Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 517 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
The raging streams of a tempestuous flood, Which drowns the old, not yields the young relief? What fool who of his foes victorious stood, Would spoil an Army, and yet spare the chief: No, since I must myself with murder stain, I'll by the roots raze all the Royal race, So that no power shall spring from thence again, That may myself, or yet my plants displace. The strength hath left great Alexander's arm, Whose mothers fatal thread is now near spun; And I have means to keep myself from harm, Both of Roxane, and her tender Son. But since this course may much our states advance, By which a ground for great attempts is laid: I m●●t entreat you now (what ever chance) To lend us your applause, though not your aid. I'll be your friend, yet wish you would refrain, From doing this; but, ere you be undone, Since by your guiltness I thus may gain, I'll suffer that which I would not have done. CAn I be she whom all the world admired, As the most happy Queen that reigned below, Whom all the Planets have to plague conspired, Of fickle Fortune's course the power to show? No, no, not I, for what could me control, Or force me thus t'attend another's will, Since I despise this prison of my soul, Where it disdains t'abide in bondage still? Ah! whilst vain pomp transported fancies fed, The jealous gods my state to grudge did tempt, My state which Envy once, and Reverence bred, Though now it breed but pity, and contempt: Olympias once high as Olympus stood, The wife Philip, Alexander's Mother, Who matched Alcides, and Achilles' blood, To breed a man more worth than both together. Am I the woman whose majestic state Seemed once so happy to deceived conceits? I, I am she, and never yet more great Then at this present, even in spite of fates. A double bondage long did burden me, I to myself, myself to Fortune thrall: But now captivity hath set me free, Who could not rise till first I had a fall; A spirit whilst it prosperity benumbs, Scarce like the self can to the world appear: But then when virtue every cross o'ercomes, True Greatness shines most bright in Glories sphere. Our treasure now (I see) consists no more Without ourselves in th'eye-betraying shows, But in the breasts inestimable store, Which neither Time entombs, nor Power o'erthrows. O never were my thoughts enlarged till now To mark myself, and quintessence my mind: For, long (a prey to pride) I know not how, A mist of fancies made my judgement blind. As those who dream sweet dreams, whilst waked at last, Do find their error when their eyes find light: Free from the slumbering of my Fortune past, I now arise to judge of all things right. That cloud of pomp, whose smoke me shadowed once, Lo, now removed, unmasks my life too late: And now I see, that Sceptres, Crowns, and Thrones, Are burdenous badges of a dangerous state. O happy woman, of true pleasure sure,
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)
"The raging ſtreames of a tempeſtuous flood, "Which drowns the old, not yeelds the yong reliefe? "What foole who of his foes victorious ſtood, "Would ſpoyle an Army, and yet ſpare the chiefe: No, ſince I muſt my ſelfe with murder ſtaine, Ile by the roots raze all the Royall race, So that no pow'r ſhall ſpring from thence againe, That may my ſelfe, or yet my plants diſplace. The ſtrength hath left great Alexanders arme, Whoſe mothers fatall threed is now neere ſpunne; And I have meanes to keep my ſelfe from harme, Both of Roxane, and her tender Sonne. But ſince this courſe may much our ſtates advance, By which a ground for great attempts is layd: I mt entreat you now (what ever chance) To lend us your applauſe, though not your ayd. I'le be your friend, yet wiſh you would refraine, From doing this; but, ere you be undone, Since by your guiltneſſe I thus may gaine, Ile ſuffer that which I would not have done. CAn I be ſhe whom all the world admir'd, As the moſt happie Queene that raign'd below, Whom all the Planets have to plague conſpir'd, Of fickle Fortunes courſe the pow'r to ſhow? No, no, not I, for what could me controull, Or force me thus t'attend anothers will, Since I deſpiſe this priſon of my ſoule, Where it diſdaines t'abide in bondage ſtill? Ah! whil'ſt vaine pompe tranſported fancies fed, The jealous gods my ſtate to grudge did tempt, My ſtate which Envy once, and Reverence bred, Though now it breed but pity, and contempt: Olympias once high as Olympus ſtood, The wife Philip, Alexanders Mother, Who match'd Alcides, and Achilles bloud, To breed a man more worth then both together. Am I the woman whoſe majeſticke ſtate Seem'd once ſo happy to deceiv'd conceits? I, I am ſhe, and never yet more great Then at this preſent, even in ſpight of fates. A double bondage long did burden me, I to my ſelfe, my ſelfe to Fortune thrall: But now captivity hath ſet me free, Who could not riſe till firſt I had a fall; "A ſprit whil'ſt it proſperity benummes, "Scarce like the ſelfe can to the world appeare: "But then when vertue every croſſe o're-comes, "True Greatneſſe ſhines moſt bright in Glories ſpheare. "Our treaſure now (I ſee) conſiſts no more "Without our ſelves in th'eye-betraying ſhows, "But in the breaſts ineſtimable ſtore, "Which neither Time entombes, nor Pow'r o're-throws. O never were my thoughts enlarg'd till now To mark my ſelfe, and quinteſſence my minde: For, long (a prey to pride) I know not how, A miſt of fancies made my judgement blinde. As thoſe who dreame ſweet dreames, whil'ſt wak't at laſt, Do finde their errour when their eyes finde light: Free from the ſlumb'ring of my Fortune paſt, I now ariſe to judge of all things right. "That cloud of pomp, whoſe ſmoak me ſhadow'd once, "Loe, now remov'd, unmasks my life too late: "And now I ſee, that Scepters, Crownes, and Thrones, "Are burd'nous badges of a dangerous ſtate. O happie woman, of true pleaſure ſure,