Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T52 Prodigals, portions and poor kin · 463 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T52: brother, father, uncle, cousin, son, poor, bread, old, given, master.
Dear Cousin, Cassius did acquaint mine ears With a design which tossed my mind a space; For, when strange news, a stranger's breath first bears, One should not strait to rash reports give place. I would not then discover what I thought, Lest he to trap my tongue, a snare had framed, Till first with thee I to confer was brought, Whom he for Patron of his purpose named. One should look well to whom his mind he leaves, In dangerous times when tales by walls are told, Men make themselves unnecessar'ly slaves, Of those to whom their secrets they unfold. As Cassius told thee, grieved for Rome's distress, Which to our shame in bondage doth remain, We strait intent what ever we profess, With Caesar's blood to wash away this stain. Though for this end a few sufficient are, To whom their virtue courage doth impart, Yet were we loath to wrong thy wrath so far, As of such glory to give thee no part. Since both this cause, yea, and thy name thee bind, In this adventurous band to be comprised, There needs no Rhetoric to raise thy mind, To do the thing which thou shouldst have devised. I thought no creature should my purpose know, But he whose interest promised mutual cares: Of those to whom one would his secret show, No greater pledge of trust then to know theirs; As when two meet whilst masked (though most dear friends) With them (as strangers) no respect takes place, But strait when friendship one of them pretends, The other likewise doth un-cloud the face. So as thou first, I'll now at last be bold: My breast with the same birth long big hath gone, But I to others durst it not unfold, Nor yet attempt to compass it alone; But since this course, at which I long did pause, On such great pillars now so strongly stands, Whose countenance may give credit to a cause, It hath my heart, and it shall have my hands. To our designs propitious signs are sent, So that the Gods would give us courage thus: For, all who ever heard of our intent, Would willingly engage themselves with us: Let other men discourse of virtuous rites, Ours but by action only should be shown: Bare speculation is but for such spirits As want of power, or courage keeps unknown. In those who virtue view, when crowned with deeds, Through Glories glass, whose beauties long have shined, To be embraced an high desire she breeds, As loadstones iron, so ravishing the mind: What though a number now in darkness lies, Who are too weak for matters of such weight? We who are eminent in all men's eyes, Let us still hold the height of honour strait.
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)
DEare Coſin, Caſsius did acquaint mine eares With a deſigne which toſſ'd my minde a ſpace; "For, when ſtrange news, a ſtrangers breath firſt beares, "One ſhould not ſtraight to raſh reports give place. I would not then diſcover what I thought, Leſt he to trap my tongue, a ſnare had fram'd, Till firſt with thee I to conferre was brought, Whom he for Patron of his purpoſe nam'd. "One ſhould look well to whom his minde he leaves, "In dangerous times when tales by walls are told, "Men make themſelves unneceſſar'ly ſlaves, "Of thoſe to whom their ſecrets they unfold. As Caſsius told thee, griev'd for Romes diſtreſſe, Which to our ſhame in bondage doth remaine, We ſtraight intend what ever we profeſſe, With Caeſars bloud to waſh away this ſtaine. Though for this end a few ſufficient are, To whom their vertue courage doth impart, Yet were we loth to wrong thy wroth ſo farre, As of ſuch glory to give thee no part. Since both this cauſe, yea, and thy name thee binde, In this adventrous band to be compris'd, There needs no Rhetoricke to raiſe thy minde, To do the thing which thou ſhouldſt have devis'd. I thought no creature ſhould my purpoſe know, But he whoſe intreſt promis'd mutuall cares: "Of thoſe to whom one would his ſecret ſhow, No greater pledge of truſt then to know theirs; As when two meet whil'ſt mask'd (though moſt deare friends) With them (as ſtrangers) no reſpect takes place, But ſtraight when friend-ſhip one of them pretends, The other likewiſe doth un-cloud the face. So as thou firſt, I'le now at laſt be bold: My breſt with the ſame birth long bigge hath gone, But I to others durſt it not unfold, Nor yet attempt to compaſſe it alone; But ſince this courſe, at which I long did pauſe, On ſuch great pillars now ſo ſtrongly ſtands, Whoſe count'nance may give credit to a cauſe, It hath my heart, and it ſhall have my hands. To our deſignes propitious ſignes are ſent, So that the Gods would give us courage thus: For, all who ever heard of our intent, Would willingly engage themſelves with us: Let other men diſcourſe of vertuous rites, Ours but by action onely ſhould be ſhowne: "Bare ſpeculation is but for ſuch ſprits "As want of pow'r, or courage keeps unknowne. "In thoſe who vertue view, when crown'd with deeds, "Through Glories glaſſe, whoſe beauties long have ſhin'd, "To be embrac'd an high deſire ſhe breeds, "As load-ſtones iron, ſo raviſhing the minde: What though a number now in darkneſſe lyes, Who are too weak for matters of ſuch weight? We who are eminent in all mens eyes, Let us ſtill hold the height of honour ſtraight.