Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T33 Fathers, daughters and marriage negotiat · 486 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T33: daughter, marriage, father, love, davus, matter, son, chremes, wife, mother.
Then prosecute thy course, for I protest, Though with some grief, my soul the same approves; This resolution doth become thy breast, In honour's sphere where heavenly Virtue moves: And do this enterprise no more defer, What thee contents, to me contentment brings, I to my life thy safety do prefer, But hold thy honour dear above all things. It would but let the world my weakness see, If I sought my delights, not thy desires, Though grief it give, and threaten death to me, Go follow forth that which thy Fame requires. Though Nature, sex, and education breed, No power in me, with such a purpose even, I must lend help to this intended deed, If vows and prayers may penetrate the heaven: But difficulties huge my fancy finds, Nought, save the success, can defray my fear: Ah! Fortune always frowns on worthy minds, As hating all who trust in aught save her. Yet I despair not but thou may'st prevail, And by this course to ease my present groans, I this advantage have which cannot fail: I'll be a freeman's wife, or else be nonce: For, if all prosper not as we pretend, And that the Heavens Rome's bondage do decree, Strait with thy liberty my life shall end, Who have no comfort but what comes from t●●●▪ My Father hath me taught what way to dye, By which if hindered from encountering death, Some other means, I (though more strange) must try: For, after Brutus none shall see me breathe. Thou for my cause all others erst didst leave, But now forsakest thyself to join with me, o'er generous love no power weak passions have, Against thy mind thou dost with mine agree. I'll (since by thee approved) securely go, And vilipend the dangers of this life: Heavens make my enterprise to prosper so, That I may once prove worthy such a wife: But ah! of all thy words those grieve me most, Which brag me with the dating of thy days; What? though I in so good a cause were lost, None flies the fate which established for him stays. Do not defraud the world of thy rare worth, But of thy Brutus the remembrance love; From this fair prison strive not to break forth, Till first the fates have forced thee to remove. The heavens (I fear) have our confusion sworn, Since this ill Age can with no good accord, Thou and my Father (ah!) should have been borne, When Virtue was advanced, and Vice abhorred. Then, ere the light of Virtue was declined, Your worth had reverenced been, not thrown away, Where now ye both have but in darkness shined, As Stars by night, that had been Suns by day. My treasure, strive to pacify thy breast, Lest sorrows but sinistrously presage That which thou wouldst not wish, and hope the best, Though Virtue now must act on Fortune's Stage.
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 proſecute thy courſe, for I proteſt, Though with ſome griefe, my ſoule the ſame approves; This reſolution doth become thy breſt, In honours ſpheare where heavenly Vertue moves: And do this enterpriſe no more deferre, What thee contents, to me contentment brings, I to my life thy ſafety do preferre, But hold thy honour deare above all things. It would but let the world my weakneſſe ſee, If I ſought my delights, not thy deſires, Though griefe it give, and threaten death to me, Go follow forth that which thy Fame requires. Though Nature, ſexe, and education breed, No power in me, with ſuch a purpoſe even, I muſt lend help to this intended deed, If vows and pray'rs may penetrate the heaven: But difficulties huge my fancie findes, Nought, ſave the ſucceſſe, can defray my feare: "Ah! Fortune alwayes frownes on worthy mindes, "As hating all who truſt in ought ſave her. Yet I deſpaire not but thou may'ſt prevaile, And by this courſe to eaſe my preſent grones, I this advantage have which cannot faile: Ile be a free-mans wife, or elſe be nones: For, if all proſper not as we pretend, And that the Heavens Romes bondage do decree, Straight with thy liberty my life ſhall end, Who have no comfort but what comes from t ▪ My Father hath me taught what way to dye, By which if hindred from encountring death, Some other meanes, I (though more ſtrange) muſt try: For, after Brutus none ſhall ſee me breathe. Thou for my cauſe all others earſt didſt leave, But now forſak'ſt thy ſelfe to joyne with me, "Ore generous love no pow'r weake paſſions have, Againſt thy minde thou doſt with mine agree. Ile (ſince by thee approv'd) ſecurely go, And vilipend the dangers of this life: Heavens make my enterpriſe to proſper ſo, That I may once prove worthy ſuch a wife: But ah! of all thy words thoſe grieve me moſt, Which bragge me with the dating of thy dayes; What? though I in ſo good a cauſe were loſt, "None flies the fate which ſtabliſh'd for him ſtayes. Do not defraud the world of thy rare worth, But of thy Brutus the remembrance love; From this faire priſon ſtrive not to breake forth, Till firſt the fates have forc'd thee to remove. The heavens (I feare) have our confuſion ſworn, Since this ill Age can with no good accord, Thou and my Father (ah!) ſhould have beene borne, When Vertue was advanc'd, and Vice abhorr'd. Then, ere the light of Vertue was declin'd, Your worth had reverenc'd beene, not throwne away, Where now ye both have but in darkneſſe ſhin'd, As Starres by night, that had beene Sunnes by day. My treaſure, ſtrive to pacifie thy breſt, Leſt ſorrows but ſiniſtrouſly preſage That which thou would'ſt not wiſh, and hope the beſt, Though Vertue now muſt act on Fortunes Stage.