Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi · 487 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.
And make you live (abominable band) Base vagabonds, barred from your native bounds, Then die detested in a harb'rous Land; And as ye have the world with murder filled, So may your blood by the same Swords be shed, By which you have more of your Captains killed Then of your foes, from whom (like beasts) ye fled. But neither courteous, nor outrageous words Can change his soldiers from their first intent; Who forward led their Captain chained with cords, (A scorned Captive) to his Rival's Tent, Where to the end that he might quickly end, He asked, what stayed Antigonus to go By setting of him free to gain a friend, Or by his death to rid him of a foe; And soon Antigonus did hast his fall, By this great magnanimity not moved; And th' Agiraspides (dispersed o'er all) As murderers, murder from the world removed. Thus oft have Traitors been dispatched in time, By those whom their upbraiding looks dismay: That loathed remembrance of the Author's crime The actors death can only wipe away. Now claims Antigonus when fame doth feast, Above his Sovereign's self in rank to sit; For Alexander but subdued the East, And he hath conquered them who conquered it. No doubt, but he will do the best he can, And hath within himself high things designed: For whilst prosperity transports a man, Nought seems difficult to a lofty mind. Of those in whom he did suspect a spirit, Whose courage served his courses to resist, He hath himself by divers means made quite: In others wreaks his safety doth consist; Thus martial Python who no danger spared, (Whom Alexander held in high account) Did at the last receive a hard reward, For helping him Eumenes to surmount. His spirit to tempt, and power fit to perform Made jealousy Antigonus torment; And yet he feigned to love him for the form, Till he his Court did love him to frequent, Where whilst he did (mistrusting nought) abide, He publicly in all the people's sight (Though seeming justly) damned unjustly died: No wrong more vile than wrong that looks like right. Thus diverse Governors within short space, Their Government, or then their life have lost, And others are preferred unto their place, Who did depend upon his favour most; Oft likewise me he laboured to surprise, By policy whom he would have o'erthrown: But I, whom Python's danger had made wise, Learned by his ruin to prevent mine own; To save my life abandoned is my state, And I have fled with danger as you see: That you may know, how that man doth grow great, Whose pride may plague you all, as well as me. Then let us see what course we should intent, Lest (out of time made wise) we rue too late. I rather first pursue, than last defend. A fire would still be quenched ere it grow great.
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)
And make you live (abominable band) Baſe vagabonds, barr'd from your native bounds, Then die deteſted in a harb'rous Land; And as ye have the world with murder fill'd, So may your blood by the ſame Swords be ſhed, By which you have moe of your Captaines kill'd Then of your foes, from whom (like beaſts) ye fled. But neither courteous, nor outragious words Could change his ſouldiers from their firſt intent; Who forward led their Captaine chain'd with cords, (A ſcorned Captive) to his Rivals Tent, Where to the end that he might quickly end, He ask'd, what ſtay'd Antigonus to goe By ſetting of him free to gaine a friend, Or by his death to rid him of a foe; And ſoone Antigonus did haſt his fall, By this great magnanimity not mov'd; And th' Agiraspides (diſpers'd o're all) As murderers, murder from the world remov'd. "Thus oft have Traitours beene diſpatch'd in time, "By thoſe whom their upbraiding lookes diſmay: "That loath'd remembrance of the Authors crime "The actors death can onely wipe away. Now claimes Antigonus when fame doth feaſt, Above his Soveraignes ſelfe in ranke to ſit; For Alexander but ſubdu'd the Eaſt, And he hath conquer'd them who conquer'd it. No doubt, but he will doe the beſt he can, And hath within himſelfe high things deſign'd: "For whilſt proſperity tranſports a man, "Nought ſeemes difficult to a loftie minde. Of thoſe in whom he did ſuſpect a ſprite, Whoſe courage ſerv'd his courſes to reſiſt, He hath himſelfe by diverſe meanes made quite: In others wreakes his ſafety doth conſiſt; Thus martiall Pithon who no danger ſpar'd, (Whom Alexander held in high account) Did at the laſt receave a hard reward, For helping him Eumenes to ſurmount. His ſprite to tempt, and power fit to performe Made jealouſie Antigonus torment; And yet he fain'd to love him for the forme, Till he his Court did love him to frequent, Where whilſt he did (miſtruſting nought) abide, He publikely in all the peoples ſight (Though ſeeming juſtly) damn'd unjuſtly di'd: "No wrong more vile then wrong that lookes like right. Thus divers Governours within ſhort ſpace, Their Government, or then their life have loſt, And others are preferr'd unto their place, Who did depend upon his favour moſt; Oft likewiſe me he labour'd to ſurpriſe, By policy whom he would have o'rethrowne: But I, whom Pythons danger had made wiſe, Learn'd by his ruine to prevent mine owne; To ſave my life abandon'd is my ſtate, And I have fled with danger as you ſee: That you may know, how that man doth grow great, Whoſe pride may plague you all, as well as me. Then let us ſee what courſe we ſhould intend, Leaſt (out of time made wiſe) we rue too late. "I rather firſt purſue, then laſt defend. "A fire would ſtill be quench'd ere it grow great.