Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi · 501 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.
No, none of those my mind doth miscontent, Who undisguised still like themselves remain: Vnlook't-for harms are hardest to prevent: There is no guard against concealed disdain; But, in whom further can your trust repose, Whom danger now o'er all by all attends? Where private men but only fear their foes, Oft Kings have greatest cause to fear their friends, For, since most trusted, fittest to betray, Those unto whom ones favour force affords, Most dangerous ambushes with ease may lay, Whilst falsest hearts are hid with fairest words. And some report (though privately) yet plain, That Dolabella and Antonius now, By your destruction do intent to gain That which you keep by making all men bow. No corpulent sanguinians make me fear, Who with more pain their beards then th'enemies strike, And do themselves like th'Epicurians bear To Bacchus, Mars, and Venus borne alike; Their hearts do always in their mouths remain, As streams whose murmuring shows their course not deep, Then still they love to sport, though gross, and plain, And never dream of aught but when they sleep: But those high spirits who hold their bodies down, Whose visage lean their restless thoughts records: Whilst they their cares depth in their bosoms drown, I fear their silence more than th''others words. Thus Cassius now and Brutus seem to hold Some great thing in their mind, whose fire oft smokes; What Brutus would, he vehemently would; Think what they list, I like not their pale looks: Yet with their worth this cannot well agree, In whom bright virtue seems so much to shine: Can those who have received their lives from me, Prove so ingrate, that they do thirst for mine? Dare Cassius (matched with me) new hopes conceive, At th' Hellespont, who fortune durst not try, And (like a dastard) did his Galleys leave, In all (save courage) though more strong than I? Shall I suspect that Brutus seeks my blood, Whose safety still I tendered with such care, Who when the heavens from mortals me seclude, Is only worthy to be Caesar's heir? The corners of the heart are hard to know; Though of those two the world the best doth deem, Yet do not trust too much to th' outward show, For, men may differ much from what they seem. None oft more fierce than those who look most mild, Impiety sometime appears devout, And (that the world the more may be beguiled) Even vice can cloath itself with virtue's cote. Though it would seem (all hatred now laid down) They on your favour only should depend, Yet no respect can counterpoise a Crown: Ambition hath no bounds, nor 'Greed no end. Moved by vindictive hate, or emulous pride, Since some your person, some your place pursue; All threatened dangers to prevent, provide, And use for safety, what to State is due. No armour is that can hold treason out. To fright your foes with bands be backed about. So dastard tyrants strive themselves to bear.
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)
No, none of thoſe my minde doth miſcontent, Who undiſguis'd ſtill like themſelves remaine: Vnlook't-for harmes are hardeſt to prevent: There is no guard againſt conceal'd diſdaine; But, in whom further can your truſt repoſe, Whom danger now o're all by all attends? "Where private men but onely feare their foes, "Oft Kings have greateſt cauſe to feare their friends, "For, ſince moſt truſted, fitteſt to betray, "Thoſe unto whom ones favour force affords, "Moſt dangerous ambuſhes with eaſe may lay, "Whilſt falſeſt hearts are hid with faireſt words. And ſome report (though privately) yet plaine, That Dolabella and Antonius now, By your deſtruction doe intend to gaine That which you keep by making all men bow. No corpulent ſanguinians make me feare, Who with more paine their beards then th'en'mies ſtrike, And doe themſelves like th'Epicurians beare To Bacchus, Mars, and Venus borne alike; Their hearts doe alwaies in their mouthes remaine, As ſtreames whoſe murmuring ſhowes their courſe not deep, Then ſtill they love to ſport, though groſſe, and plaine, And never dreame of ought but when they ſleep: But thoſe high ſprites who hold their bodies downe, Whoſe viſage leane their reſtleſſe thoughts records: Whilſt they their cares depth in their boſomes drown, I feare their ſilence more then th'others words. Thus Caſsius now and Brutus ſeeme to hold Some great thing in their minde, whoſe fire oft ſmoaks; What Brutus would, he vehemently would; Thinke what they liſt, I like not their pale lookes: Yet with their worth this cannot well agree, In whom bright vertue ſeemes ſo much to ſhine: Can thoſe who have receiv'd their lives from me, Prove ſo ingrate, that they doe thirſt for mine? Dare Caſsius (match'd with me) new hopes conceive, At th'Helleſpont, who fortune durſt not try, And (like a daſtard) did his Gallies leave, In all (ſave courage) though more ſtrong then I? Shall I ſuſpect that Brutus ſeekes my bloud, Whoſe ſafety ſtill I tendred with ſuch care, Who when the heavens from mortals me ſeclude, Is onely worthy to be Caeſars heire? "The corners of the heart are hard to know; Though of thoſe two the world the beſt doth deeme, Yet doe not truſt too much to th' outward ſhow, For, men may differ much from what they ſeeme. "None oft more fierce then thoſe who look moſt milde, "Impiety ſometime appeares devout, And (that the world the more may be beguil'd) "Even vice can cloath it ſelfe with vertues cote. Though it would ſeem (all hatred now laid downe) They on your favour onely ſhould depend, Yet no reſpect can counterpoiſe a Crowne: "Ambition hath no bounds, nor Greed no end. Mov'd by vindictive hate, or emulous pride, Since ſome your perſon, ſome your place purſue; All threatned dangers to prevent, provide, And uſe for ſafety, what to State is due. No armour is that can hold treaſon out. To fright your foes with bands be back'd about. So daſtard tyrants ſtrive themſelves to beare.