Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 473 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.
Lo! how the Heavens, whose love to man exceeds, Have made his body strong, his mind divine, And have made th'earth to furnish all his needs, Lest curbing Cares might make his thoughts decline: So that he hath a means to raise his flight (If winged with virtue) and may (mounting high) By time approach to the celestial light, And deify himself before he die, Yet doth he strait forgo that glorious way, To toil for things which th'earth not forced affords, The which his wants first framed were to defray, By by himself are of his life made Lords. O! how unworthy of the worth of man, Are many labours which delight him most, Since that corruption boldly first began To make men nurse vile vice at virtue's cost. And now what hath great Alexander gained By endless travel, and excessive cares? (Of whom (lo) now, they only say he reigned) But death unto himself, worse to his heirs. And for the guiltless blood which he hath spilled, His conquests partners (lo) do now begin To die even by the swords by which they killed, And all his offspring expiates his sin. Strange revolutions sway all worldly things: The wheel of fortune still must slippery prove, And chiefly then when charged it is with kings, Whose states (as weighty) quickly make it move. Yet Alexander I must say was blessed, Who (still a victor) from distress estranged The world's chief Monarch when his state was best, Did did in time before his fortune changed: And for his favour which I oft did try, Whom earnestly he laboured to advance; It grieves me that himself so soon did die, And that his offspring hath so hard a chance. His Successors have set all Greece on fire, Of which I fear to perish by some spark; For, Polypercon doth my death conspire, And who can scape when made a great man's mark? Yet for my Country's cause I'll give my blood, Whilst safely praised all follow virtue can, But (when by danger bragged) then, to do good, O! that is worthy of a worthy man. Nor do I tender so this puff of breath, But I can yield that Nature it expel? A mind that is resolved, triumphs o'er death, He hath lived long enough who hath lived well. NO doubt (great Heroes) whom the Heavens have loved, (What ever countenance duty doth pretend) Your minds are glad, since those (by me removed) Who might have made you end, have made an end. Loath not the means if pleased with the effect, For though by this I have a realm obtained, It yields you more, whose course none can suspect: I only guilty am, ye all have gained. Yet to pursue my life they first began, For my defence this refuge last I proved:
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)
Loe! how the Heavens, whoſe love to man exceeds, Have made his body ſtrong, his minde divine, And have made th'earth to furniſh all his needs, Leaſt curbing Cares might make his thoughts decline: So that he hath a meanes to raiſe his flight (If wing'd with vertue) and may (mounting hie) By time approach to the celeſtiall light, And deifie himſelfe before he die, Yet doth he ſtraight forgoe that glorious way, To toile for things which th'earth not forc'd affords, The which his wants firſt fram'd were to defray, By by himſelfe are of his life made Lords. "O! how unworthie of the worth of man, "Are many labours which delight him moſt, "Since that corruption boldly firſt beganne "To make men nurſe vile vice at vertues coſt. And now what hath great Alexander gain'd By endleſſe travell, and exceſſive cares? (Of whom (loe) now, they onely ſay he raign'd) But death vnto himſelfe, worſe to his heires. And for the guiltleſſe blood which he hath ſpill'd, His conqueſts partners (loe) doe now beginne To die even by the ſwords by which they kill'd, And all his off-spring expiates his ſinne. "Strange revolutions ſway all worldly things: "The wheele of fortune ſtill muſt ſlipperie prove, "And chiefely then when charg'd it is with kings, "Whoſe ſtates (as weighty) quickly make it move. Yet Alexander I muſt ſay was bleſt, Who (ſtill a victor) from diſtreſſe eſtrang'd The worlds chiefe Monarch when his ſtate was beſt, Did did in time before his fortune chang'd: And for his favour which I oft did try, Whom earneſtly he labour'd to advance; It grieves me that himſelfe ſo ſoone did die, And that his off-ſpring hath ſo hard a chance. His Succeſſors have ſet all Greece on fire, Of which I feare to periſh by ſome ſparke; For, Polypercon doth my death conſpire, "And who can ſcape when made a great mans marke? Yet for my Countries cauſe I'le give my blood, "Whilſt ſafely prais'd all follow vertue can, "But (when by danger bragg'd) then, to doe good, "O! that is worthie of a worthie man. Nor doe I tender ſo this puffe of breath, But I can yeeld that Nature it expell? "A minde that is reſolv'd, triumphes o're death, "He hath liv'd long enough who hath liv'd well. NO doubt (great Heroes) whom the Heavens have lov'd, (What ever count'nance duty doth pretend) Your minds are glad, ſince thoſe (by me remov'd) Who might have made you end, have made an end. Loath not the meanes if pleas'd with the effect, For though by this I have a realme obtain'd, It yeelds you more, whoſe courſe none can ſuſpect: I onely guilty am, ye all have gain'd. Yet to purſue my life they firſt began, For my defence this refuge laſt I prov'd: