Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T60 Imperial Rome: rulers, favour and politi · 534 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T60: caesar, rome, emperor, empire, honour, lord, lucius, great, palsgrave, kings.
I wonder that thou dost thy frailty show! By Nature women have been curious still, And yet till now thou never craved to know More than I pleased to speak of my free will. Nought save the wife a man within the walls, Nor ought save him without she should embrace: And it not comely is, but th'one enthralls, When any sex usurps another's place. Dear, to their wont course thy cares enure, I may have matters which import the State, Whose opening up might my disgrace procure, Whose weight for female thoughts would be too great. I was not (Brutus) matched with thee, to be A partner only of thy board, and bed: Each servile whore in those might equal me, Who but for pleasure, or for wealth did wed. No, Portia spoused thee minding to remain Thy Fortune's partner, whether good or ill: By love's strict bonds whilst mutual duties chain, Two breasts must hold one heart, two souls one will; Those whom just Hymen voluntar'ly binds, Betwixt them should communicate all things, But chief that which most doth move the minds, Whence either pleasure, or displeasure springs. If thus thou seek thy sorrows to conceal Through a disdain, or a mistrust of me, Then to the world what way can I reveal, How great a matter I would do for thee? And though our sex too talkative be deemed, As those whose tongues import our greatest powers, For secrets still bad Treasurers esteemed, Of others greedy, prodigal of ours; Good education may reform defects, And this may lead me to a virtuous life, (Whilst such rare patterns generous worth respects) I Cato's daughter am, and Brutus wife. Yet would I not repose my trust in aught, Still thinking that thy cross was great to bear, Till I my courage to a trial brought, Which suffering for thy cause can nothing fear: For first to try how that I could comport With stern afflictions sprit-enfeebling blows, Ere I would seek to vex thee in this sort, To whom my soul a duteous reverence owes. Lo, here a wound which makes me not to smart, No, I rejoice that thus my strength is known: Since thy distress strikes deeper in my heart, Thy grief (life's joy) makes me neglect mine own. Thou must (dear love) that which thou soughtest receive, Thy heart so high a sail in storms still bears, That thy great courage doth deserve to have Our enterprise entrusted to thine ears; This magnanimity prevails so far, That it my resolution must control, And of my bosom doth the depths unbarre, To lodge thee in the centre of my soul. Thou seest in what estate the State now stands, Of whose strong pillars Caesar spoiled the best, Whilst by his own, preventing others hands, Our famous Father fell amongst the rest. That proud usurper fond doth presume To re-erect detested Tarquin's throne, Thus the world's Mistress all-commanding Rome, Must entertain no Minion now but one. All those brave minds who mark where he doth tend, Swell with disdain, their Country's scorn to see; And I am one of those who soon intent (His death or mine procured) to be made free.
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)
I wonder that thou doſt thy frailtie ſhow! "By Nature women have beene curious ſtill, And yet till now thou never crav'd to know More then I pleas'd to ſpeak of my free will. "Nought ſave the wife a man within the walls, "Nor ought ſave him without ſhe ſhould embrace: "And it not comely is, but th'one enthralls, "When any ſexe uſurpes anothers place. Deare, to their wonted courſe thy cares inure, I may have matters which import the State, Whoſe op'ning up might my diſgrace procure, Whoſe weight for femall thoughts would be too great. I was not (Brutus) match'd with thee, to be A partner onely of thy boord, and bed: Each ſervile whore in thoſe might equall me, Who but for pleaſure, or for wealth did wed. No, Portia ſpouſ'd thee minding to remaine Thy Fortunes partner, whether good or ill: "By loves ſtrict bonds whil'ſt mutuall duties chaine, "Two breaſts muſt hold one heart, two ſouls one will; "Thoſe whom juſt Hymen voluntar'ly bindes, "Betwixt them ſhould communicate all things, "But chiefly that which moſt doth move the mindes, "Whence either pleaſure, or diſpleaſure ſprings. If thus thou ſeek thy ſorrows to conceale Through a diſdaine, or a miſtruſt of me, Then to the world what way can I reveale, How great a matter I would do for thee? And though our ſexe too talkative be deem'd, As thoſe whoſe tongues import our greateſt pow'rs, For ſecrets ſtill bad Treaſurers eſteem'd, Of others greedy, prodigall of ours; "Good education may reforme defects, And this may leade me to a vertuous life, (Whil'ſt ſuch rare patterns generous worth reſpects) I Cato's daughter am, and Brutus wife. Yet would I not repoſe my truſt in ought, Still thinking that thy croſſe was great to beare, Till I my courage to a tryall brought, Which ſuffering for thy cauſe can nothing feare: For firſt to try how that I could comport With ſterne afflictions ſprit-enfeebling blows, Ere I would ſeek to vex thee in this ſort, To whom my ſoule a dutious reverence owes. Loe, here a wound which makes me not to ſmart, No, I rejoyce that thus my ſtrength is knowne: Since thy diſtreſſe ſtrikes deeper in my heart, Thy griefe (lifes joy) makes me neglect mine owne. Thou muſt (deare love) that which thou ſought'ſt receive, Thy heart ſo high a ſaile in ſtormes ſtill beares, That thy great courage doth deſerve to have Our enterpriſe entruſted to thine eares; This magnanimitie prevailes ſo farre, That it my reſolution muſt controule, And of my boſome doth the depths unbarre, To lodge thee in the centre of my ſoule. Thou ſeeſt in what eſtate the State now ſtands, Of whoſe ſtrong pillars Caeſar ſpoyl'd the beſt, Whil'ſt by his owne, preventing others hands, Our famous Father fell amongſt the reſt. That proud uſurper fondly doth preſume To re-erect deteſted Tarquins throne, Thus the worlds Miſtreſſe all-commanding Rome, Muſt entertaine no Minion now but one. All thoſe brave mindes who mark where he doth tend, Swell with diſdaine, their Countries ſcorne to ſee; And I am one of thoſe who ſoone intend (His death or mine procur'd) to be made free.