Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 472 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Do merit scorn, though they amazement breed: The world them pity more than Envy owes, Who to seem happy wretched are indeed. What alterations strange attend a Throne, As if the sphere of fortune were a crown▪ The great still tossed like Sisyphus his stone, When raised most high, rest ready to fall down. Of this what greater proof can fame afford Then mighty Philip's memorable fall, Who daunted had the Grecians by the sword, Though till that time by strangers not made thrall? He, he, then whilst he solemnized with state, His daughter's marriage, suddenly was lost: It seemed when Heaven that Monarch's days would date, That Hymen's torch gave light to Pluto's post. When strong regards had graved within my heart, The miseries that proper were to Court, I thought them happy who (retired apart) Can never know such things, but by report. I might have lived with Alexander still, To virtuous men, whose favours were not scarce: Yet rather choosed (though having both at will) To serve with Pallas, then command with Mars. And whilst he toiled of others Lord to be, I of myself did labour to be Lord; Yet made as great a conquest too as he; My pen shall be as famous as his Sword. And had I willingly engaged my rest, The way to trace which to vain glory tends, I might have lived (respected with the best) A special one of Alexander's friends. Though I of him did never merit aught, He entertained my friendship till his death, And when he once our City's o'erthrow sought, At my request did pacify his wrath. Then once to me a mass of gold he sent, And offered too a stately Asian Town, Which I refused, more pleased with my poor rent, Then he with all the treasures of a Crown: I told, that such a sum but served to make Him a corrupter, me corrupted thought, And foul for him to give, for me to take, Is used, shamed both, unused, did serve for nought; But all those baits I never deigned to touch, Lest I (who all my life had lived so free) Might be possessed too much, possessing much, If taking Riches, it had taken me. No, I would rather learn to live with less, Then for superfluous furniture to strive: Who seeks out substance but to nurse excess, To use it lives, not it that he may live. My fortune doth afford sufficient means, That may preserve all nature's powers in force; And he who on a golden Sceptre leans, Can not have more, but may well use it worse. Then since abundance, but abuses brings, Why seek men more than how to be well eased? And (ah!) why toil they for so many things, Since with a little nature can be pleased?
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)
"Do merit ſcorne, though they amazement breed: "The world them pittie more then Envie owes, "Who to ſeeme happy wretched are indeed. "What alterations ſtrange attend a Throne, "As if the ſpheare of fortune were a crowne▪ "The great ſtill toſs'd like Syſiphus his ſtone, "When rais'd moſt high, reſt ready to fall downe. Of this what greater proofe can fame afford Then mighty Philips memorable fall, Who daunted had the Grecians by the ſword, Though till that time by ſtrangers not made thrall? He, he, then whilſt he ſolemniz'd with ſtate, His daughters marriage, ſuddenly was loſt: It ſeem'd when Heaven that Monarchs daies would date, That Hymens torch gave light to Pluto's poſt. When ſtrong regards had grav'd within my heart, The miſeries that proper were to Court, I thought them happie who (retir'd apart) Could never know ſuch things, but by report. I might have liv'd with Alexander ſtill, To vertuous men, whoſe favours were not ſcarce: Yet rather choos'd (though having both at will) To ſerve with Pallas, then command with Mars. And whilſt he toil'd of others Lord to be, I of my ſelfe did labour to be Lord; Yet made as great a conqueſt too as he; My pen ſhall be as famous as his Sword. And had I willingly engag'd my reſt, The way to trace which to vaine glory tends, I might have liv'd (reſpected with the beſt) A ſpeciall one of Alexanders friends. Though I of him did never merit ought, He entertain'd my friendſhip till his death, And when he once our Citties o'rethrow ſought, At my requeſt did pacifie his wrath. Then once to me a maſſe of gold he ſent, And offred too a ſtately Aſian Towne, Which I refus'd, more pleas'd with my poore rent, Then he with all the treaſures of a Crowne: I told, that ſuch a ſumme but ſerv'd to make Him a corrupter, me corrupted thought, And foule for him to give, for me to take, Is us'd, ſham'd both, unus'd, did ſerve for nought; But all thoſe baites I never daign'd to touch, Leaſt I (who all my life had liv'd ſo free) Might be poſſeſs'd too much, poſſeſſing much, If taking Riches, it had taken me. No, I would rather learne to live with leſſe, Then for ſuperfluous furniture to ſtrive: "Who ſeekes out ſubſtance but to nurſe exceſſe, "To uſe it lives, not it that he may live. "My fortune doth afford ſufficient meanes, "That may preſerve all natures pow'rs in force; "And he who on a golden Scepter leanes, "Can not have more, but may well uſe it worſe. "Then ſince aboundance, but abuſes brings, "Why ſeeke men more then how to be well eas'd? "And (ah!) why toile they for ſo many things, "Since with a little nature can be pleas'd?