Alexander, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1607 (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T57 Ships, merchants and pirates · 461 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T57: ship, sea, master, sail, home, money, pisaro, life, ships, till.
Of those within the town (to ease their toils) Till quite o're-comed, their coming was not known, Who strait (upbraided by the barbarous spoils) Did yield themselves, as if with them overthrow, By liquid legions whilst with tumid boasts The Trident-bearer strived my spoils to bear; Though threatened thrice amidst his humid hosts, Still courage scorned to think of abject fear. I used those Pirates who had me deceived, Still as my servants (thundering threatenings forth) And gave them money more than they had craved, Whose ignorance too meanly prized my worth: Yet gathering ships, I stayed not long a shore, But traced their steps, though they not paved the way, And taking them (as I had vowed before) By nought but death their ransom would defray; Then when (without th'advice of others minds) Through hoary waves I passed alone by night, Whilst in a little Bark against great winds, That even the Pilot lookit not for the light; The waves themselves asunder seemed to tear, That in their gravel I might choose a grave, And cry stall arches did above me rear, That I a Tomb fit for my state might have. Whilst dangers seemed to merit Caesar's death, As Neptune raised his head, I raised my heart; And she wing what I was with constant breath, To weak Amiclas courage did impart. Was I not once amidst large Nilus' slote, Whilst me to wound, a wood of darts did fly, Yet swim'd so careless of my enemies shot, That in my hand I held some papers dry? With open dangers thus in every place, I (whilst oft compassed both by Sea and Land,) Did undismayed look horror in the face, As borne for nought, but only to command. But since a world of victories have filled With Trophies Temples, theatres with my praise, That bathed with balm which glories bays had stilled, With friends in peace, I looked to spend my days; The chambers music now affrights me more, Then Trumpets sounds when marching in the field, And Gowns (though signs of peace) worse than before The pompous splendour of a flaming shield. Those thoughts of late which had disdained to doubt, Though I alone had marched amongst my foes, Lo, whilst amongst my friends well backed about, They, than the eyes more danger now disclose. If any chance, to meet a number brings, I insurrections fear from common wrath, Yea, if two talk a part of private things, Strait I suspect that they conspire my death; ●●en sudden rumours rise from vulgar smoke; (whilst th'inward motions roll my restless eyes,) I at ●●●ch corner for an ambush look, A●●●start astonished, lest some tumult rise. When light (first lightning) doth encourage toils, I still despair to re-enjoy the night,
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)
Of thoſe within the towne (to eaſe their toyles) Till quite o're-com'd, their comming was not knowne, Who ſtraight (upbraided by the barb'rous ſpoiles) Did yeeld themſelves, as if with them o're-throwne, By liquid legions whilſt with tumid boaſts The Trident-bearer ſtriv'd my ſpoiles to beare; Though threatned thriſe amid'ſt his humid hoſts, Still courage ſcorn'd to thinke of abject feare. I us'd thoſe Pyrats who had me deceiv'd, Still as my ſervants (thundring threatnings forth) And gave them money more then they had crav'd, Whoſe ignorance too meanely priz'd my worth: Yet gathering ſhips, I ſtay'd not long a ſhore, But trac'd their ſteps, though they not pav'd the way, And taking them (as I had vow'd before) By nought but death their ranſome would defray; Then when (without th'advice of others mindes) Through hoary waves I paſt alone by night, Whilſt in a little Barke againſt great windes, That even the Pilot lookt not for the light; The waves themſelves aſunder ſeem'd to teare, That in their gravell I might chuſe a grave, And cry ſtall arches did above me reare, That I a Tombe fit for my ſtate might have. Whilſt dangers ſeem'd to merit Caeſars death, As Neptune rais'd his head, I rais'd my heart; And ſhe wing what I was with conſtant breath, To weake Amiclas courage did impart. Was I not once amid'ſt large Nilus ſlote, Whilſt me to wound, a wood of darts did flye, Yet ſwim'd ſo careleſſe of my enemies ſhot, That in my hand I held ſome papers dry? With open dangers thus in every place, I (whilſt oft compaſs'd both by Sea and Land,) Did undiſmay'd looke horrour in the face, As borne for nought, but onely to command. But ſince a world of victories have fill'd With Trophees Temples, Theaters with my praiſe, That bath'd with balme which glories bayes had ſtill'd, With friends in peace, I look'd to ſpend my dayes; The chambers muſicke now afrights me more, Then Trumpets ſounds when marching in the field, And Gowns (though ſignes of peace) worſe then before The pompous ſplendour of a flaming ſhield. Thoſe thoughts of late which had diſdain'd to doubt, Though I alone had march'd amongſt my foes, Loe, whilſt amongſt my friends well back'd about, They, then the eyes more danger now diſcloſe. If any chance, to meet a number brings, I inſurrections feare from common wrath, Yea, if two talke a part of private things, Straight I ſuſpect that they conſpire my death; en ſudden rumours riſe from vulgar ſmoake; (ilſt th'inward motions roule my reſtleſſe eyes,) I at ch corner for an ambuſh looke, Aſtart aſtoniſh'd, leſt ſome tumult riſe. When light (firſt lightning) doth encourage toyles, I ſtill deſpaire to re-enjoy the night,