Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi · 551 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.
DId I survive th'impetuous Scilla's rage, And in a torrent of destruction stood, Whilst Tyrants did make Rome a tragic stage Through a voluptuous appetite of blood? Scaped I confusion in a time so bad, Of liberty and honour once to taste, That bondage now might make my soul more sad By the remembrance of my fortunes past? What though I once (when first by Fame made known) From Catiline's strange treason did preserve This Town (when free from foes) thralled by her own, Since now the world from equity doth swerve? A spark of that conspiracy I spy As yet not quenched to have our state embroiled, Which Rome to burne makes many flames to fly: Thus one was spared, that we might all be spoiled. O worthy Cato, in whose matchless mind Three (rarely matched) things Natures did reveal, Wit, Honesty, and Courage, which designed A Citizen for Plato's commonweal: Whilst courteous Pompey did things as a friend, Thou as a wiseman spoke, and still foretold To what all Caesar's deeds would turn in th'end, If that his pride were not in time controlled. And had we him (as wisely thou advised) Given to the Germans whom he had injured, We had not now been thus like slaves despised, To see Rome's glory, and our own obscured: But yet I may (disbending former cares) A space comport with that proud Tyrant's power; Age gives assurance by my hoarey hairs, Ere he Rome's freedom, death will me devour. But all whose youth and spirit might have attained Those dignities which Caesar hath undone: O! ye have lost as much as he hath gained, Whose rising hopes must be retrenched so soon. Though if novations at the first seem strange, Yet oft experience approbation brings, And if with upright thoughts we weigh this change, From thence the safety of our City springs; As doth a ship, when tossed by several winds, More danger run whilst Pilots do contest, So was our City vexed by differing minds, Who did interpret laws as pleased them best; Whilst for one sickness diverse drugs are used, Whose powers (repugnant) in digestion jar, Th'impatient patients perish, when abused, So did we long whilst crossed by civil war; But now great Caesar from tempestuous winds, Rome's scattered ruins recollects of late: A Pilot meet to calm tumultuous minds▪ A fit Physician for an aguish State. The State from storms secure by drowning proves, Now whilst despair doth doubtful fears appease; He (with the life) the sickness quite removes: Thus is the Physic worse than the Disease. This Commonweal (as all the world did spy) Was by proud spirits in civil wars involved, Yet like black Clouds which would obscure the sky, These tumid humours suddenly dissolved; And no disgrace unto the state redounds, But to th'Ambitious men that it abused, Who (had their power like Caesar's wanted bounds) Would (whilst they ruled) have greater rigour used. All parts (we see) bred people of all kinds, And as advanced some bad men did abide, In power their equals, and of better minds, Some always virtuous were to curb their pride, But since that sacred liberty was lost, The public power to private ends one turns: And (as his lawless ways did always boast) The Commonweal by violence o'erturns.
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)
DId I ſurvive th'impetuous Scilla's rage, And in a torrent of deſtruction ſtood, Whil'ſt Tyrants did make Rome a tragicke ſtage Through a voluptuous appetite of bloud? Scap'd I confuſion in a time ſo bad, Of liberty and honour once to taſte, That bondage now might make my ſoule more ſad By the remembrance of my fortunes paſt? What though I once (when firſt by Fame made knowne) From Catilines ſtrange treaſon did preſerve This Towne (when free from foes) thrall'd by her owne, Since now the world from equity doth ſwerve? A ſparke of that conſpiracy I ſpie As yet not quench'd to have our ſtate imbroil'd, Which Rome to burne makes many flames to flie: Thus one was ſpar'd, that we might all be ſpoil'd. O worthy Cato, in whoſe matchleſſe minde Three (rarely match'd) things Nature did reveale, Wit, Honeſty, and Courage, which deſign'd A Citizen for Plato's common-weale: Whil'ſt courteous Pompey did things as a friend, Thou as a wiſe-man ſpoke, and ſtill fore-told To what all Caeſars deeds would turne in th'end, If that his pride were not in time controld. And had we him (as wiſely thou advis'd) Given to the Germans whom he had injur'd, We had not now beene thus like ſlaves deſpiſd, To ſee Rome's glory, and our owne obſcur'd: But yet I may (disbending former cares) A ſpace comport with that proud Tyrants pow'r; Age gives aſſurance by my hoarey haires, Ere he Romes freedome, death will me devour. But all whoſe youth and ſprite might have attain'd Thoſe dignities which Caeſar hath undone: O! ye have loſt as much as he hath gain'd, Whoſe riſing hopes muſt be retrench'd ſo ſoone. Though if novations at the firſt ſeeme ſtrange, Yet oft experience approbation brings, And if with upright thoughts we weigh this change, From thence the ſafety of our City ſprings; As doth a ſhip, when toſſ'd by ſeverall windes, More danger runne whil'ſt Pylots do conteſt, So was our City vex'd by differing mindes, Who did interpret laws as pleas'd them beſt; Whil'ſt for one ſickneſſe divers drugges are us'd, Whoſe pow'rs (repugnant) in digeſtion jarre, Th'impatient patients periſh, when abus'd, So did we long whil'ſt croſſ'd by civill warre; But now great Caeſar from tempeſtuous windes, Romes ſcattered ruines recollects of late: A Pilot meet to calme tumultuous mindes▪ A fit Phyſitian for an aguiſh State. The State from ſtormes ſecure by drowning proves, Now whil'ſt deſpaire doth doubtfull feares appeaſe; He (with the life) the ſickneſſe quite removes: Thus is the Phyſick worſe then the Diſeaſe. This Common-weale (as all the world did ſpie) Was by proud ſpirits in civill warres involv'd, Yet like black Clouds which would obſcure the skie, Theſe tumid humours ſuddenly diſſolv'd; And no diſgrace unto the ſtate redounds, But to th'Ambitious men that it abus'd, Who (had their pow'r like Caeſars wanted bounds) Would (whil'ſt they rul'd) have greater rigour us'd. All parts (we ſee) bred people of all kindes, And as advanc'd ſome bad men did abide, In pow'r their equals, and of better mindes, Some alwayes vertuous were to curbe their pride, But ſince that ſacred liberty was loſt, The publike pow'r to private ends one turnes: And (as his lawleſſe wayes did alwayes boaſt) The Common-weale by violence o're-turnes.