Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 (Annals) tragedy T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi typicality 0.78 · 455 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
As for the time, none could be wished more fit, Then is the present to perform our vow, Since all the people must allow of it, By recent anguish moved extremely now. When represented in his triumph past, Great Cato's mangled entrails made them weep, And desperate Scipio whilst he leapt at last To seek a Sanctuary amidst the deep. Then all those great men whom in several parts, Bend for Rome's freedom, Caesar did o'erthrow, Did by their pictures pierce the people's hearts, And made a piteous (though a pompous) show; How could they but conceive a just disdain To be upbraided in so strange a sort, Whilst he who only by their loss did gain, Of their calamity did make a sport? But yet his purpose grieves them most of all, Since that he strives to be proclaimed a King: And not contents himself to make us thrall, But would even all our heirs to bondage bring. Thus whilst the people are with him displeased, We best may do what to our part belongs: For, after this they may be best appeased, If, whilst their wrath doth last, we venge their wrongs; And (since we nought intent but what is right, Whilst from our Country we remove disgrace) Let all be acted in the Senate's sight, A common cause, and in a common place. Let those whose guilty thoughts do damn their deeds, In corners like Minerva's birds abide, That which our Country good, us glory breeds, May by the lights of heaven and earth be tried. The Senators by our example moved, Pleased with this action which imports them too, To have the yoke of tyranny removed, May at the least confirm that which we do; So all the Senators were said of old, King Romulus in pieces to have torn, Who then to tyrannize was grown too bold, And, ere turned God, humanity did scorn. Yea, what though Caesar were immortal made, As Romulus, whose deity him revives? I rather as a God adore him dead, Then as a King obey him whilst he lives. That place indeed, most for our glory makes, A Theatre worthy of so great an act, Where in their sight from whom most power he takes, We of the Tyrant vengeance may exact; But I must recommend unto your mind, A course (though strict) of which we must allow, Lest it o'erthrow all that we have designed, Since past recovery, if neglected now: There is Antonius, Caesar's greatest friend, A man whose Nature tyranny affects, Whom all the Soldiers daily do attend, As one who nought but to command respects; I fear that he when we have Caesar slain, The grieved faction furnish with a head:
Other edition — placed after the fit, excluded from the main statistics
Position
nodes 1821–1878 (positions in the processed text, not lines of the printed book) · chunk 29 of 50 in this edition
Length
455 words · 579 tokens
Topic (seed 42)
T2 — Roman politics: senate, consuls and civil warcross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · typicality 0.780 (cosine to the topic centroid) · placed after the fit (approximate_predict), not counted in the topic statistics
Other seeds
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)
As for the time, none could be wiſh'd more fit, Then is the preſent to performe our vow, Since all the people muſt allow of it, By recent anguiſh mov'd extreamely now. When repreſented in his triumph paſt, Great Cato's mangled intrails made them weep, And deſp'rat Scipio whil'ſt he leap't at laſt To ſeek a Sanctuary amidſt the deep. Then all thoſe great men whom in ſeverall parts, Bent for Romes freedome, Caeſar did o're-throw, Did by their pictures pierce the peoples hearts, And made a piteous (though a pompous) ſhow; How could they but conceive a juſt diſdaine To be upbraided in ſo ſtrange a ſort, Whil'ſt he who onely by their loſſe did gaine, Of their calamitie did make a ſport? But yet his purpoſe grieves them moſt of all, Since that he ſtrives to be proclaim'd a King: And not contents himſelfe to make us thrall, But would even all our heires to bondage bring. Thus whil'ſt the people are with him diſpleas'd, We beſt may do what to our part belongs: For, after this they may be beſt appeas'd, If, whil'ſt their wrath doth laſt, we venge their wrongs; And (ſince we nought intend but what is right, Whil'ſt from our Countrey we remove diſgrace) Let all be acted in the Senates ſight, A common cauſe, and in a common place. Let thoſe whoſe guilty thoughts do damne their deeds, In corners like Minerva's birds abide, That which our Countrey good, us glory breeds, May by the lights of heaven and earth be try'd. The Senatours by our example mov'd, Pleas'd with this action which imports them too, To have the yoke of tyranny remov'd, May at the leaſt confirme that which we do; So all the Senatours were ſaid of old, King Romulus in peeces to have torne, Who then to tyrannize was growne too bold, And, ere turn'd God, humanitie did ſcorne. Yea, what though Caeſar were immortall made, As Romulus, whoſe deitie him revives? I rather as a God adore him dead, Then as a King obey him whil'ſt he lives. That place indeed, moſt for our glory makes, A Theater worthy of ſo great an act, Where in their ſight from whom moſt pow'r he takes, We of the Tyrant vengeance may exact; But I muſt recommend unto your minde, A courſe (though ſtrict) of which we muſt allow, Leſt it o're-throw all that we have deſign'd, Since paſt recovery, if neglected now: There is Antonius, Caeſars greateſt friend, A man whoſe Nature tyranny affects, Whom all the Souldiers daily do attend, As one who nought but to command reſpects; I feare that he when we have Caeſar ſlaine, The grieved faction furniſh with a head: