Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla · 448 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.
Those were the means which did them first entrap, But have you heard how after they were thrall, To plague the world with horror, and mishap, The proud Olympias tyrranized o'er all? Some doubtful rumours did frequent each 〈◊〉 Such as rash Fame confusedly durst unfold: But yet by favour hid, or else for fear, The truth of all (it may be) was not told. When thus the Tigress happened to surprise Those wretched souls (as ravished in a dream) Her heart at first seemed scarce to trust her eyes, She surfeited her sight so with their shame; But when she saw (by reason of her power) That she might safely let her rage burst out: She them about caused build a lightlesse Tower, Pressed by whose walls, they scarce could turn about; And in that dungeon (as entombed) they stood With high disgrace t'appease more high disdains, far from all comfort, whilst a little food Their life prolonged, but to prolong their pains. But for misfortune pity last doth plead, As envy doth prosperity oppose; The Macedonians (than indifferent made) On murmured rumours doubtfully did gloze. The people's grudge Olympias did perceive, And of just fury fearing the effect, She strait resolved life's remnant to bereave, From weakened powers which did no less expect. And when some Thracians basely bend for blood (As she had charged) with mercenary spite, Had murdered Philip, and his Queen imbrued With these red streams that drowned her life's delight. She sent to her whose soul in grief did sink, (As messengers of death to brag her breast) A sword, a cord, and an empoisoned drink, A Tyrant's presents, yet a wretches best. Those seen, the Queen unmoved this speech did make, (As one who had embraced some great relief) Fit gifts for her to give, for me to take, Since she exceeds in hate, and I in grief. And tell the Tyrant that I gladly dye, That once the angry gods to venge my death, May thunder forth that judgement, which I spy With blood must choke that bloody woman's breath. Last, looking on her Lord who there lay slain, Once partner of his joy, then, of his woe, Whilst that his Roses did her Lilies stain, She kissed his wounds, as taking leave to go; Lest Time her Resolution had betrayed, Her snowy neck (not used with such a chain) Her girdle grasped; then died no way dismayed; And if she sighed, she sighed but for disdain. This barbarous act my breast with grief dot● sting; Can spite so much transport the meekest kind? And yet on th'earth there's no more cruel thing Than malice raging in a woman's mind?
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)
Thoſe were the means which did them firſt entrap, But have you heard how after they were thrall, To plague the world with horrour, and miſhap, The proud Olympias tyrraniz'd o're all? Some doubtfull rumors did frequent each Such as raſh Fame confuſ'dly durſt unfold: But yet by favour hid, or elſe for feare, The truth of all (it may be) was not told. When thus the Tygreſſe happ'ned to ſurpriſe Thoſe wretched ſouls (as raviſh'd in a dreame) Her heart at firſt ſeem'd ſcarce to truſt her eyes, She ſurfetted her ſight ſo with their ſhame; But when ſhe ſaw (by reaſon of her pow'r) That ſhe might ſafely let her rage burſt out: She them about caus'd build a lightleſſe Tower, Preſſ'd by whoſe walls, they ſcarce could turne about; And in that dungeon (as entomb'd) they ſtood With high diſgrace t'appeaſe more high diſdaines, Farre from all comfort, whil'ſt a little food Their life prolong'd, but to prolong their paines. "But for misfortune pity laſt doth pleade, "As envy doth proſperity oppoſe; The Macedonians (then indifferent made) On murmur'd rumours doubtfully did gloſe. The peoples grudge Olympias did perceive, And of juſt fury fearing the effect, She ſtraight reſolv'd lifes remnant to bereave, From weakened pow'rs which did no leſſe expect. And when ſome Thracians baſely bent for bloud (As ſhe had charg'd) with mercenary ſpight, Had murdred Philip, and his Queene imbru'd With theſe red ſtreames that drown'd her lifes delight. She ſent to her whoſe ſoule in griefe did ſinke, (As meſſengers of death to bragge her breſt) A ſword, a cord, and an empoyſon'd drink, A Tyrants preſents, yet a wretches beſt. Thoſe ſeene, the Queene unmov'd this ſpeech did make, (As one who had imbrac'd ſome great reliefe) Fit gifts for her to give, for me to take, Since ſhe exceeds in hate, and I in griefe. And tell the Tyrant that I gladly dye, That once the angry gods to venge my death, May thunder forth that judgement, which I ſpie With bloud muſt choak that bloudy womans breath. Laſt, looking on her Lord who there lay ſlaine, Once partner of his joy, then, of his woe, Whil'ſt that his Roſes did her Lillies ſtaine, She kiſſ'd his wounds, as taking leave to goe; Leſt Time her Reſolution had betray'd, Her ſnowie necke (not us'd with ſuch a chaine) Her girdle graſp'd; then dy'd no way diſmai'd; And if ſhe ſigh'd, ſhe ſigh'd but for diſdaine. This barbarous act my breaſt with griefe dot ſing; Can ſpight ſo much tranſport the meekeſt kinde? "And yet on th'earth there's no more cruell thing "Then malice raging in a womans minde?