Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
Who would but once have dreamt of such despite? What strange hostility in time of peace, To slay, though not accused, against all right, A sacred man, and in a sacred placed If Caesar as a Citizen had lived, And had by law decided every strife, Than I would grant those treason had contrived, That went without a law to take his life. But to pervert the laws, subvert the state, If all his travels did directly tend, Than I must say, we did no wrong of late, Why should not tyrants make a tragic end? Since destinies did Caesar's soul enlarge, What course can we for his recovery take? Ah, th'unrelenting Charon's restless barge Stands to transport all over, but brings none back. Of life's frail glass when broken, with vain groans What earthly power the ruins can repair? Or who can gather up when scattered once, Ones blood from th'earth, or yet his breath from th'air? Let us of those that pass Oblivions flood, B'oblivious still since hope of help is gone, And spend our cares where cares may do most good, Lest Rome wail many, where she wails but one. Still concord for the commonweal were best, To reconcile divided thoughts again, Then discord to great towns no greater pest, Whose violence no reverence can restrain. Yet oftentimes those wary wits have erred, That would buy wealth and ease at any cost, Let honesty to profit be preferred, And t'a vile peace, war when it wounds us most. But seeking peace what surety can we find? Can faithless men give faith just fears to stay? No sacred band impiety can bind, That swears for trust, seeks trust but to betray. What helped it Caesar that we all had sworn, His body still from dangers to redeem, Those that are once perjured hold oaths in scorn, All are most frank of what they least esteem. None needs in states that are from tyrants free, loathed execrations to confirm his will, Where willingly men would with good agree, And without danger might despise all ill. All odious oaths by those are only craved, Whose suit from reason doth a warrant want, Whilst all deceivers feared to be deceived, Seek of men thralled what none being free would grant When Caesar had prevailed in Libya and Spain, His fortune building on his country's wrack, Of liberty a shadow to retain, We gave him all that he was bent to take. The Senate had reserved nought but a show, Whose course to it by Caesar was imposed, That lifted up by bringing others low, Of offices and provinces disposed. Then that our withered hopes might never spring, When bent t'abide the Parthians wooden shower, He for five years disposed of every thing, Even in his absence leaving us no power. O how some aggravate our deed with hate, That dared by violence his body strain, Though consecrated by constraint of late, Yea but reputed holy, yet profane,
seed 43: T1 · seed 44: T2 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Who would but once haue dreamd of ſuch deſpight? What ſtrange hoſtilitie in time of peace, To ſlay, though not accuſde, againſt all right, A ſacred man, and in a ſacred placed If Caeſar as a Cittizen had liu'de, And had by lawe decided euery ſtrife, Then I would grant thoſe treaſon had contriu'd, That went without a lawe to take his life. But to peruert the lawes, ſubuert the ſtate, If all his trauells did directly tend, Then I muſt ſay, we did no wrong of late, Why ſhould not tyrants make a tragicke end? Since deſtinies did Caeſars ſoule enlarge, What courſe can we for his recouerie take? Ah, th'vnrelenting Charons reſtleſſe barge Stands to tranſport all ouer, but brings none backe. Of lifes fraile glaſſe when broken, with vaine grones What earthly powre the ruines can repaire? Or who can gather vp when ſcatterd once, Ones blood from th'earth, or yet his breath from th'aire? Let vs of thoſe that paſſe Obliuions flood, B'obliuious ſtill ſince hope of help is gone, And ſpend our cares where cares may doe moſt good, Leſt Rome waile many, where ſhe wailes but one. Still concord for the common-weale were beſt, To reconcile diuided thoughts againe, Then diſcord to great townes no greater peſt, Whoſe violence no reuerence can reſtraine. Yet oftentimes thoſe warie wits haue err'd, That would buy wealth and eaſe at any coſt, Let honeſty to profit be preferr'd, And t'a vile peace, warre when it wounds vs moſt. But ſeeking peace what ſuretie can we finde? Can faithleſſe men giue faith iuſt feares to ſtay? No ſacred band impietie can binde, That ſweares for truſt, ſeekes truſt but to betray. What help'd it Caeſar that we all had ſworne, His body ſtill from dangers to redeeme, Thoſe that are once periur'd hold othes in ſcorne, All are moſt franke of what they leaſt eſteeme. None needs in ſtates that are from tirants free, Loathde execrations to confirme his will, Where willingly men would with good agree, And without danger might deſpiſe all ill. All odious othes by thoſe are onely crau'd, Whoſe ſute from reaſon doth a warrant want, Whilſt all deceiuers feard to be deceau'd, Seek of men thralld what none being free would grant When Caeſar had preuailde in Libia and Spaine, His fortune building on his countries wracke, Of libertie a ſhadow to retaine, We gaue him all that he was bent to take. The Senate had reſeru'd nought but a ſhow, Whoſe courſe to it by Caeſar was impoſde, That lifted vp by bringing others lowe, Of offices and prouinces diſpoſde. Then that our witherd hopes might neuer ſpring, When bent t'abide the Parthians woodden ſhowre, He for fiue yeares diſpoſde of euery thing, Euen in his abſence leauing vs no powre. O how ſome aggrauate our deede with hate, That durſt by violence his body ſtraine, Though conſecrated by conſtraint of late, Yea but reputed holie, yet prophane,