Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi · 489 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
Thus time let truth of all things doth proclaim: Man is a crafty Creature, had to know, Who can a face for every fortune frame: No trust in mortals, no; nor faith below, As our particulars do sometime move, We, what we wish for most, seem to mislike, And oft of others do the course disprove, Whilst we want only means to do the like. Then whilst Perdiccas did attempt before To make the rest who were his equals thrall, Who, than Antigonus detested more The foolish pride of one that would have all? But since Perdiccas and his faction fell, Whom he (as Traitors of the State) pursued, He, in his place succeeding to rebel, Hath what he seemed to end, again renewed; And yet I may times have mused of this, How from the world he did Enmenes send. How? but by Treason as his custom is, False at the first, and cruel in the end. I know, that after many doubtful fights, He hath o'erthrown Eumenes at the last: But by what Stratagems, or treacherous slights, I would be glad to hear how all hath past. Antigonus was at the first afraid, To match Eumenes by plain force in fight, And therefore all that fear affords assayed, For valour frank, still using wary slight. Amongst Eumenes' troops (their minds to prove) He scattered letters with allurements stored, By promised treasures, and protested love, Some to corrupt who might betray their Lord; But he (still wise) his Troops in time advised To clear their virtue by their enemy's vice, And gave them thankes, who would not be enticed To sell their faith at such a bloody price; Then said, that he himself those scrolls procured, That when they spied such practices again, They still might think them (by this means allured) Their Captain's trial, not their Enemy's train. Thus by the course which should have him entrapped, His adversary did deluded stay: Whilst both the from that present danger scaped, And to prevent the like, prepared a way, Then when he saw this policy had failed, And that there had some doubtful afflicts past, Antigonus who had at one prevailed (As having had some vantage at the last) Did with Eumenes strait procure to speak, And (as t'one vanquished) offered him goodwill, But he (whose mind could not be brought to break) Would only talk as to his equal still: For, when a band (between them made) did bear, He to Antigonus should help impart, That form reformed he first of all would swear, With Alexander's offspring to take part. Thus where they his submission did attend, Imperiously conditions he imposed: So that thereafter to procure his end, The other by all means his mind disposed; And shortly of his bands a vain debate, For his confusion fit occasion brought; Still as by concord small things do grow great, By discord great things are reduced to nought;
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)
"Thus time let truth of all things doth proclame: "Man is a crafty Creature, had to know, "Who can a face for every fortune frame: "No truſt in mortalls, no; nor faith below, "As our particulars doe ſometime move, "We, what we wiſh for moſt, ſeeme to miſlike, "And oft of others doe the courſe diſprove, "Whilſt we want only meanes to doe the like. Then whilſt Perdiccas did attempt before To make the reſt who were his equalls thrall, Who, then Antigonus deteſted more The fooliſh pride of one that would have all? But ſince Perdiccas and his faction fell, Whom he (as Traitours of the State) purſu'd, He, in his place ſucceeding to rebell, Hath what he ſeem'd to end, againe renew'd; And yet I may times have mus'd of this, How from the world he did Enmenes ſend. How? but by Treaſon as his cuſtome is, Falſe at the firſt, and cruell in the end. I know, that after many doubtfull fights, He hath o'rethrowne Eumenes at the laſt: But by what Stratagems, or treach'rous ſlights, I would be glad to heare how all hath paſt. Antigonus was at the firſt afrai'd, To match Eumenes by plaine force in fight, And therefore all that feare affords aſſai'd, For valour franke, ſtill uſing warie ſlight. Amongſt Eumenes troupes (their mindes to prove) He ſcattred letters with allurements ſtor'd, By promis'd treaſures, and proteſted love, Some to corrupt who might betray their Lord; But he (ſtill wiſe) his Troupes in time advis'd To cleare their vertue by their enemies vice, And gave them thankes, who would not be entis'd To ſell their faith at ſuch a bloodie price; Then ſaid, that he himſelfe thoſe ſcroules procur'd, That when they ſpy'd ſuch practiſes againe, They ſtill might thinke them (by this meanes allur'd) Their Captaines triall, not their Enemies traine. Thus by the courſe which ſhould have him entrap'd, His adverſarie did deluded ſtay: Whilſt both the from that preſent danger ſcap'd, And to prevent the like, prepar'd a way, Then when he ſaw this policy had fail'd, And that there had ſome doubtfull licts paſt, Antigenus who had at one prevail'd (As having had ſome vantage at the laſt) Did with Eumenes ſtraight procure to ſpeake, And (as t'one vanquiſh'd) offred him good-will, But he (whoſe minde could not be brought to breake) Would onely talke as to his equall ſtill: For, when a band (betweene them made) did beare, He to Antigonus ſhould helpe impart, That forme reform'd he firſt of all would ſweare, With Alexanders off-ſpring to take part. Thus where they his ſubmiſſion did attend, Imperiouſly conditions he impos'd: So that thereafter to procure his end, The other by all meanes his minde diſpos'd; And ſhortly of his bands a vaine debate, For his confuſion fit occaſion brought; "Still as by concord ſmall things doe grow great, "By diſcord great things are reduc'd to nought;