Since brought of late unto a low degree. And yet Olympias once did proſper well, When firſt ſhe touch'd the Macedonian bounds, Whil'ſt Polypercon proudly did repell all thoſe who durſt reſiſt with words, or wounds. Though Philip and Euridice his Queene, (To give them battell bent) in time arriv'd, The Macedonians when they had her ſeene, As their owne Queene to do her honour ſtriv'd. And hapleſſe Philip whil'ſt conſtrain'd to yeeld, There, for a Kings did take a captives ſtate: And with his mate (though flying from the field) Was follow'd by their force, and by her fate. Then id her husband and her ſelfe give place, Whoſe brows of late a Diademe had borne: But then throwne downe in depths of black diſgrace, Were made of pride the prey, the butt of ſcorne.