Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 [1605-1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 461 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.
Since that world's conqueror then whilst far from fear, (By too much power pressed) so soon was dead: Why do his Captains strive who now should bear The Diadem that crushed so strong a head? O! when my mind is ravished through the stars, To search the secret secrets of the fates: What treasons, murders, mutinies and wars, Are threatening to o'erthrow usurped seats? That false Cassander who betrayed his Lord, And spoiled the princely race, in mischief chief, (A traitor both of heaven and earth abhorred) Shall live but with disgrace, and dye with grief. His sons (in wickedness himself t'exceed) Shall make the woman dye whom ade them live; Then both (when drunk with blood) to death shall bleed, And none of theirs their funerals shall survive: When rash ambition should be cooled by age, Lysimachus shall by Seleucus dye; Nor shall Seleucus long enjoy the Stage, But by like violence shall breathless lie; And subtle Ptolemies degenered race, (Long only famous for infamous things) Shall end and to the pride of foes give place, Whilst a lascivious Queen confusion brings; Amigon●● shall be in battle killed, His Son a captive perish with disgrace And after that it Greece with blood hath filled, In th' end, destruction doth attend that race; The last in power (though of their line not bred) A niggard, and a dastard, beaten down, Shall (through a stranger's town, a Captive led) Of Macedon bound the old renown. WHat damned furies thus toss mortals minds, With such a violent desire to reign? That neither honour, friendship; duty, blood, Nor yet no band so sacred is as binds Ambitious thoughts which would a kingdom gain: But all is buried in black Lethe's flood, That may the course of Sovereignty restrain, Which from the breast doth all respects repel, And like a torrent cannot be gaine-stood: Yea many would, a Sceptre to obtain, In spite of all the world, and loves own wrath, March through the lowest dungerons of the hells, And from a Diadem would breathe with power, Though all death's engines bragged them every hour, Yet, though such restless minds attain in th'end The height to which their haughty hearts aspired, They never can embrace that dreamt bliss, Which their deluded thoughts did apprehend; Though by the multitude they be admired, That still to power doth show itself submiss; Yet by the soul still further is required, Which should seal up th' accomplishment of joy; Thus partial judgements blindly ●yme amiss, At things which stand without our reach retired, Which whilst not ours, as treasures we define, But not the same whilst we the same enjoy; Some things a far do like the Glow-worm shine, Which looked too near, have of that light no sign.
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)
Since that worlds conqu'ror then whilſt farre from feare, (By too much power preſs'd) ſo ſoone was dead: Why doe his Captaines ſtrive who now ſhould beare The Diadem that cruſh'd ſo ſtrong a head? O! when my minde is raviſh'd through the ſtarres, To ſearch the ſecret ſecrets of the fates: What treaſons, murthers, mutinies and warres, Are threatning to o'rethrow uſurped ſeates? That falſe Caſſander who betraid his Lord, And ſpoil'd the princely race, in miſchiefe chiefe, (A traitour both of heaven and earth abhorr'd) Shall live but with diſgrace, and dye with griefe. His ſonnes (in wickedneſſe himſelfe t'exceed) Shall make the woman dye whom ade them live; Then both (when drunke with bloud) to death ſhall bleed, And none of theirs their funerals ſhall ſurvive: When raſh ambition ſhould be cool'd by age, Lyſimachus ſhall by Seleucus dye; Nor ſhall Seleucus long enjoy the Stage, But by like violence ſhall breathleſſe lye; And ſubtile Ptlmies degener'd race, (Long onely famous for infamous things) Shall end and to the pride of foes give place, Whilſt a laſcivious Queene confuſion brings; Amigon ſhall be in battell kill'd, His Sonne a captive periſh with diſgrace And after that it Greece with bloud hath fill'd, In th' end, deſtruction doth attend that race; The laſt in pow'r (though of their line not bred) A niggard, and a daſtard, beaten downe, Shall (through a ſtrangers towne, a Captive led) Of Macedonie bound the old renowne. "VVHat damned furies thus toſſe mortals mindes, "With ſuch a violent deſire to raigne? "That neither honour, friendſhip; duty, bloud, "Nor yet no band ſo ſacred is as bindes "Ambitious thoughts which would a kingdome gaine: "But all is buried in blacke Lethes floud, "That may the courſe of Soveraignty reſtraine, "Which from the breſt doth all reſpects repell, "And like a torrent cannot be gaine-ſtood: "Yea many would, a Scepter to obtaine, "In ſpite of all the world, and loves owne wrath, "March through the loweſt dungerons of the hels, "And from a Diademe would breath with pow'r, "Though all deaths engines brag'd them every houre, Yet, though ſuch reſtleſſe mindes attaine in th'end The height to which their haughty hearts aſpir'd, They never can embrace that dreamed bliſſe, Which their deluded thoughts did apprehend; Though by the multitude they be admir'd, That ſtill to pow'r doth ſhew it ſelfe ſubmiſſe; Yet by the ſoule ſtill further is requir'd, Which ſhould ſeale up th' accompliſhment of joy; "Thus partiall judgements blindely yme amiſſe, "At things which ſtand without our reach retir'd, "Which whilſt not ours, as treaſures we define, "But not the ſame whilſt we the ſame enjoy; "Some things a farre doe like the Glow-worme ſhine, "Which look't too neere, have of that light no ſigne.