Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 534 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 did Cassander know that need constrained Her so to bow, as every way diseased: And, though he her request not quite disdained, Yet the appointment was such as he pleased: For, all the favour that she could procure, Was leave to live a private person still; And yet of that she could not be made sure, Which did depend upon the Victors will. Then whilst Cassander sought his enemy's ends, Huge numbers with him always did abide. Yet might have many followers, and few friends: Friends by the touchstone of distress are tried. But though the Queen was rendered in this sort, A promise given that life should be preserved, The tyrant with her spirit could not comport, But from his faith, for her confusion swerved: The Macedonians were together brought, There to consult what did concern their Queen: Of whom when as a number deeply thought, Both what she was, and what she once had been; Even as Cassander had suborned them all, Their parents came whom she had damned to death, And did her rigour to remembrance call, By which the multitude was moved to wrath. Whilst from their breasts all pity quite was barred, They did conclude, their Queen behoved to dye. Durst Subjects damn their Sovereign? and not heard? So still may clouds obscure the world's bright eye. Yet did Cassander put (false every way) A mask of pity on a cruel mind, And offered her a ship to fly away, As if to death against his will assigned; Nor was this course for her delivery framed, But only as by chance that she might drown: So for her death that he might not be blamed, But only Neptune who had drunk her down: Yet she (a Princess of a mighty spirit,) Whose lofty courage nothing could overcome, Said, ere she scaped by such a shameful flight, That she would hear the Macedonians doom. But when Cassander's counsel was contemned, Lest that the multitude had changed their mind, When they remembered whom they had condemned, And did the fullness of his purpose find, To rid her soon from pain, and him from fear, He sent some bands from pity most estranged: Yet she ' against fortune did a banner bear, And not her heart, no, not her countenance changed. She constant still, though moaned, would never moon, Whose stately gesture braved their bold attempt, And did unite her virtues all in one, To grace disgrace, and glorify contempt. She on two Lady's shoulders leaned her arms, And with a Majesty did march to death, Like Alexander once amidst th' altarmes, As if in triumph to abandon breath. The height of virtue admiration brings, At this great magnanimity amazed: As at the image of their ancient Kings, Or then some Goddess all the Soldiers gazed: But (ah) some (forced by the tyrant) strived To spoil (unnatural) Natures fairest frame, And twixth th' Alabaster Balls, they drived Th' unwilling swords that strait grew red for shame. Then, she in worth who did all else excel, Would neither word, nor tear, nor sigh forth send, But spread her garments o'er her, whilst she fell, As of her honour jealous to the end.
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 did Caſſander know that need conſtraind Her ſo to bow, as every way diſeas'd: And, though he her requeſt not quite diſdain'd, Yet the appointment was ſuch as he pleas'd: For, all the favour that ſhe could procure, Was leave to live a private perſon ſtill; And yet of that ſhe could not be made ſure, Which did depend upon the Victors will. Then whilſt Caſſander ſought his enemies ends, Huge numbers with him alwaies did abide. Yet might have many followers, and few friends: "Friends by the touch-ſtone of diſtreſſe are try'd. But though the Queen was rendred in this ſort, A promiſe given that life ſhould be preſerv'd, The tyrant with her ſprite could not comport, But from his faith, for her confuſion ſwerv'd: The Macedonians were together brought, There to conſult what did concerne their Queene: Of whom when as a number deepely thought, Both what ſhe was, and what ſhe once had beene; Even as Caſſander had ſuborn'd them all, Their parents came whom ſhe had damn'd to death, And did her rigour to remembrance call, By which the multitude was mov'd to wrath. Whilſt from their breſts all pitty quite was barr'd, They did conclude, their Queene behov'd to dye. Durſt Subjects damne their Soveraign? and not heard? So ſtill may clouds obſcure the worlds bright eye. Yet did Caſſander put (falſe every way) A maske of pitty on a cruell minde, And offred her a ſhip to flye away, As if to death againſt his will aſſign'd; Nor was this courſe for her delivery fram'd, But onely as by chance that ſhe might drowne: So for her death that he might not be blam'd, But onely Neptune who had drunke her downe: Yet ſhe (a Princeſſe of a mighty ſpright,) Whoſe lofty courage nothing could o're-come, Said, ere ſhe ſcap'd by ſuch a ſhamefull flight, That ſhe would heare the Macedonians doome. But when Caſſanders counſell was contemn'd, Leſt that the multitude had chang'd their minde, When they remembred whom they had condemn'd, And did the fulneſſe of his purpoſe finde, To rid her ſoone from paine, and him from feare, He ſent ſome bands from pitty moſt eſtrang'd: Yet ſhe' againſt fortune did a banner beare, And not her heart, no, not her count'nance chang'd. She conſtant ſtill, though mon'd, would never mone, Whoſe ſtately geſture brav'd their bold attempt, And did unite her vertues all in one, To grace diſgrace, and glorifie contempt. She on two Ladies ſhoulders lean'd her armes, And with a Majeſtie did march to death, Like Alexander once amid'ſt th' altarmes, As if in triumph to abandon breath. "The height of vertue admiration brings, At this great magnanimity amaz'd: As at the image of their antient Kings, Or then ſome Goddeſſe all the Souldiers gaz'd: But (ah) ſome (forced by the tyrant) ſtriv'd To ſpoile (unnaturall) Natures faireſt frame, And twixth th' Alabaſter Balles, they driv'd Th' unwilling ſwords that ſtraight grew red for ſhame. Then, ſhe in worth who did all elſe excell, Would neither word, nor teare, nor ſigh forth ſend, But ſpread her garments o're her, whilſt ſhe fell, As of her honour jealous to the end.