Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T34 Thebes and royal catastrophe: siege, sla · 471 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.
Yet of Olympias (though cast down by you) The fight her Son and Husband will revive, And so may make the Macedonians now, For her relief strange courses to contrive. Of those whose greatness doth regard extort, The miseries entender every mind, And still th'affections of the vulgar sort, Are (headlong led) too cruel, or too kind. O! but I can precipitate her fall, Even by the means which might support her most: For, pity shall bar pity, whilst they all Wail for their friends, who through her pride were lost. As those to whom all other things are free, Must have their life and reign both of one date, So private men who pass their own degree, Can hardly turn to take their former state. Your Fortune thus is trusted to the fates; None can retire who enters in such things: All those who dare attempt against great States, Must dye as Traitors, or else live as Kings; And though you would but some disorders stay, You deal with those who (borne not to be thrall) As torrents bear away what stops their way, And must of force (if not undone) do all. Such (though set free) will storm when they are gone, Who scorn to take the thing, that they should give; All those must dye who dare but touch a Throne: Who may endanger Kings, they must not live. Since in this course I only once can err, I shall be sure ere she herself withdraw. And yet what surety can you have of her, Can laws bind them who are above the law? Who can a concord make betwixt the two, Whereas the one must hate, the other fear? O, but I mind to use the matter so That both from hence shall further strife forbear. What can her freedom, and your peace procure? Death both can make her free, and me secure. And would you do such ill to shed her blood? Yea, ill to others, so it do me good. The Macedonians will abhor this wrong. And yet obey me if I be most strong. But who shall have the Realm amidst those broils? Who ever wins the field, doth owe the spoils. So to possess the Realm you have no right. But I have more, so long as I have might. This State doth to itself an heir afford. All kingdoms rights are pleaded by the Sword. The people all will grudge against your state. But d●re not stir, whilst fear exceeds their hate. And in their hearts they will detest you too. Think what they will, who have no power to do. What though Olympias in a little space May lose her power, together with her breath? Yet there remains another of her race, Who is by Nature bound to venge her death.
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)
Yet of Olympias (though caſt downe by you) The fight her Sonne and Husband will revive, And ſo may make the Macedonians now, For her reliefe ſtrange courſes to contrive. "Of thoſe whoſe greatneſſe doth regard extort, "The miſeries entender every minde, "And ſtill th'affections of the vulgar ſort, "Are (head-long led) too cruell, or too kinde. O!but I can precipitate her fall, Even by the meanes which might ſupport her moſt: For, pity ſhall barre pity, whil'ſt they all Waile for their friends, who through her pride were loſt. "As thoſe to whom all other things are free, "Muſt have their life and raigne both of one date, "So private men who paſſe their owne degree, "Can hardly turne to take their former ſtate. "Your Fortune thus is truſted to the fates; "None can retyre who enters in ſuch things: "All thoſe who dare attempt againſt great States, "Muſt dye as Traitors, or elſe live as Kings; "And though you would but ſome diſorders ſtay, "You deale with thoſe who (borne not to be thrall) "As torrents beare away what ſtops their way, "And muſt of force (if not undone) do all. "Such (though ſet free) will ſtorme when they are gone, "Who ſcorne to take the thing, that they ſhould give; "All thoſe muſt dye who dare but touch a Throne: "Who may endanger Kings, they muſt not live. Since in this courſe I onely once can erre, I ſhall be ſure ere ſhe her ſelfe with-draw. And yet what ſurety can you have of her, "Can laws binde them who are above the law? "Who can a concord make betwixt the two, "Whereas the one muſt hate, the other feare? O, but I minde to uſe the matter ſo That both from hence ſhall further ſtrife forbeare. What can her freedome, and your peace procure? Death both can make her free, and me ſecure. And would you do ſuch ill to ſhed her bloud? Yea, ill to others, ſo it do me good. The Macedonians will abhorre this wrong. And yet obey me if I be moſt ſtrong. But who ſhall have the Realme amidſt thoſe broils? "Who ever winnes the field, doth owe the ſpoils. So to poſſeſſe the Realme you have no right. But I have more, ſo long as I have might. This State doth to it ſelfe an heire afford. "All kingdomes rights are pleaded by the Sword. The people all will grudge againſt your ſtate. But dre not ſtirre, whil'ſt feare exceeds their hate. And in their hearts they will deteſt you too. Think what they will, who have no pow'r to doe. What tough Olympias in a little ſpace May loſe her pow'r, together with her breath? Yet there remaines another of her race, Who is by Nature bound to venge her death.