Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 508 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
Then wound our ears by hearing others wounds, That pity now may tread the steps of hate. Our Queen Olympias (raging with revenge) All Macedon did with murders fill, Which from her part the people did estrange, Whilst rigour only limited her will. So that when fierce Cassander sought her wreak, She did mistrust the Macedonians minds, And for the time the nearest strength did take, There, till the storm was past, to wait fair winds. But soon Cassander did the Town enclose, And as she held him out, did hold her in, That (like a Captive guarded by her foes) She knew not by what way a way to win; And when lives scant provision did decay, Then did bare walls but small refuge afford: She Scylla scaped to be Charybdis prey, Who fell on famine flying from the sword. Strait like pale Ghosts, faint Soldiers did remain, Whose bowels hunger like a Harpy tears, And with courageous words, the Queen in vain Did raise their spirit (the belly hath no ears) All languishing did then begin to fade, As if too weak to bear themselves about. Legs failed the body, and the neck the head, Then whilst the flesh fell in, bones bursted out; And when that meats which common are were spent, Then Horses, Dogs, Cats, Rats, all served for food, Of which, no horror th'eaters did torment, For what not poison was, all than seemed good: Some mouths accustomed once with dainty meats, Wished what they oft had loathed, vile crumbs, soul floods, And Ladies which had lived in pompous states, Fed, as brought up with wolves amidst the woods. Yea, must by those whom they themselves had nursed, Oft by the offsprings death the Parent lived: And which was worst, whilst breasts were like to burst, None could give comfort, all themselves were grieved. Such was their state, no friend be wailed his friend, No wife her husband, no, nor Sire his son; For apprehending their approaching end, All with compassion of themselves were won. The dead men's smell empoisoned them who lived, Whilst first made faint by a defrauded womb; Heaps were of breath and but all both deprived, That all the town in end was but a tomb. Life is the subject of distress and grief, That still affords us matter to be moan; And we by death can only have relief: To live, and to be wretched, are both but one. Yet foolish worldlings tossed with endless care, (Though at too dear a rate) would still buy breath, And following feathers wavering through the air, Love life (though wretched) more than a happy death. When thus the world Olympias plagued did spy, All sought Cassander though for several ends. All as a pest them who are wretched do fly: Eclipsed fortune threatens loss of friends. And she considering that she could not long Hold out the siege, since victuals were grown scant, Did send (as weak) for peace unto the strong. Thus time and travel all things once may daunt.
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)
Then wound our eares by hearing others wounds, That pittie now may tread the ſteps of hate. Our Queene Olympias (raging with revenge) All Macedonie did with murders fill, Which from her part the people did eſtrange, Whilſt rigor onely limited her will. So that when fierce Caſſander ſought her wreake, She did miſtruſt the Macedonians mindes, And for the time the neareſt ſtrength did take, There, till the ſtorme was paſt, to waite faire winds. But ſoone Caſſander did the Towne encloſe, And as ſhe held him out, did hold her in, That (like a Captive guarded by her foes) She knew not by what way a way to winne; And when lives ſcant proviſion did decay, Then did bare walles but ſmall refuge afford: "She Scylla ſcap'd to be Charybdis prey, "Who fell on famine flying from the ſword. Straight like pale Ghoſts, faint Souldiers did remaine, Whoſe bowels hunger like a Harpie teares, And with couragious words, the Queene in vaine Did raiſe their ſprite (the belly hath no eares) All languiſhing did then begin to fade, As if too weake to beare themſelves about. Legges fail'd the body, and the necke the head, Then whilſt the fleſh fell in, bones burſted out; And when that meates which common are were ſpent, Then Horſes, Dogs, Cats, Rats, all ſerv'd for food, Of which, no horrour th'eaters did torment, For what not poyſon was, all then ſeem'd good: Some mouthes accuſtom'd once with dainty meates, Wiſh'd what they oft had loath'd, vile crums, ſoule flouds, And Ladies which had liv'd in pompous ſtates, Fed, as brought up with wolves amidſt the woods. Yea, muſt by thoſe whom they themſelves had nurſt, Oft by the off-ſprings death the Parent liv'd: And which was worſt, whilſt breſts were like to burſt, None could give comfort, all themſelves were griev'd. Such was their ſtate, no friend be wail'd his friend, No wife her husband, no, nor Syre his ſonne; For apprehending their approaching end, All with compaſſion of themſelves were wonne. The dead mens ſmell empoyſon'd them who liv'd, Whilſt firſt made faint by a defrauded wombe; Heapes were of breath and but all both depriv'd, That all the towne in end was but a tombe. Life is the ſubject of diſtreſſe and griefe, "That ſtill affords us matter to be mone; "And we by death can onely have reliefe: "To live, and to be wretch'd, are both but one. "Yet fooliſh worldlings toſs'd with endleſſe care, "(Though at too deare a rate) would ſtill buy breath, "And following feathers wavering through the ayre, "Love life (though wretch'd) more then a happy death. When thus the world Olympias plagu'd did ſpy, All ſought Caſſander though for ſeverall ends. All as a peſt them who are wretch'd doe flye: "Ecclipſed fortune threatens loſſe of friends. And ſhe conſidering that ſhe could not long Hold out the ſiege, ſince victuals were grown ſcant, Did ſend (as weake) for peace vnto the ſtrong. "Thus time and travell all things once may daunt.