Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 530 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
But yet this sacrifice could not assuage The boiling thoughts of her unbounded will: For, entering thus she rioted in rage, (As dogs that once get blood, would always kill) Each light occasion kindling still her wrath, The Sovereignty she shamefully abused; And put my brother Nicanor to death, Though for no crime condemned, no, not accused. To some (when dead) an hate by her was borne, Whose cruelty no flood of blood confined: (Of Iolas the Tomb profanely torn) She (robbing th'earth) with ashes stained the wind; To be Cassander's friend was such a crime, As none could scape who ever favoured me; Thus huge disorders did abound a time: Where laws not valued are, all things are free; When having heard of this outrageous pride, Which made my native soil contemned to be, I those indignities could not abide, Whose shame and danger did aim most at me. So that at last (moved by my Country's care) (As much as by particular respects) I with great speed an Army did prepare To punish, or prevent the like effects. But when I was to Macedony come, To fortify a Town she did design, Which I enclosed, and quickly did overcome, Whilst famine forced the Fortress to resign. Then to necessity weak pride gave place, Her lofty courage was constrained to bow: So that she rests depending on our grace, To be disposed, as it shall please us now. This chance the world to wonder may invite; Lo, there a Queen who had (though now distressed) The rarest Fortune, and the greatest spirit That ever any of her sex possessed. The widowed Empress who first bragged the Indeses, Or proud Thomiris though both praised have been, Or th' Amazons all borne with martial minds, Have never been more stout than was this Queen; Her life's first progress did but prove too sweet, Whom once the world with treasures strived to bless: But now sad soul (foiled under Fortune's ●eet) Her misery no creature can express. Those were but Fortune's gifts which made her great, Whilst treacherous shows by shallow wits were praised, Her imperfections did but stain the State, Where her not hers, but others merits raised: When first that Dame with famous Philip matched, Her cunning carriage was not free from blame: But though she then with Argos eyes was watched, (As was supposed) soon forfeited her Fame; At least (shame-feared) he did her first disdain, And of that sex the precious fame is such, Their tender honour any breath may stain, If tainted, foul, if but suspected, too much; Yet this at last did his destruction breed, For which her spiteful thoughts had laboured long: She by Pausanias' privy to his deed, Had spurred him to perform th'intended wrong; And by such means long sought, that to her will, Her husband's murder might enlarge the raynes, Whilst backed by power she boldly did the ill, Of which, too late, the troubled Realm complains. Though loathed of all (long suffered for her Son) She played the Tyrant safely as she pleased: But by the course that I have now begun, I hope those whom she plagued, shall be appeased.
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)
But yet this ſacrifice could not aſſwage The boyling thoughts of her unbounded will: For, entring thus ſhe rioted in rage, (As dogges that once get bloud, would alwayes kill) Each light occaſion kindling ſtill her wrath, The Soveraignty ſhe ſhamefully abus'd; And put my brother Nicanor to death, Though for no crime condemn'd, no, not accus'd. To ſome (when dead) an hate by her was borne, Whoſe cruelty no floud of bloud confin'd: (Of Iolas the Tombe prophanely torne) She (robbing th'earth) with aſhes ſtain'd the winde; To be Caſſanders friend was ſuch a crime, As none could ſcape who ever favour'd me; Thus huge diſorders did abound a time: "Where laws not valued are, all things are free; When having heard of this outragious pride, Which made my native ſoyle contemn'd to be, I thoſe indignities could not abide, Whoſe ſhame and danger did ayme moſt at me. So that at laſt (mov'd by my Countries care) (As much as by particular reſpects) I with great ſpeed an Army did prepare To puniſh, or prevent the like effects. But when I was to Macedony come, To fortifie a Towne ſhe did deſigne, Which I enclos'd, and quickly did o're-come, Whil'ſt famine forc'd the Fortreſſe to reſigne. Then to neceſſity weake pride gave place, Her lofty courage was conſtrain'd to bow: So that ſhe reſts depending on our grace, To be diſpos'd, as it ſhall pleaſe us now. This chance the world to wonder may invite; Loe, there a Queene who had (though now diſtreſſ'd) The rareſt Fortune, and the greateſt ſprite That ever any of her ſex poſſeſſ'd. The widow'd Empreſſe who firſt bragg'd the Indes, Or proud Thomiris though both prais'd have beene, Or th'Amazons all borne with martiall mindes, Have never beene more ſtout then was this Queene; Her lifes firſt progreſſe did but prove too ſweet, Whom once the world with treaſures ſtriv'd to bleſſe: But now ſad ſoule (foil'd under Fortunes eet) Her miſery no creature can expreſſe. Thoſe were but Fortunes gifts which made her great, Whil'ſt treacherous ſhows by ſhallow wits were prais'd, Her imperfections did but ſtaine the State, Where her not hers, but others merits rais'd: When firſt that Dame with famous Philip match'd, Her cunning carriage was not free from blame: But though ſhe then with Argos eyes was watch'd, (As was ſuppoſ'd) ſoone forfeited her Fame; At leaſt (ſhame-fear'd) he did her firſt diſdaine, "And of that ſexe the precious fame is ſuch, "Their tender honour any breath may ſtaine, "If tainted, foule, if but ſuſpect'd, too much; Yet this at laſt did his deſtruction breed, For which her ſpightfull thoughts had labour'd long: She by Pauſanias privy to his deed, Had ſpurr'd him to performe th'intended wrong; And by ſuch meanes long ſought, that to her will, Her husbands murder might enlarge the raynes, Whil'ſt back'd by power ſhe boldly did the ill, Of which, too late, the troubled Realme complaines. Though loath'd of all (long ſuffred for her Sonne) She play'd the Tyrant ſafely as ſhe pleas'd: But by the courſe that I have now begun, I hope thoſe whom ſhe plagu'd, ſhall be appeas'd.