Chapter XII: Part I: By JOHN HIGGINS (3)

13.

This thing is seene by mee, that led my daies
In vitious sort, for greedy wolues a pray.
I wish, and will, that Princes guide theyr wayes:
Lo, here by this eschew like chaunce they may,
And vices such as worke their whole decay.
Which if they doe, full well is spent the time
To warne, to write, and eke to shun the crime.[343]

LENUOY.

1.

Thus haue you here the end of _Madan_[344] seene,
(If it were hee) and yet I may suspect
It was some other Prince so seru’d had beene,
For that all stories doe not so detect
His death that Princely vertues did neglect.
But if hee died by wolues, as here I write,
His vice the cause mine author doth resite.

2.

Wherefore although that authors heere dissent,
And I haue pen’d as praysed stories haue:
To reade his warnings thou maist bee content,
And take what counsaile of good life hee gaue.
I trust, I (dreaming) may some pardon craue,
For if the rest no dreames but stories pen
Can I for that they write bee blamed then?

3.

But what neede I on this to longer stay,
Sith many moe remayne which felt the fall.
Of _Britayne_ Princes heathen reade you may,
As _Maline_ one appearing next of all:
Whose tale in order now resite I shall.
Then here conceiue this wounded Prince you see,
Thus wise, of Fortune, speaking vnto mee.

How King Malin was slayne by his brother King
Mempricius, the yeare before Christ, 1009.

1.

If fortue were so firme as shee is fraile,
Or glosing glory were still permanent:
If no mishap mens doings did assayle,
Or that their acts and facts were innocent:
If they[345] in hope no hurt nor hatred ment,
Or dealings aye were done with duty due,
They neuer neede theyr great[346] misfortunes rue.

2.

If pompe were payne, and pride were not in price,
Or hauty seate had not the highest place:
If they[347] could learne by others to bee wise,
Or else eschewe the daungers of their[348] face:
If once they[349] could the golden meane imbrace,
Or banish quite ambition from their[350] breast,
They[351] neuer neede to recke or reape vnrest.

3.

But they doe thinke[352] such sweetenes in renowne,
They[353] deeme on earth is all the greatest hap:[354]
They[355] nothing feare the hurt of falling downe,
Or little rome in Lady Fortune’s lap.
They[3] geue no heede before they[356] get the clap:
And then to late they[4] wish they[357] had bin wise,
When from the fall they[358] would, and cannot, rise.

4.

As if two twinnes, or children at the teate
Of nurce, or mother, both at once might bee,
And both did striue the better dugge to geat,
Till one were downe, and slipt beside her knee:
Even so it fares, by others as by mee,[359]
In Fortune’s lap they[360] haue so little hold,
She cannot stay both striuing if shee would.

5.

I am that _Malin_,[361] one of _Madan’s_ sonnes.
Which thought to raygne and rule this noble Ile,
And would so done, but see what chaunce there comes
Where brethren loue and frendship quite exile:
Who thinkes in trust no treason neither guile,
Is soonest cleane bereau’d of life and all,[362]
In steade of rule hee reapes the crop of thrall.

6.

My yongest[363] brother then _Mempricius_ hight,
Whose hauty minde, and mine, were still at square:[364]
Wee euermore as foes hight other spite,
And deadly ire in hatefull heartes wee bare.
Hee sought all wayes hee might to worke mee care,
And ech regarded others enuy, so,
As after turned both to paynfull woe.

7.

Because my father lou’d him well,[365] therefore
I fear’d my brother should obtayne my right:[366]
Likewise on fauoure boldned hee him bore,[367]
And neither had in vertue’s wayes delight.
What neede I here our inward griefes recite?
Wee, not as brethren, liu’d in hatred still,
And sought occasion other each to kill.

8.

I hauing hope for to preserue the crowne,[368]
And hee for that hee feard my title[369] bred
Such frendship as might alwayes keepe him downe
And both depriue him of his crowne and head.
But when it chaunst our father once was dead,
Then strayght appeared all his[370] enuy playne:
For hee could not from his[371] attempt refrayne.[372]

9.

Some wisht wee should depart the realme in twoo,
And sayd my father eke was of that minde:
But nether of vs both, that so would doe,
Wee were not ech to other halfe so kinde.
And vile ambition made vs both so blinde,
Wee thought our raygne could not bee sure and good
Except the ground thereof were layd with bloud.

10.[373]

At last a time of parle appoynted[374] was,
And truce concluded for our titles right:
Wherein I hoped might bee brought to passe
That I enioy in peace my kingdome might.
But secretly by pollecy and sleight
Hee slewe mee with his swoord, before I wist:
Where crowne, peace, kingdome, life and all I mist.[375]

11.

Thus was I by my wicked[376] brother slayne,
Which with my death his cruell eyes did fill.[377]
This oftentimes they vse to get and gayne,
That cannot shunne misfortune as they wil.[378]
Was neuer man pretended such an ill,
But God to him like measure shortly sent,
As hee to others erst before had ment.

12.

Vniustice euer thriues as theues doe thee,
And bloudthirst cryes for vengeaunce at his hand,
Which all our rights and wronges doth dayly see[379]
The good to aide, and gracelesse to withstand;
If either vice or vertue wee aband,
Wee either are rewarded as wee serue,
Or else are plaged, as our deedes deserue.

13.

Let this my warning then suffice ech sort,
Bid them beware: example here you see:
It passeth play, ’tis tragicall disport
To clime the steppes of stately high degree.[380]
For though they thinke good Fortune seru’d not mee,
Yet did shee vse mee as shee vs’d the rest:
And so full oft shee[381] serueth euen the best.[382]

LENUOY.

1.

This was mee thought that time the ruefull tale,
That _Maline_[383] drewe from out his wounded breast.
A woefull thing to heare the Prince’s bale.
Should by his brother boldly bee addrest:
But yet wee see such rage in tyraunts rest,
If they may beare alofte alone the sway,
For Kingdomes sake they care not whom they slay.

2.

Examples are King _Porrex_ of this thing,
The _Romish Antonine_ did euen the same:
But what neede I of these examples bring:
Such tyraunts euer yet deserued blame,
And haue procur’d them selues, beside defame,
Not only after shorter time of sway,
But most they were by others made away.

3.

Now here _Mempricius_ which his brother slew
Was after King, as plainely stories tell:
Whose filthy facts all princes ought eschew,
And subiects eke, that hope to prosper well.
Hee next appear’d declaring how hee fell,
Eke how his brother deare hee made away,
And how the Wolues in hunting did him slay.

How King Mempricius geuen to all lust was deuoured
by wolues, the yeare before Christ, 989.

1.

Tis often sayd, a man should doe likewise
To other, as hee would to him they did.
Do as thou would’st bee done to, sayth the wise,
And doe as conscience and as iustice bid.
Ther’s no man ought for rule[384] an other rid,[385]
Nor yet[386] his hands[387] with cruell bloud distayne:
For bloud doth alwayes cry for bloud againe.

2.

Eke lustfull life, that sleepes in sinkes of sinne,
Procures a plague: fie, fie, on _Venus_ vile:
Wee little wot the mischiefes are[388] therein,
When wee with poysons sweete our selues beguyle.
The pleasures passe, the ioyes indure but while,
And nought thereby at all wee get or gayne,
But dreadfull death, and euerlasting payne.

3.

Mee thinkes thou harkenest for to heare[389] my name,
And musest what I am that thus doe come.
I would or this haue told it, but for shame:
And yet to giue example here to some,[390]
I will no longer fayne my selfe so dome,
But euen as others I will tell my fall:[391]
Take here my name, my life, my death and all.

4.

I am _Mempricius_, _Madan’s_ yonger[392] sonne,
Once King of _Britayne_, that my brother slewe:
Whereby the crowne, and Kingdome all I won,
And after norisht vices moe that grewe,
Not nature’s lawes, nor God’s, nor man’s I knewe,
But liu’d in lust, not recking any thing,
I deemed all thinges lawfull[393] for a King.

5.

Fyrst[394] when I had my brother brought on beire,
I thought in rest to keepe the Kingdome long:
And I was voyde of doubte,[395] I had no feare,
Was none durst checke mee did I right or wrong.
I liu’d at large, and thought my powre so strong,
There could no man preuaile against my will,
In steede of lawe that vsed rigour still.[396]

6.

Then wickedly I fell[397] to slouthfull ease,
A vice that breades a number moe beside.
I was so testy none durst mee displease,
And eke so puft with glory, vaine, and pride.
My sencelesse sence, as ship without a guide,
Was tost with euery fancy of my braine,
Like _Phœbus_ chariote vnder _Phaëton’s_ raigne.

7.

I deem’d them foes that mee good counsaile gaue,
And those my chiefest frends could glose and lie:
I hated them that were so sage and graue,
And those I lou’d were lusty, lewde, and slie.
I did the wisest wittes as fooles defie,
Such sots, knaues, ruffians, roysters I embraste,
As were vnwise, vnhonest, rude, vnchaste.

8.

I lusted eke, as lazy[398] lechers vse,
My subiects wiues and daughters at my will
I did so often as mee pleas’d abuse,
Perforce I kept them at my pleasure still.
Thus gate I queanes and concubines at fill,
And for their sakes I put away my wife:
Such was my lewdnes, lust, and lawlesse life.

9.

But shame forbids mee for to tell the rest,
It mee abhorres to shew what did insue:
And yet because it moueth in my breast
Compunction still, and was God wot to true,
Ile farder tell whence[399] my destruction grue.
To _Sodome_ sinne I fowly fell,[400] and than
I was despised both of God and man.

10.

Could I long prosper thus, doe you suppose?
Might ought of euill exceede[401] these vices told?
Thinke you ther’s any wight on ground that goes
Might scape reuenge of vice so manifolde?
No sure: who is in sienfullnes so bolde,
His vices fare like weedes they sproute so fast
They kill the corps, as weedes the corne at last.

11.

My greate outrage, my heedelesse head, the life
I beastly led could not continue so:
My brothers bloud, my leauing of my wife,
And working of my friends and subiects woe
Cry’d still to God, for my foule ouerthroe,
Which heares the wrong’d, hee vewes[402] their carefull case,
And at the length doth all their foes deface.

12.

Yet I mistrusting no mishaps at hand,
(Though I were worthy twenty times to die)
I lewdly liu’d, and did my wealth withstand.
I neuer thought my end was halfe so nie.
For my disport I rode on hunting, I,
In woodes the fearefull heart I chased fast,
Till quite I lost my company at last.

13.

And or I wist, to cost I found my foes,
By chaunce I came whereas the Wolues they bred:
Which in a moment did mee round inclose,
And mounted at my horse his throte and head.
Some on the hinder partes their panches fed.
Yet fought I still to scape, if it might bee,
Till they my panting[403] horse puld downe with mee.

14.

Then was I hopelesse to escape their iawes,
They fastned all their holders fast on mee:
And on my royall robes they set their clawes:
My Princely presence, nor my high degree
Moou’d them no more obeysaunt for to bee,
Nor of my corps to take no more remorce,
Then did the greeuous groning of my horse.

15.

But rauenously they rent my breast and throte,
Forsooke my steede, came all at once and tare
My kingly[404] corps, from which they fleyde my coate,
And of my flesh they made at all no spare,
They neuer left mee till my bones were bare.
Lo thus I slewe my brother, left my wife,
Liu’d vilely, and as vilely ended life.

16.

Beware of bloudy broyles, beware of wrong,
Embrace the counsayle of the wise and sage:
Trust not to power though it bee nere so strong,
Beware of rashnes rude and roysters rage.
Eschew vile _Venus’_ toyes, shee cutts of age,
And learne this lesson of and tell thy friend,
By pockes, death sodayne, begging,[405] harlots end.[406]

LENUOY.

1.

Marke but the end of brother quellers all,
And you shall see what woefull ends they had:
For so _Iehouah_ suffers them to fall,
As were their risinges murderous and bad,
The life of wicked _Cayne_ was sorrowfull and sad.
Of _Ioram_ the King what neede I to discriue,
So infamous and violent both dead and eke aliue.

2.

What auayl’d it _Memprice_ this Kingdome to obtayne,[407]
That shamefully his Princely brother so did slay:
Sith that Almighty _Ioue_ so punisht him agayne,
For scepter’s sake that tooke his noble Prince away.
His wretched cruell corps became for Wolues a pray.
What neede I more the caytiues beastly facts descriue,
So infamous and violent, both dead and eke aliue.

3.

Now when as hee was gone, there presently, mee thought,
A King full Angel like in feathers did appeare:
With flying winges and plumes by cunning finely wrought,
As hee aloft like fame to flie prepared were,
To harken well his tale I gaue an heedy eare,
Which hee in order thus mee thought did then contriue,
Desiring mee to write it so, to warne the rest aliue.

How King Bladvd,[408] taking on him to fly, fell
vpon the Temple of Apollo, and brake his
necke, The yeare before Christ, 844.

1.

I pray thee _Higgins_ take in hand thy pen
And write my life and fall, among’st the rest
A warning set mee downe for curious men,
Whose wittes the worke of nature seeke to wrest:
I was Prince _Bladud_, pregnant as the best
Of wisedome, and of wealth, and learning I had store,
Of regall race I came what neede I craued more?

2.

But this in all the sortes of men wee see,
An vncontented minde when much they haue;
The learned yet would more profounder bee,
The richest most t’encrease their wealth do craue;
The finest Dames doe slike[409] their faces braue;
The noblest yet would higher clime, and all to skies
Immortall they to make their names on earth deuise.[410]

3.

In _Britayne_ though I learned had full well
The artes, and could among’st the wise conferre,
Yet when of _Athens_ I the fame heard tell,
(Though it in _Greece_ so far hence distant were)
I trauayl’d thither, writers witnesse are
I studied there, and thence of learned men I brought
That learning might from _Britayne_ land no more so far bee
sought.[411]

4.

But after hee was dead that was my stay,
My father graue, I meane the worthy King
Then all the _Britaynes_ shortly by a day
To royall seat elected mee did bring.
Where I to place in order euery thing,
Did both receiue the crowne[412] and scepter in my hand,
With glory and renowned fame to gouerne all the land.[413]

5.

Then, for because the sway of all the Ile
Depended on my gouernement to rest
I did consult with all the peeres a while,
And of my father’s counsaylers the best,
I order tooke for matters vnredrest,
Appoynting vnto each such place of iustice fit,
As serued to their birth, their persons, wealth and wit.[414]

6.

The learned _Greekes_, whom I from _Athens_ brought,
Conferring with the _British_ learned men:
A place, as I commaunded them, had sought
Amid’st the Realme, and brought mee word agen.
At _Staneford_ there I built a colledge then,
And made prouision for the same perdy,
To maynetayne them a famous Vniuersity.[415]

7.

By this, of skilfull men the land had store,
And all the arts were read in _Britayne_ well:
No countrey was for learning praysed more.
Abroad, the world began of vs tell.[416]
From other nations hither came to dwell
The wisest wits, commending vs, extolling vs to skies:
They sayd wee were a people stout, and learned, graue,
and wise.[417]

8.

And for that time of Gods wee honour’d all,
_Apollo_ high for wisedome, arte, and skill:
At _Troynouant_ a Temple speciall
I built to him, for sacrifices still.
Whereon I fell, as after speake I will.
Such was our vse and superstition [wholy][418] then,
To deeme as Gods the statures tall of noble worthy men.[419]

9.

Some saye I made the holesome Baths at Bathe,[420]
And made therefore two Tunnes of burning brasse:
And other twayne seauen kindes of salts that haue
In them inclos’d, but these bee made of glasse,
With sulphur fild, wilde fire emixt there was,
And in foure welles these Tunnes so placed heate for aye
The water springing vp, before it passe away.[421]

10.

Which waters heate and clensing perfect powre,
With vapours of the sulphur, salts, and fire,
Hath vertue great, to heale, and washe, and scowre
The bathed sores therein that health desire.
If of the vertues, moe thou dost require
[To knowe,] I will resite what old experience tells
In causes cold the noble vertues of these welles.

11.

The bathes to soften sinewes vertue haue,
And also for to clense and scowre the skin
From Morphewes white and blacke, to heale and saue
The bodyes freckled, faynt, are bathed therein:
Scabs, lepry, sores are[422] old and festered in,
The scurfe, botch, itche, goute, poxe, [sweld ioynts] and
humores fell,
The milt and liuer hard it heales, and palsey well.[423]

12.

I must confesse by learned skill I found
Those natiue welles whence springs that helpe[424] for men:
But well thou know’st there runnes from vnder ground
Springes sweete, salt, cold, and hote euen now as then,
From rocke, salt petre, alume, grauell, fen,
From sulphur, iron, leade, gold, siluer, brasse and tinne:
Ech fountayne takes the force of vayne it coucheth in.[425]

13.

Then who so knowes by nature’s worke in these,
Of metalles or of mynes the force to heale,
May sooner giue his iudgement in disease,
For curing by the bath, and surer deale
With sickly people of the publique weale,
And also finde of fountaynes salt, or hote, or cold,
And for to heale by them the sicke with honour bee bold.[426]

14.

The Citie eke of _Bathe_ I founded there,
Renouned far by reason of the welles:
And many monuments that auncient were
I placed there, thou know’st the story tells.
I sought renowne and fame and nothing elze.
But when our actes extoll our prayse aboue the skie,
W’are blinded so, wee looke not downe from whence wee flye.[427]

15.

There are but fewe, whom Fortune bathes in blesse,
But blinded are, and dazelingly they looke:
They see nought else but worldly happinesse,
At that they only fish with Fortune’s hooke.
Beneath on earth pompe, pelfe, and prayse they pooke,
On that depending frayle, that fayles, and flits, and flyes,
Forsaking vertue sole, that bides for aye aboue the skies.[428]

16.

Mens vayne delightes are wondrous to behold,
For that that reason nills, nor nature sowes
They take in hand, on science far to bold,
Deceiu’d by suttle snares of diuelish showes.
From which attemptes a floud of mischiefe flowes,
An heape of hurtes, [a swarme of smartes] a fry of foule
decayes,
A flocke of feares, [a droue of deathes,] and thrales a
thousand wayes.

17.

If that the water fish forsake the streame
Agaynst his kinde, feeles hee no hurt ensues?
Or if the broeke would learne to play the breame,
And leaue the lambes at land, were this no newes?
A fethered fowle in th’earth a den to chuse,
Or flounder say to flye [and soare aloft] the larke to catch,
Would not you maruell then, what monsters now doth nature
hatch?[429]

18.

But sith wee see that nature hath assign’d
The fowle to fly the ayre, as seemeth well,
The fish to swim the sea, as fits his kinde,
The earth for men and beastes to breede and dwell:
Of right a man, which doth the rest excell,
Should euen so far surpasse the rest in ech degree,[430]
As all the rest to him in wit and reason weaker bee.[431]

19.

All this I speake to warne the rest that heare,
And eke to shew the blindnesse of delites.
Herein my foly vayne may playne appeare,
What hap they heape which try out cunning slightes,
What hurt there hits, at such vayne shewes and sightes,
Where men for pleasure only take much [toyle and] payne,
To alter nature’s gifts for [pompe, and pride, and] pleasure
vayne.

20.

Were not it straunge, thinke you, a King to fly,
To play the tombler, or some iugling cast?
To dresse him selfe in plumes, as erst did I,
And vnder armes to knit on winges full fast?
A sport you thinke that might the wise agaste.
But _Magicke Mathematicall_[432] had taught mee poynts
of scill,
Whereby when first I practis’d then, I lern’d my selfe
to kill.[433]

21.

I deckte my corps with plumes (I say) and winges,
And had them set, thou seest, in scilfull wise,
With many feats, fine poyseing equall thinges,
To ayde my selfe in flight to fall or rise,
An arte men seldome vse mine enterprise:[434]
[Somwhat] gaynst store of winde, by practise rise I could,
And try’d which way to turne, and mount, and lyght I should.[435]

22.

But er the perfect scill I learned had,
(And yet mee thought I could doe passing well)
My subiects’ hearts with pleasaunt toyes to glad,
From Temple’s top, where did _Apollo_ dwell,
I 'sayd to flye, but on the Church I fell,
And broysed all to peeces lost[436] my life withall.
This was my race, mine exercise and fatall fall.[437]

23.

What vayner thing could any Prince deuise,
Than so himselfe a foolish fowle to showe:
Learne you by mee, that count your selues so wise,
The worst to doubt of thinges, what ere you know,
Fly not so high for feare you fall so lowe:
The massy wight is far to great for fethery downe to beare:
Below y^e happy man knowes when tis well, & can content him
there.[438]

24.

These curious artes alurementes haue alone,
They profer much in recompence of payne:
But yet among’st a thousand scarce is one
In practise, ought by them can saue or gayne.
You see perdy they are[439] but false and vayne
Sophisticall, deceiptfull, [endlesse] and vntrue,
That nothing haue them selues, and promise all to you.[440]

25.

I speake not of the rest that are in vse
Amongst the wiser sort, Philosophy,
Nor of the partes thereof, but of th’abuse
That comes by magicke arts of imagery,
By vile inchauntments, charmes, and pampestry,
All which I deeme (and they shall finde in proofe) as euill
That practise them, as is (by whom they deale) the diuell.[441]

26.

To make an end: you noble Kinges content
Your selues with studies seruing for the state:
You Lordes also with all your wits inuent
What way t’eschewe the Prynce and people’s hate.
Yee subiects loue your Prynce, eschewe debate.
I wish you all beware to clime, or flee, or soare to hie,
For feare you tomble downe, or slip, or fall, as erst did I.[442]

LENUOY.

1.

Who so that takes in hand the aire to scale,
As _Bladud_ here did take on him to flie:
Or _Dedal’s_ sonne (as _Poets_ tell the tale)
Yong _Icarus_, that flew (they say) so hie:
Or else as _Simon Magus_ flew perdy:
Though nere so well his plumes and winges hee decke,
By sea h’is droun’d, by land hee breakes his necke.

2.

On ground is surest place for men to goe,
But yet take heede and let your ground bee good:
The surest footing is perdy beloe,
Who styes the aire I count his dealing wood:
The slender buildings hauty, feoble stoode,
On high the tempests haue much powre to wrecke:
Then best to bide beneath, and surest for the necke.

3.

King _Bladud_ yet might here commended bee,
For that hee loued learning all his daies:
Eke for hee built an Vniuersity
At _Staneford_ first, hee well deserued praise,
But now his nice _Cordila_ here assaies,
From bleeding breast, to tell her woefull wrecke,
With knife in hand her desperate death to decke.

How Qveene Cordila in dispaire slew her selfe,
The yeare before Christ, 800.

1.

If any woefull wight haue cause to wayle her woe,
Or griefs are past do pricke vs Princes tell our fall:
My selfe likewise must needes constrayned eke doe so,
And shew my like misfortunes and mishaps withall.
Should I keepe close my heauy haps and thrall,
Then did I wrong: I wrong’d my selfe and thee,
Which of my facts a witnes true maist bee.

2.

A woman yet must blush when bashfull is the case,
Though trueth bid tell the tale and story as it fell:
But sith that I mislike not audience, time, nor place,
Therefore I cannot keepe my woes in counsaile[443] well.
No greater ease of heart then griefes to tell,
It vaunteth all the dolours of our minde,
Our carefull hearts thereby great comfort finde.

3.

For why to tell that may recounted bee agayne,
And tell it as our cares may compasse ease:
That is the salue and medicine of our payne,
Which cureth corsies all and sores of our disease:
It doth our pinching panges and paynes apease:
It pleads the part of an assured friend,
And tells the trade, like vices to amend.

4.

Therefore if I more willing bee to tell my fall,
With my mishaps[444] to ease my burdened breast and minde:
Some[445] others haply may auoide and shunne the thrall,
And thereby for distresse more aide and comfort finde.
They keeping[446] measure, whereas I declin’d,
May bee as prompt to flie[447] like brute and blame
As I to tell, or thou to write the same.

5.

Wherefore if thou wilt afterwards record[448]
What Queene _Cordila_ tells[449] to ease her inward smarte,
I will recite my story tragicall ech word,
To thee that geu’st an eare, and ready art.[450]
But lest I set the horse behinde the cart,
I minde to tell ech thing in order, so,
As thou maist see and shew whence sprang my woe.

6.

My grandsire _Bladud_ hight, that found the bathes by skill,
A fethered King that practis’d highe to soare[451]
Whereby hee felt the fall, God wot against his will,
And neuer went, road, raygnd, nor spake, nor flew no more.
After whose death my father[452] _Leire_ therefore
Was chosen King, by right apparent heyre,
Which after built the towne of _Leircestere_.

7.

Hee had three daughters, first and eld’st hight _Gonerell_,[453]
Next after her his yonger _Ragan_[454] was begot:
The third and last was I the yongest, nam’d _Cordell_.
Vs all our father _Leire_ did loue to well, God wot.[455]
But[456] minding her that lou’d him best to note,
Because hee had no sonne t’enioy his land,
Hee thought to guerdon most where[457] fauour most hee fand.

8.

What though I yongest were, yet men mee iudg’d more wise
Then either _Gonerell_, or _Ragan_ more of age:[458]
And fairer farre: wherefore my sisters did despise
My grace and giefts, and sought my wrecke to wage.[459]
But yet though vice on[460] vertue dye with rage,
It can not keepe her vnderneath to drowne:
For still[461] shee flittes aboue, and reaps renowne.[462]

9.

My father thought to wed vs vnto Princely peeres,[463]
And vnto them and theirs deuide and part the land.
For both my sisters first hee cal’d[464] (as first their yeares
Requir’d) their mindes, and loue, and fauoure t’vnderstand.
(Quoth hee) all doubts of duty to aband,
I must assay your frendly faithes to proue:
My daughters, tell mee how you doe mee loue.[465]

10.

Which when they aunswerd him they lou’d their father more[466]
Then they themselues did loue, or any worldly wight:
He praised them, and sayd hee would therefore[467]
The louing kindnes they deseru’d in fine requite.
So found my sisters fauour in his sight,
By flattery faire they won their father’s heart,
Which after turned hym and mee to smart.

11.[468]

But not content with this, hee asked mee likewise
If I did not him loue and honour well.
No cause (quoth I) there is I should your grace despise:
For nature so doth binde and duty mee compell,
To loue you, as I ought my father, well.
Yet shortely I may chaunce, if Fortune will,
To finde in heart to beare another more good will.

12.

Thus much I sayd of nuptiall loues’ that ment,
Not minding once of hatred vile or ire:
And partly taxing them, for which intent
They set my fathers heart on wrathfull fire.
“Shee neuer shall to any part aspire
Of this my realme (quoth hee) among’st you twayne:
But shall without all dowry aie remaine.”

13.

Then to _Maglaurus_ Prince, with _Albany_ hee gaue
My sister _Gonerell_, the eldest of vs all:
And eke my sister _Ragan_ to _Hinniue_ to haue,
And for her dowry _Camber_ and _Cornwall_.
These after him should haue his Kingdome all.
Betweene them both hee gaue it franke and free,
But nought at all hee gaue of dowry mee.

14.

At last it chaunst a Prince of _Fraunce_ to heare my fame.
My beauty braue, my wit was blaz’d abroad ech where.
My noble vertues prais’d mee to my father’s blame,
Who did for flattery mee lesse friendly fauour beare.[469]
Which when this worthy Prince (I say) did heare,
Hee sent ambassage lik’d mee more then life,
And soone obtayned mee to bee his wife.

15.

Prince _Aganippus_ reau’d mee of my woe,
And that for vertues sake, of dowryes all the best:
So I contented was to _Fraunce_ my father fro
For to depart, and hoapt t’enioy some greater rest.
Where liuing well belou’d, my ioyes encreast:
I gate more fauour in that Prince his sight,
Then euer Princesse of a Princely wight.

16.

But while that I these ioyes so well enioy’d in _Fraunce_,
My father _Leire_ in _Britayne_ waxt vnweldy old.
Whereon his daughters more themselues aloft t’aduaunce
Desir’d the Realme to rule it as they wolde.
Their former loue and friendship waxed cold,
Their husbands rebels voyde of reason quite
Rose vp, rebeld, bereft his crowne and right:

17.

Caus’d him agree they might in parts equall[470]
Deuide the Realme, and promist him a gard
Of sixty Knights on him attending still at call.[471]
But in six monthes such was his hap to hard,
That _Gonerell_ of his retinue barde
The halfe of them, shee and her husband reft:
And scarce alow’d the other halfe they left.

18.

Eke as in _Albany_ lay hee lamenting fates,[472]
When as my sister so sought all his vtter spoyle:
The meaner vpstart courtiers thought themselues his mates,
His daughter him disdayn’d and forced not his foyle.
Then was hee fayne for succoure his to toyle
With halfe his trayne to _Cornwall_, there to lie
In greatest neede, his _Ragan’s_ loue to try.

19.

So when hee came to _Cornwall_, shee with ioy
Receiued him, and Prince _Maglaurus_ did the like.
There hee abode a yeare, and liu’d without anoy:
But then they tooke all his retinue from him quite
Saue only ten, and shew’d him daily spite:
Which hee bewayl’d complayning durst not striue,
Though in disdayne they last alow’d but fiue.

20.

What more despite could deuelish beasts deuise,
Then ioy their fathers woefull days to see?
What vipers vile could so their King despise,
Or so vnkinde, so curst, so cruell bee?
From thence agayn hee went to _Albany_,
Where they bereau’d his seruaunts all, saue one,
Bad him content him selfe with that, or none.

21.

Eke at what time hee ask’d of them to haue his gard,
To gard his noble grace where so hee went:
They cal’d him doting foole, all his requests debard,
Demaunding if with life hee were not well content:
Then hee to late his rigour did repent
Gaynst mee, my sisters’ fawning loue that knew,
Found flattery false, that seem’d so faire in vew.

22.

To make it short, to _Fraunce_ hee came at last to mee,
And told mee how my sisters euell[473] their father vsde.
Then humbly I besought my noble King so free,
That he would aide my father thus by his abusde:
Who nought at all my humble hest refusde,
But sent to euery coast of _Fraunce_ for aide,
Whereby King _Leire_ might home bee well conueyde.

23.

The souldiours gathered from ech quarter of the land
Come at the length to know the noble Prince’s will:
Who did commit them vnto captaynes euery band,
And I likewise of loue and reuerent meere good will
Desir’d my Lord, hee would not take it ill,
If I departed for a space withall,
To take a part, or ease my father’s thrall.

24.

Hee graunted my request: Thence wee ariued here,
And of our _Britaynes_ came to aide likewise his right
Full many subiects, good and stout that were:
By martiall feats, and force, by subiects sword and might,
The _British_ Kings were fayne to yeeld our right:
Which wonne, my father well this Realme did guide
Three yeares in peace, and after that hee dyde.

25.

Then I was crowned Queene this Realme to hold,[474]
Till fiue yeares past I did this Island guyde:
I had the _Britaynes_ at what becke I would,[475]
Till that my louing King mine _Aganippus_ dide:
But then my seat it faltered on ech side,
My sisters sonnes[476] began with mee to iarre:
And for my crowne wagde with mee mortall warre.[477]

26.

The one hight _Morgan_ Prince[478] of _Albany_,
And _Conidagus_ King of _Cornwall_ and of Wales:
Both which at once prouided their artillery,
To worke mee woefull woe, and mine adherents bales
What neede I fill thine eares with longer tales?
They did preuaile by might and powre, so fast
That I was taken prisoner at last.

27.

In spitefull sorte they vsed then my captiue corse:
No favour shewde to mee, extinct was mine estate:
Of kinred, Prynces, bloud, or peere was no remorce,
But as an abiect vile, and worse, they did mee hate.
To lie in darkesome dungeon was my fate,
As t’were a thiefe, mine aunsweres to abide,
Gaynst right and justice, vnder Jailour’s guide.

28.

For liberty at length I su’d to subiects were:
But they kept mee in prison close, deuoide of trust:
If I might once escape, they were in dread and feare
Their fawning friends with mee would proue vntrue and iust.
They told mee take it patiently I must,
And bee contented that I had my life:
Sith with their mother’s I began the strife.

29.

Whereby I sawe might nothing mee preuaile to pray,
To pleade, or proue, defend, excuse, or pardon craue:
They heard mee not, despis’d my plaints, sought my decay,
I might no lawe, nor loue, nor right, nor justice haue.
No friends, no faith, nor pittie could mee saue:
But I was from all hope of freedome[479] bard,
Condem’d, my cause like neuer to bee heard.

30.

Was euer noble Queene so drencht in wrecks of woe,[480]
Depos’d[481] from Princely powre, bereft of liberty,
Depriu’d of all these worldly pompes her pleasures fro,
And brought from wealth to neede, distresse, and misery,
From Pallace proude in prison poore to lie,
From Kingdomes twayne, to dungeon one, no more,
From Ladies wayting, vnto vermine store?

31.

From light to darke, from holesome aire to lothsom smell,
From odoure sweete to smart, from ease to greeuous paine,
From sight of Princely Wights, to place where theues doe dwell,
From dainty beds of downe, to bed of strawe full fayne:
From bowres of heauenly hewe, to dennes of daine:
From greatest haps that worldly wights atchiue,
To more distresse then any wretch aliue?

32.

When first I left my friends in _Fraunce_ did me exalte,[482]
And eke my noble King, mine _Aganippus_ true:
And came to _England_, for their heynous facts and faulte,
Which from his right and kingdome quite our father threwe,
To take his[483] Realme: to raigne and treason knewe,
I thinke of all misfortunes was the worst:
Or else I deeme the causers al accurst.

33.

For marke my haplesse fall that fortune did me send,[484]
As thus in prison[485] vile on liue[486] I lingring lay,
When I had mourned long, but found no faythfull fren
That could me helpe, or ayde, or comfort any way,
Was seru’d at meate as those that[487] Kinges betray
With fare God wote was simple, bare, and thin,
Could not sustayne the corps it entred in.

34.

And when the sighes, and teares, and playntes nigh burst my hart,
And place, and stenche, and fare nigh poysond euery pore:
For lacke of frends to tell my seas of giltlesse smart,
And that mine eyes had sworne to take sweete sleepe no more,
I was content, sith cares oppresse me sore,
To leaue my foode, take mourning, playnts, and crye,
And lay mee downe, let griefe and nature trye.

35.

Thus as I pining lay, my carcas coucht on strawe,[488]
And felt the payne erst neuer creature earthly knewe,
Mee thought by night a grizely ghost in darkes I sawe,
Eke nearer still to mee with stealing steps shee drewe:
Shee was of colour pale and deadly[489] hewe,
Her clothes resembled thousand kinds of thrall,
And pictures plaine of hastened deathes withall.

36.

I musing lay in paines, and wondred what shee was,
Mine eyes stood still, mine haire rose vp for feare an end,
My flesh it shoke and trembled: yet I cryde (alas)
What wight art thou, a foe or else what fawning frend?
If death thou art, I pray thee make an end.
But th’art not death. Art thou some fury sent,
My woefull corps, with paynes, to more torment?

37.

With that shee spake: “I am (quoth shee) thy frend _Despayre_,
Which in distresse each worldly wight with speede do ayde:
I rid them from their foes, if I to them repayre.
To long from thee by other caytiues was I stayde.
Now, if thou art to dye no whit afrayde,
Here shalt thou choose of Instruments (beholde)
Shall rid thy restlesse life, of this be bolde.”

38.

And therewithall shee threwe her garments lap aside,
Vnder the which a thousand thinges I sawe with eyes:
Both kniues, sharpe swordes, poynadoes[490] all bedyde
With bloud, and poysons prest which shee could well deuise.
“There is no hope (quoth shee) for thee to rise,
And get thy Crowne or Kyngdome refte agyne:[491]
But for to liue long lasting pyning payne.

39.

“Lo here (quoth shee) the blade that _Did’_ of _Carthage_ hight,
Whereby shee was from thousand panges of payne let passe:
With this shee slewe her selfe, after _Æneas’_ flight,
When hee to Sea from _Tyrian_ shoares departed was.
Doe choose of these thou seest from woes to passe,
Or bide the end, prolong thy paynfull dayes,
And I am pleasde from thee to packe[492] my wayes.”

40.

With that was I (poore wretche) content to take the knife,
But doubtfull yet to dye, and fearefull fayne would byde.
So still I lay in study with my selfe at bate and strife,
What thing were best of both these deepe extreames vntryde,
_Good Hope_[493] all reasons of _Despayre_ denyde:
And shee agayne replyde, to proue it best
To dye, for still in life my woes increast.

41.

Shee cal’d to minde the ioyes in _Fraunce_ I whilome had:
Shee told me what a troupe of Ladyes was my trayne:
And how the Lordes of _Fraunce_ and _Britaynes_, both were glad
Of late to wayte on mee, and subiects all were fayne:
She tolde I had bin Queene of Kingdomes twayne,
And how my kinesmen[494] had my seate and Crowne.
I could not rise, for euer fallen downe.

42.

A thousand thinges beside recited then _Despayre_:
Shee tolde the woes in warres, that I had heapt of late,
Rehearst the prison vile in steede of Pallace fayre,
My lodging lowe and mouldy meates my mouth did hate;
Shee shewde mee all the dongeon where I sate,
The dankish walles, the darkes, and bade mee smell,
And byde the sauour if I likt it well.

43.

Whereby I wretch deuoyd of comfort quite and hope,
And pleasures past comparde with present paynes I had,
For fatall knife slipt forth, my fearefull hand did grope:
_Despayre_ in this to ayde my senceles limmes was glad,
And gaue the blade: to end my woes she bad.
“I will (quoth I) but first with all my hart
Ile pray to Gods, reuenge my woefull smart.

44.

“If any wrong deserue the wrecke, I pray yon skyes,
And starres of light, (if you my plight[495] doe rue)
O _Phœbus_ cleere, I thee beseech and pray likewise,
Beare witnes of my playnts well knowne to Gods are true.
You see from whence these iniuryes they grue.
Then let like vengeaunce hap and light on those,
Which vndeserued were my mortall[496] foes.

45.

“God graunt immortall[497] strife betweene them both may fall,
That th’ one[498] the other may, without remorce, distroye:
That _Conidagus_ may his cosin _Morgan_ thrall,
Because hee first decreast my wealth, bereft my ioye.
I pray you Gods he neuer be a _Roy_:
But caytife may be payde with such a frend,
As shortly may him bring to sodayne end.

46.

“Farewell my Realme of _Fraunce_, farewell, _Adieu,_
_Adieu mes nobles tous_, and _England_ now farewell:
Farewell Madames my Ladyes, _car ie suis perdu,_
_Il me fault aler desespoir m’adonne conseil_
_De me tuer_, no more your Queene farewell.
My cousens[499] mee oppresse with mayne and might,
A captiue poore, gaynst Justice all and right.”

47.

And therewithall the sight did fayle my dazeling eyne,
I nothing sawe saue sole _Dispaire_ bad mee dispatch:
Whome I behelde: shee caught the knife from mee I weene,
And by hir elbowe carian death for me did watch.
“Com on (quod I) thou hast a goodly catch.”
And therewithall _Dispaire_ the stroke did strike,
Whereby I dyde, a damned creature like:

48.

Which I to late bewayle, let those a liue beware;[500]
Let not the losse of goods or honours them constrayne
To playe the fooles, and take such carefull carke and care;
Or to dispayre for any prison, pine, and payne;
If they be giltlesse let them so remayne;
Farre greater follye is it for to kill,
Themselues dispayring, then is any ill.

49.

Sith first thereby theyr enmyes haue that they desire,
By which they proue to deadly foes vnwares a frende:
And next they cannot liue, to former blisse t’spyre,
If God do bring theyr foes in time to sodayne ende.
They lastly, as the damned wretches, sende
Theyr soules thereby to darkesome _Stygian_ lake,
Which kill the corps that mighty _Ioue_ did make.[501]

LENUOY.

1.

When as this desperate Queene had ended thus
Her tale, and tolde the haplesse grace she had:
As of her playnte som poyntes I did discusse,
Her sisters dealings were (mee thought) to bad.
Her cosens cruell both, for Kingdomes mad.
Her owne estate most pityfull to see,
A Queene by kinred captiue kepte to bee.

2.

So wise a Queene, so fayre a Princesse wrongde,
So dutifull in parents plight of yore:
By rebells vile hir cousens to bee throngde,
Such hatred hir ambiciously that bore.
Who euer saw such cruelty before?
_Cordilaes_ state most pitifull to see,
By kinred cloce in prison kepte to bee.[502]

3.

But next from _Wales_ in warlike armoure came
With wounded corps Morganus th’ Albane king,
In woefull wise his doubtfull tale to frame.
And of his auntes distresse reports each thing.
Hee from Glamorgan this for truth doth bring,
That who by slaughter seekes a prince to bee,
As traytoure falles beneath his first degree.

How King Morgan of Albany was slayne at Glamorgan,
in Wales, The yeare before Christ, 766.

1.

I Wot not well what reasons I may vse,
To quit myselfe from lasting infamy:[503]
Wherefore I must perforce myselfe accuse:
I was[504] in fault I cannot it denye.
Remorce of conscience pricks my harte so nye,
And mee torments with panges of pinching payne,
I can no longer mee from speache refrayne.

2.

I am that _Morgan_ sonne of _Gonerell_
Th’ungratefull daughter of hire father _Leire_:
Which from his Kingdome did him once expell,
As by the _British_ storyes may appeare.
_Ragan_ and shee conspirde (both sisters were)
But were subdude agayne and caus’d to yelde
Theyr fathers Crowne: _Cordila_ wan the field.

3.

I need not heare the storyes all recite;
It were to long, but yet I briefly shall:
The cause _Cordila_ ought her sisters spite
Was, they procur’d her, and their father’s thrall.
Yet t’was her chaunce at length t’out liue them all,
Both sisters elder, and her father graue,
And eke at length the kingdome all to haue.

4.

That time was I of _Albany_ the King,
Cal’d _Scotland_ now, and eke my cousin then,
Of _Cornewall_ and of _Wales_, whom I did bring
To warre, against _Cordila_ and her men:
Wee sayd wee would our title winne agen,
And that because our fathers[505] had it yore,
Wee ment to get it ours againe therefore.

5.

I must confesse I was the cause of warre,
I was not pleas’d with that was lotted mee:
Euen so our mindes ambitious often are
And blinded, that wee cannot reason see.
Wee thinke no men, but God’s on Earth wee bee,
Yet worse are wee then beastes which knowe their kinde:
For wee haue nought but mischiefe oft in mind.

6.

Wee thinke, if so wee may our willes attayne
By right or wrong, by might or malice, wee
Could neuer liue like Fortune for to gayne:
Or if one foes wee once reuenged bee,
If that our enemies[506] fall wee chaunce to see,
O then wee ioy, wee lift our selues to skie,
And on the poore wee _crucifige_ crye.

7.

I deem’d if once I might put her adowne,[507]
The Kingdomes all were _Conidag’s_ and mine
And I could easly after winne the crowne,
If also I his state might vndermine.
I thought, in deede, to haue it all in fine:
By force or fraude I ment my purpose bring
To passe, I might bee after _Britayne_ King.[508]

8.

To speake in fewe, wee waged warre so long
Gainst her, at last wee put her vnto flight:
Wee warriours[509] for our aunt were far to strong,
Pursude and tooke, depriu’d her of her right.
Wee thought it ours what so wee wanne by might:
Eke so play tyraunts, Traitours all doe watch
To get by spoile and count their owne they catch.

9.

Not so contented were wee with the pray:
But fearing lest shee should recouer ayde,
I sent in hast to prison her away,
And all recourse of messengers denayd.
Thus when shee sawe her Maiesty decayd,
And that her griefes and sorowes daily grew,
In pryson at the length her selfe shee slewe.

10.

O caytife vile, should I constrain’d a Queene,[510]
That Iustice ment, her kingdome to forsake?
Nay traytour I, her cause of death haue bene,[511]
That would my selfe by bloudshed ruler make.
How could reuenge on mee but vengeaunce take?
Before the seat of God her bloud did call
For vengeaunce still, and so procur’d[512] my fall.

11.

Lo here God’s iustice see, my treason see:
Behold and see, to raygne was my delight:
And marke, and make a mirrour here of mee,
Which afterward was seru’d by iustice right.
Wee wan the crowne betweene vs both in fight:
And then because I was the elder sonne
Of th’elder Queene, I claymed all wee wonne.

12.

So were my dealings nought in peace and warre:
But by my force and fortunes v’sd in fight,
I past, that time, the _Britaynes_ all by farre:
I was of person, fortitude, and might,
Both comely, tall, strong, seemely eke in sight,
Whereby I wonne mens fauoure, glory, wealth
And, puft with pride, at length forgate my selfe.

13.

I sayd it was my right the crowne to haue
But _Conidagus_ stoutly it deni’d:
Wherefore I went to _Wales_, my ryght to craue,
With all mine army, and to haue it tri’d.
Where long wee fought it stoutly on eche side,
Till at the last, vnto my woefull payne,
I was depriu’d of Kingdome quite, and slayne.

14.

And for to keepe in memory for aye
That there vnfaythfull _Morgan_ lost his life,
The place is cal’d _Glamorgan_ to this daye.[513]
There was I perst to death with fatall knife:
There was the end of all my hatefull strife.
So _Morgan_, where hee thought to winne the Crowne,
Was at _Glamorgan_ traytour striken downe.

15.

Thus mayst thou tell how proude ambition proues,
What hap haue tyraunts, what wee Traytours haue:
What end hee hath that cruell dealing loues,
What subiects get the[514] Diademe doe craue.
Tis better, then to winne, thine owne to saue:
For so orethwartly trade of Fortune goes,
When win thou would’st, then art thou sure to lose.[515]

LENUOY.

1.

How restlesse are the peeres aloft would ryse?
How vncontented are theyr hauty myndes?
How quiet is the simple setled wise,
Whom no desire of proud ambition blyndes?
I see no ease the seeke-throne thirsty findes.
Hee seekes all meanes to clime to catch the crowne,
Till for his haste _Ioue_ hurle him headlong downe.

2.

The royall borne by birth, the time should stay
Till iust _Iehoua_ gaue to him the place:
And not the Lordes anoynted seeke to slay,
But as his Soueraigne serue him well the space.
If hee with bloud his noble birth abace,
I meane if hee by slaughter catch the crowne,
With foote _Iehoua_ castes him headlong downe.

3.

If _Morgan_ hadnot wrought his aunt’s distresse
By dint of sword, by sword hee had not fell.
But who so shall by sword a Prince oppresse,
Shall of the sword therefore and slaughter smell.
Lo here the next, that came his tale to tell,
Was gieuen to vice when once hee ware the crowne,
Till slouth and sleepy sickenes cast hym downe.

How King Iago dyed of the Lethargy, about the
yeare before Christ, 612.[516]

1.

Have I oreslept my selfe, or am I wake?
Or hadst thou late oreslept thy selfe that wrote?
Could’st thou not for the Letharge paynes to take:
And with the rest his sleepy life to note?
Was I amongst the wicked wights forgote?
Well then, awaked sith wee are both twayne,
To write my sleepy sinfull life take payne.

2.

I am that _Iago_, once of _Britayne_ King,
That ruled all this noble _Britishe_ Ile:
No fame of mee the writers old doe bring,
Because my life and gouernement was vile.
Yet, _Higgins_, heere take paynes for mee a while:
Enregester my mirour to remaine,
That Princes may my vices vile refrayne.

3.

At first, a while, I ruled well the land,
I vsed Iustice, right tooke regall place:
No wight but found iust iudgement at my hand,
And truth durst shew, without rebuke, her face.
I gaue my selfe to all good giftes of grace,
My subiects liu’d in rest within my raygne,
No cause of Prince compeld them to complaine.

4.

But as in calme a storme wee nothing feare,
When as the Seas are milde and smoth as glasse:
And as in peace no thought of warres wee beare,
Which least suppose of mischeeues come to passe:
Euen so my still and rightfull raygning was.
The calme a tempest boads: the shine, a raine:
Long peace, a warre: and pleasure, pinching paine.

5.

For rest and peace and wealth abounding thoe
Made mee forget my Iustice late well vsde:
Forsaking vertues, vices gan to floe,
And former noble acts I quite refusde.
My giftes, my treasures, wealth and will misusde,
Began all goodnes quite at length disdayn,
And did my facts with filthy vices staine.

6.

Misgouern’d both my Kingdome and my life,
I gaue my selfe to ease, to sleepe, and sinne:
And I had clawbackes euen in Court full rife,
Which sought by mine outrages gaines to winne.[517]
For Kinges no sooner well or worse beginne,
But euen at hand the good or bad take payn,
For vertue’s sake, or meede, the Prince to trayne.

7.

As vices grew encreasing more and more,
So vertues fled and bade their friends adieu:
Deseases bad likewise, and sicknesse sore
Began to wexe, and griefes about mee grew.
I may fullwell my naughty surfets rue,
Which pesterd so at length my drousy brayne,
I could not scarse from sleeping ought refrayne.

8.

A sleepie sickenesse, nam’d the _Lethargye_,
Opprest me sore, and feauers fearce withall:
This was the guerdon of my glottonie,
_Iehoua_ sent my sleepie life this dwall.
So who so sleeping let sleepe Iustice shall,
Although he feele no whit such slumbring payne,
Yet may he write he hath not long to raygne.[518]

9.