Chapter XIV: Part I: By JOHN HIGGINS (5)

Wherefore the Kings and peoples offerings brought,
From all the world and coasts of nations far
Which many gifts of gold and siluer wrought,
The statures of the Gods and iewells rich there wer.[633]
To _Delphos_ all they runne in any doubte which ar,[634]
This was the madnesse tho[635] that mortall men bewicht
Whereby _Apolloe’s_ temple was and _Delphos_ so inricht.[636]

77.

Low nowe [in fewe,] I tell at _Delphos_ what I did,
For towardes it as with my mates I went,
Them bee of courage good and nothing feare I bid,[637]
I told them, with the spoile,[638] them to reward I ment:
But now I askte how they would giue consent
The captaynes _Euridane_ and _Thessalone_ companions in the
pray,[639]
Where it were good [straight now] to scale, or else a while
to stay.

78.

The Captaynes counsaile was alarme [at once] to call,
Before the _Græcians_ were prouided for defence,[640]
And straight to scale with skill the mighty wall,
Before the city knewe of our pretence:
The souldiers stout abroad encamped thence,
And sayd they must refreshe their weried limmes a space,
Vnable else to scale, or meete their enmyes in the face.[641]

79.

The _Græcians_ them commaunde that dwelt by hip
In villages, to make[642] no spare of wine:
The _Britayne_ souldiers fell thereon to sip,
Forgate their feats of warre and playd the swine,
Against their captaynes eke they gan repine:
So that full long it was or wee could them perswade
To flye from _Bacchus_ bouthes, and fall agayne to blade.

80.

Of souldiers thousands sixty fiue I had,
But of our enmies fourteene[643] thousand were
The stately towne they see their harts to glad,
I bad them not at all to stand in [doubt or] feare:
Behold (quoth I) what doth in sight [aloft] appeare,
Those charets glittering braue and statures stout in
founded gold[644]
Of sollid masse, more [weighty] riche then glorious
to behold.

81.

For on the Temple stoode a sort of golden[645] shapes,
And in the walles thereof their pictures shone,
Not one of these (quoth I) the _Britaynes_ scapes,
Wee souldiers shall possesse them euery one,
Let vs therefore not linger here vpon,
But geue th’assaulte for here in hand wee haue for spoiles
a peece,[646]
In price of gold, [of perle] and gemmes surmounts the wealth
of _Greece_.[647]

82.

Wee haue or this the wealth of men possest
(Yet worthy Princes all) of mortall men,
But here the treasures of the Gods are prest
To looke for vs, shall wee refuse them then?
Wee shall not so bee profered ofte agen
Within the walles hereof are greater [offerings] farre
by odds,
Th’attyre, crownes, scepters, statures, plate and garnish
of the Gods.

83.

Wee sound Alarme th’assaute the rockes assayes,
Our souldiers brainesicke heedelesse vp ascend,
The _Delphos_ men had fenste the easiest wayes,
So that against the rockes our force wee bend:
With stones the scaleing _Britaynes_ downe they hend,
An earthquake eke by vowes [and cries] the sacrificers reare,
Which on my souldiers downe [to fall] a mighty rocke did teare.

84.

The ground did shake, and rent, and tempests rise,
The haylestones mighty fall, the thunders rore
The lightnings flasheing dazled all our eyes,
The _Britaynes_ from th’assaute were ouer bore,[648]
My souldiers slayne discomfit mee before,
And I sore wounded, foule amazde, orecome with [toile and]
smart,
T’escape the _Greekishe_ sword [and shame] did perce my selfe
to th’harte.[649]

85.

You noble captaynes now that know my facts,
Learne valiauntly in warres the sword to wend,
Let fame extoll your wise and warlike acts,
And let report your fortitude commend:
But let your warfares haue a wiser end,
And let what _Bochas_ writes and _Higgins_ here doth pen,
As myrours shew what good[650] wee gate, to warre with
_Delphos_ men.

LENUOY.

1.

Great ruth that such a noble conqueroure,
Should haue so hard and infamous an end,
Which of the worlde might haue bene Emperour,
If all be true that storyes him commend:
But where is Fortune permanent a frend?
Shee blyndely baytes and bathes her Impes in blisse,
Who trustes her still I count ill fortune his.

2.

_Galerius_ and _Florianus_ stoute,
And _Iulian_ of _Rome_ the Emperours,
And _Diocesiane_ of _Constantine_ in doubte,
Though in their times full worthy warriours,
So counted often noble conquerours,
They slewe themselues, abated from their blisse:
Which who so doth I count ill fortune his.

3.

_Cordila_ slewe her selfe in prison pent,
And _Dido_ for _Æneas_ flight away,
That _Iudas_ which betrayde the innocent,
And _Pontius Pilate_ wrought their owne decay:
What neede I here on desperate captiues staye?
Sith who so bathes in flickering Fortune’s blisse,
Without God’s grace I count ill fortune his.

4.

The warres haue prosperde well with Princes oft,
Yet best with such who vertue sought alone,
The rest, which onely werde to wende aloft,
Were euer foylde confounded by their fone:
But here I cease, the next full woe begone,
With rented corps appeard deuoyde of blisse;
Recounting thus that haplesse ende of his.

How King Kimarvs was deuoured by wilde beastes
the yeere before Christ 321.

1.

No place commendes the man vnworthie prayse.
No title of estate[651] doth stay vp vices fall,
No wicked wight to woe can make delayes,
No loftie lookes preserue the proud at all,
No brags or boast, no stature high and tall,
No lustie[652] youth, no swearing staring stout,
No brauery, banding, cogging, cutting out.

2.

Then what auayles to haue a Princely place,
A name of honour or an high degree,
To come by kinred of a noble race?
Except we princely, worthie, noble be!
The fruite declares the goodnes of the tree,
Do brag no more of birth or linage than,
For vertue,[653] grace, and manners make the man.

3.

My selfe might bragge, and first of all begin,
_Mulmucius_ made and constituted lawes,
And _Belinus_ and _Brenne_ his sonnes did win
Such prayse, their names to be immortall cause.[654]
_Gurgunstus Readbeard_ with his sober sawes,
The sonne of _Beline_ and my Grandsyre grand,
Was fortunate what ere he tooke in hand.

4.

His sonne my grandsire _Guintheline_ did passe
For vertue’s praise, and _Martia_ was his wife,
A noble Queene that wise and learned was,
And gaue her selfe to study all her life,
Deuising lawes, discust the ends of strife
Amongst the _Britaynes_ to her endlesse fame:
Her statutes had of _Martian_ lawes the name.[655]

5.

My father eke was sober, sage, and wise,
_Cicilius_ hight, King _Guintheline_ his sonne,
Of noble Princes then my stocke did rise,
And of a Prince of _Cornwall_ first begonne:
But what thereby of glory haue I wonne?
Can this suffice to aunswere eke for mee,
I came by parents of an high degree?

6.

Or shall I say, I was forsooth the King?[656]
Then might I liue as lewdely as I lust,
No sure, I cannot so auoide the sting
Of shame that prickes such Princes are vniust.
Wee rather should vnto our vertues trust,
For vertue of the auncient bloud or kinne,
Doth onely praise the parties shee’s within.[657]

7.

And nobles onely borne (of this bee sure)
Without the vertues of their noble race,
Doe quite and cleane themselues thereby obscure,
And their renowne and dignities deface:
They doe their birth and linage all deface,
For why, in deede they euer ought so well
In vertues graue, as titles braue excell.

8.

But oft (God wot) they fare as erst did I,
They thinke if once they come of Princely stocke,
Then are they placed safe and sure, so hie
Aboue the rest, as founded on a rocke:
Of wise mens warnings all they make a mocke:
They counsayles graue as abiect reedes despise,
And count the braue men gratious, worthy, wise.

9.

This kingdome came to mee by due discent,
For why my father was before mee King,
But I to pleasure all and lust was bent,
I neuer reckte of Iustice any thing,
What purpose I did meane to passe to bring,[658]
That same t’accomplish I with all my might
Endeuourde euer, were it wrong or right.

10.

I deemde the greatest ioyes in earthly hap,
I thought my pleasures euer would abide,
I seemde to sit in Lady Fortune’s lap,
I reckte not all the world mee thought beside:
I did by lust my selfe and others guide,
Whereby the fates to worke my bane withall,
And cut mee of, thus wise procurde my fall.

11.

As I was alwayes bent to hunting still,
(Yet hunting was no vice to those I had)
When I three yeares had ruld this Realme at will,
In chace a chaunce did make my heart ful sad:
Wilde cruell beasts as desperate and mad
Turnde backe on mee, as I them brought to bay,
And in their rage my sinfull corps did slay.[659]

12.

A iust reward for so vniust a life,
No worse a death then I deserued yore,
Such wrecks in th’end to wretches all are rife,
Who may and will not call for grace before:
My wilfull deedes were nought, what wilt thou more?
For wanton wildenesse, witlesse, hedelesse toyes
The brutishe beasts bereaude mee of my ioyes.[660]

LENUOY.

1.

By this appeares that time in _Britayne_ were
Aboundant store of wolues, and vices rife:
_Mempricius_ tale the like doth witnesse beare,
And so doth _Madan’s_ mangled end of life:
These though they scaped stout _Bellonae’s_ knife,
Yet in the end for vices foule they fell
By Wolues deuourde, mine Author so doth tell.

2.

The glory vaine that fades and flits away,
Makes men so blinde, they looke not on the end:
Allurde to losse, on earthly pompe they stay,
But fewe to scale the vertue towres contend:
Fewe seeke, by Christ, the heauenly way to wend;
The onely causes why these Princes fell,
Are vices vile, as auncient authors tell.

3.

Next after this, on stage a Prince appearde,
With slimye glere, and bloud beraide that came,
In hand a dagger drawne his foe that dearde
Hee bare perdy, and showde mee eke the same:
And thus his tale in order hee did frame
As shall ensue, so hee mee thought did tell
How hee was slaine, and slewe a monster fell.

How King Morindus was deuoured by a monster, the
yeare before Christ, 303.

1.

Let mee likewise declare my facts and fall,
And eke recite what means this slimy glere!
You neede not faine so quaynte a looke at all,
Although I seeme so fulsome euery where:
This blade in bloudy hand, perdy, I beare,[661]
And all his gore bemingled with this glue,
In witnes I my deadly enmy slewe.[662]

2.

Then marke my tale, beware of rashnes vile,
I am _Morindus_ once was _Britayne_ King,
On whom did sweetely[663] Lady Fortune smile,
Till shee mee to her top of towres did bring:[664]
My fame both farre and neare shee made to ring,
And eke my praise exalted so to skye,
In all my time more famous none then I.

3.

Some say I was by birth a bastard bace,
Begotten of the Prince his concubine,
But what I was declared well my grace,
My fortitude and stature Princely mine.
My father eke that came of Princely lyne,
King _Danius_ gaue not so bace degree,
Nor yet the noble _Britaynes_ vnto mee.

4.

For feats of armes and warlike poynts I past,
In courage stoute there liu’de not then my peere,
I made them all that knewe my name agaste,
And heard how great my enterprices were,
To shrinke, and slinke, and shift aside for feare:
All which at length did mee such glory bring,
My father dead, the _Britaynes_ made mee King.

5.

But see how blinde wee are, when Fortune smiles,
How senceles wee when dignities increase,
Wee euer vse our selues discretely whiles
Wee litle haue, and loue to liue in peace:
Smale fauters facts with mercy wee release:[665]
Wee vse no rigoure, rancoure, rapine, such
As after when wee haue our willes to much.

6.

For while that I a subiect was, no King,
While I had nothing but my facts alone:
I studied still in euery kinde of thing
To serue my prince, and vnderfang his fone:
To vse his subiects friendly euerychone,
And for them all aduentures such to take,
As might them all my person fauoure make.

7.

But when I once attained had the Crowne,
I waxed cruell tyranous and fell,
I had no longer minde of my renowne,
I vsde my selfe to ill, the trueth to tell:
O bace degree in happie case full well!
Which art not puft with pride, vaineglory, hate
But art beneath content to bide thy fate.

8.

For I aloft, when once my heate was in,
Not rain’d by reason ruled all by might,
Ne prudence reckt, right, strength, or meane a pin,
But with my friendes in anger all would fight,
I strooke, kilde, slewe who euer were in sight,
Without respect, remorce, reproufe, regard,
And like a madde man in my fury far’d,

9.

I deemde my might and fortitude was such,
That I was able thereby conquere all,
High kingdome’s seate encreast my pompe so much,
My pryde me thought impossible to fall:
But God confoundes our proude deuices all,
And brings that thing wherein we most doe trust,
To our destruction by his iudgement iust.

10.

For when three yeares I ruled had this Ile,
Without all rule as was my rulesse life,[666]
The rumour ranne abroade within a while,
And chiefly in the Norwest Countrey rife,
A monster came from _Th’irish_ seas, brought griefe
To all my subiectes, in those coastes did dwell,
Deuouring man and beast, a monster fell.

11.

Which when I knewe for trueth, I straight prepard
In warlike wise my selfe to trye the case,
My haste thereto a courage bold declard,
For I alone would enter in the place:
At which,[667] with speare on horse I fet my race,
But on his scales it enter could no more,
Then might a bulrush on a brasen dore.

12.

Agayne I prou’d yet, nought at all preuaylde,
To breake my speare and not to pearce his syde:
With that the roring monster me assaylde,
So terrifide my horse I coulde not ride,
Wherewith I lighted, and with sworde I tride
By strokes and thrustes to finde some open in,
But of my fight hee neuer past a pin.[668]

13.

And when I weried was and spent with fight,
That kept my selfe with heede his daunger fro,
As last almost ashamde I wanted might,
And skil to worke the beastly monster wo,
I gate me nerer with my sworde him to,
And thought his flankes or vnder partes to wounde,
Yf there for scales[669] might any place bee founde.

14.

But frustrate of my purpose, finding none,
And eke within his daunger entring quite,
The grizely beast straight seasoned[670] mee vpon,
And let his talauntes on my corpes to light,
Hee gript my shoulders, not resist I might,
And roaring with a greedy rauening looke,
At once in iawes my body whole hee tooke.

15.

The way was large, and downe he drewe mee in,
A monstrous paunche for rowmth, and wondrous wide,
But (for I felt more softer there the skinne)
At once I drewe a dagger by my side:
I knewe my life no longer coulde abide,
For rammish stench, bloude, poyson, slimy glere,
That in his body so aboundant were.

16.

Wherefore I labouring to procure his death,
While first my dagger digde aboute his harte,
His force to cast mee welnigh drewe my breath,
But as hee felt within his woundes to smarte,
I ioyde to feele the mighty monster starte,
That roard, and belcht, and groande, and plungde, and cryde,
And tost mee vp and downe from syde to syde.

17.

Long so in panges hee plungde and panting lay,
And drewe his wynde so fast with such a powre,
That quite and cleane hee drewe my breath away,
Wee both were deade well nigh within an howre.
Lo thus one beastly monster did deuoure
An other monster moodeles to his[671] payne:
At once the realme was rid of monsters twayne.[672]

18.

Here mayst thou see of fortitude the hap,
Where prudence, iustice, temperaunce hath no place,
How sodaynly wee taken are in trap,
When wee dispise good vertues to embrace,
Intemperaunce doth all our deedes deface,
And letts vs heedeles headlong run so fast,
Wee seeke our owne destruction at the last.

19.

For hee that hath of fortitude and might,
And thereto hath a kingdom ioynde withall,
Except hee also guide him selfe aright,
His powre and strength preuayleth him but small,
Hee cannot scape at length an haples fall:
You may perceiue a myrrour playne by me,
Which may with wisdome well sufficient bee.[673]

LENUOY.

1.

Wee reade the valiaunt actes of _Hercules_,
His mighty labours all and woefull end,
But _Samson’s_ conquests of his enemies,
The holy histories to vs commend.
Yet who so shal on fortitude depend,
Still trusting to obtayne the victory,
Let him beholde _Morindus’_ history.

2.

Or of the death of _Theseus_ they tell,
The fall of _Brennus_ and his woefull end,
Though hee in force and powre bee nere so fell,
Hee cannot still on fortitude depend:
Tis vertue sole that all the wise commend:
Shee still obtaynes for aye the victory,
By true reporte of euery history.

3.

Strength, beauty, wealth, facts, fauoure, fearcenesse fell,
All earthly pleasures feele a paynefull end,
Then happy thrice is hee (the truth to tell)
That onely can on heauenly powre depend:
But now I must to you the next commend,
In blacke, mee thought, appearing mournefully,
Declaring thus his woefull misery.

How King Emerianus for his tirany was deposed,
about the yeare before Christ, 235.[674]

1.

The wofull wight that fell from throne to thrall,
The wretch that woue the web wherein hee goes,
A dolefull blacke bad weede still weare hee shall
In woefull sorte, and nothing blame his foes:
What neede such one at all his name disclose?
Except the haplesse rest of _Britaynes_ should,[675]
Not here for shame recite his name hee would.

2.

I am _Emeriane_ King that raignde a space,
Scarce all one yeare,[676] in _Britayne_ Isle long sence,
But for I was in maners voide of grace,
Ferce, tyranous, and full of negligence,
Bloud thirsty, cruell, vaine, deuoide of sence;
The _Britaynes_ mee deposde, from seat and crowne,
And reaude mee quite of riches and renowne.

3.

I was despisde and banisht from my blisse,
Discountnaunste, fayne to hide my selfe for shame:
What neede I longer stand to tell thee this?
My selfe was for my woefull fall to blame:
My raygne was short, in fewe my fall I frame,
My life was lothsome, soone like death that found,
Let this suffice a warning blaste to sound.

LENUOY.

1.

The cause why here this Prince is briefe in talke
Is, for the stories scarce remembre such,
What neede I then with them more farder walke?
Sith this perhaps may seeme, is sayd to much,
I must but briefly these vnworthy tutch:
The next approaching pufte with dropsie wanne,
Thus wise, mee thought, his yexeing[677] tale beganne.

How King Chirinnus giuen to dronkennesse raygned
but one yeare. Hee died about the yeare
before Christ, 137.[678]

1.

Though I my surfets haue not yet out slept,
Nor scarce with quiet browes begin my tale,
Let not my drousy talke bee ouer leapt,
For though my belching sent of wine or ale,
Although my face bee falloe, puft, and pale,
And legges with dropsy swell, and panche resound,
Yet let mee tell what vice did mee confound.

2.

Perhaps thou thinkste so groase a blockhead blunt,
A sleepy swinishe head can nothing say:
The greatest heads and smalest eke were wont
To beare in them the finest wits away:
This thing is true thou canst it not denay,
And _Bacchus_ eke ensharps the wits of some:
_Fœcundi calices quem non fecere disertum?_

3.

Yet sith long since both braynes and all were spent,
And this in place amongste my mates I speake,
I trust thou wilt bee here withall content,
Although in deede my wits of talke are weake:
So old a vessayle cannot chuse but leake,
A drousy nole[679] that lyes on drinke a sleepe so long,
May pardon craue, although his tongue trip twifold wrong.[680]

4.

_Chirinnus_ was my name a _Britayne_ King,
But rulde short time, Sir _Bacchus_ was my let:
_Erinnys_[681] eke my sences so did swing,
That reason could no seat amongst them get:
Wherefore the truth I pray thee playnly set,
I gaue my selfe to surfets swilling wine,
And led my life much like a dronken swine.

5.

Deseases grewe, distempraunce made mee swell,
My parched liuer lusted still for baste,
My tympane sounded like a taber well,
And nought but wine did like my greedy taste,
This vice and moe my life and mee defaste,
My face was blowne and blubd with dropsy wanne,
And legges more like a monster then a man.

6.

So not in shape [and shewe] I onely altered was,
My dispositions chaunged mee[682] likewise,
For vices make a man [a bull,] a goate, an asse,
A swine or horse, (as Poets can comprise)
Transforming into beasts by sundry wise
Such men as keepe not onely shape of men,
But them mishapeth also now and then.

7.

Wherefore let who so loues to liue long dayes
Without deseases, strong in youthfull state,
Beware of _Bacchus’_ booth which all betrayes,
The vayle of vices vayne, the hauen of hate,
The well of weake delightes, the brande of bate,
By which I loste my health, life, realme and fame,
[My wealth, my crowne, my scepter, sheelde and name:]
And only wan the shrowding sheete of shame.

LENUOY.

1.

Of this bad vice who shall embrace the loue,
And not refraine him selfe there from by grace,
Let him bee sure it shall his sence remoue,
His beauty reaue, his facts and fame deface,
His wealth, strength, health, shall waste and were apace,
Hee cannot liue in health till hee bee olde,
Nor purchase health and sober fame againe with sowes[683]
of golde.

2.

The Poets painted _Bacchus_ naked, bare,
Because hee doth all secrets deepe disclose,
In woemen’s weede because men feebled are,
Effeminate them selues to wine dispose,
Like wanton childe likewise they faine hee goes,
As dronkerds wanton were though nere so olde,
Not wonne to sage and sober life with sowes of golde.

3.

But naked therefore I suppose hee’s faynde,
Because hee makes men naked, poore, and bare:
By him they waste away the wealth they gaynde,
And plunge them selues in seas of woefull care,
Or naked then of vertues all they are,
When they to _Bacchus_ bend, both yong and olde,
Not wonne to sage and sober life, with sowes of gold.

4.

Who loues to liue a wise and godly life,
Let him refuse such naked gods to serue:
So shall he saue his fame auoyding strife,
And right report of all good men deserue.
But from my purpose lest I seeme to swerue:
There next me thought a Prince I did behold
Of vicious life, and thus his fates he did vnfold.

How King Varianvs gaue himselfe to the lustes of
the flesh, and dyed about the yeare
before Christ, 136.[684]

1.

Where no good giftes haue place, nor beare the sway,
What are the men but wilful castaway?
Where gifts of grace doe garnish well the King,
There is no want, the land can lacke no thing:
The Court is stil well stor’d with noble [prudent] men,
In Townes and Cities Gouernours are graue:
[The lands are tild,] the common wealth doth prosper[685] then,
And wealth at will the Prince and people haue.

2.

Perhaps you aske, what Prince is this appeares?
What meanes his talke in these our golden yeares?
A _Britayne_ Prince that _Varianus_ hight,
I helde some time the [crowne and] scepter here by right:
And though no neede there be in these your [golden] dayes
Of states to tell, or vertues good discriue,
Good counsayle yet may after stand[686] in stead alwayes,
When time agayne may vices olde reuiue.

3.

If not: yet giue me leaue amongst the rest
Which felt the[687] fall, or had their deaths addrest:
My cause of fall let me likewise declare,
For falles the deathes of vicious Princes are:
They fal, when all good men reioyce to heare or see
That they short time enioyde their places hie,
For Princes which for [princely] vertues praysed bee,
By death arise extold, they scale the skie.

4.

I will be short because it may suffice
That soone is sayde, to warne the sage and wise:
Or if that they no warning neede to haue,
This may perchaunce somewhat their labour saue
With yonger heads, that will[688] not heare their faultes
them tolde,
By such as would admonish them for loue:
When they my words and warnings here [of vice] beholde,
They may regarde and see their owne behoue.

5.

About my time the Princes liu’de not long,
For all were giuen almost to vice and wrong:
My selfe voluptuous was abandond quite,
To take in fleshly lust my whole delite:
A pleasure vile, that drawes a man from [all good] thrifte
and grace,
Doth iust desires, and heauenly thoughtes expell:
Decayes the corps,[689] defiles the soule, [the factes]
and fame deface,
And bringes him downe to _Plutoe’s_ paynes of hell.

6.

For this my sinne my subiectes hated mee,
Repining still my stayned life to see:
As when the Prince is wholy giuen to vice,
And holdes the lewder sort in greatest price,
The land decayes, disorder [sprouts and] springes abroade,
The worser sort do robbe, pille, polle, and spoyle,
The weaker are constraynd to[690] beare the greatest loade,
And leese the goodes for which [full sore] they erst did
toyle.

7.

How can _Iehoua_ iust abide the wrong?
He will not suffer such haue scepter long.
As he did strike for sinfull life my seate,
And did me downe from royall kingdome beate,
So hath be done for aye, examples[691] are in stories rife,
No wicked wight can gouerne long in rest:
For eyther some [the like] bereaues him of his life,
Or downe his throne and kingdome is deprest.
Bid Princes then and noble Peeres the like delights detest.
There is no way the [iudgement high and] wrath of _Ioue_
to wrest.

LENUOY.

1.

What should I longer on such Princes stay,
Whose factes vnworthie were to be enrolde:
The cause why thence I make more speede away,
Is for his sake, whose fame hath farre bene tolde,
That noble _Nennius’_ Duke, a captaine bolde,
Of royall bloud, to Prince and countrey kinde,
Whose fame a place aboue the skies shall finde.

2.

When he the feates of armes had learned well,
And coulde encounter with the best aliue,
Hee not to treason nor to falshode fell,
Nor with his ciuill friendes at home to striue:
But hence the landed _Romaynes_ out to driue.
Which sith he did, to Prince and countrey kinde,
His fame a place aboue the skies shall finde.

3.

Eke sith the rest, as were their liues obscure,
Haue tolde their tales, but simply as you see:
To helpe my style, the _Muses_ most demure,
For _Nennius’_ sake, gaue greater grace to mee,
Or else I thinke, frend Reader, t’was for thee,
That when thou readst of _Nennius’_ noble minde,
Thou maist be so to Prince and countrey kinde.

4.

I will no longer thee from reading stay,
But wish thee marke howe he exhorteth all:
Do learne by him for countreye’s sake to fray,
In peace no broyles of warres at home to brall:
And thinke thou seest that noble captayne tall
Thus wise display his warlike noble minde,
Duke _Nennius_, so to Prince and countrey kinde.

Howe the worthie _Britaine_ Duke Nennius as a valiaunt souldier and
faithfull subiecte encountred with Iulius Cæsar, was by him
death wounded: yet naytheles[692] he gate Cæsar’s sworde,
put him to flight, slewe therewith Labianus a Tribune
of the Romaynes, endured fight till his countreymen
wanne the field, and now encourageth all good
subiectes, to defende their countrey from
the power of forraine and entruding
enemies. He was slaine about the
yeere before Christ, 52.

1.

I may by right some later writers blame,
Of stories olde, as rude or negligent:
Or else I may them wel vnlearned name,
Or heedlesse in those thinges about they went:
Some time on me as well they might haue spent,[693]
As on such traytours, tyrants, harlots, those
Which to their countreyes were the deadliest foes.[694]

2.

Ne for my selfe I would not[695] this recite,
(Although I haue occasion good thereto)
But sure, me thinkes it is too great despite
These men to others and their countreyes do,[696]
For there are _Britaynes_, neyther one or two,
Whose names in stories scarcely once appeare:
And yet their liues examples worthie were.

3.

T’s worthie prayse (I graunt) to write the endes
Of vicious men, and teach the like beware:
For what hath he of vertue that commendes
Such persons lewde, as naught of vertue’s care:
But for to leaue out those prayse-worthie are,
Is like as if a man had not the skill
To prayse the good, but discommend the ill.

4.

I craue no prayse, although my selfe deseru’d
As great a laude as any _Britayne_ yore:[697]
But I would haue it tolde how well I seru’d
My Prince and Countrye, Fayth to both I bore:
All noble hearts hereby with courage more
May both their forayne foes in fight[698] withstand,
And of their enmies haue[699] the vpper hand.

5.

Agayne, to shewe how valiaunt then wee were
(You _Britaynes_ good) to moue your hearts thereby,
All other nations lesse in fight to feare,
And for your countrye rather so to die
With valiaunt hauty courage, as did I,
Then liue in bondage, seruice, slauery, thrall
Of forayne powres, which hate your manhood all.

6.

Doe giue mee leaue to speake but euen a while,
And marke, and write the story I thee tell:
By North from _London_ more then fifty mile,
There lies the Isle of _Ely_ knowne full well,
Wherein my father built a place to dwell:
And for because hee liked well the same,
Hee gaue the place hee _Ely_ hight his name.[700]

7.[701]

’Tis namde the Isle of _Ely_ yet, perdy
My father namde it so: yet writers misse,
Or if I may bee bolde to say, they ly
Of him, which tell that farre vntruth like is:
What truth (I pray you) seemes to bee in this
Hee _Ely_ lou’d, a goodly place built there,
Most it delited, raygnde not full a yeare.[702]

8.

Hee raygned forty yeares, as other tell,
Which seemes (as ’tis) a tale more true by farre.[703]
By Iustice guided hee his subiects well,
And liude in peace, without the broyles of warre.
His childrens noble acts in stories are,
In vulgar tongue: but nought is sayd of mee,
And yet I worthy was the yongste of three.

9.

His eldest sonne and heyre was after King,
A noble Prince and hee was named _Lud_,
Full politicke and wise in euery thing,
And one that wil’d his Countrey alwayes good:
Such vses, customes, statutes hee withstood,
As seemde to bring the publique weales decay,
And them abolisht, brake, repealde away.

10.

So hee the walles of _Troy_ the new renewde,
Them fortified with[704] forty Towres about:
And at the west side of the wall hee vewde
The Towre o’th[705] gate to keepe[706] the enmyes[707] out,
That made hee prisons for the poore bankrout,
Namde Ludgate yet, for free men debters, free
From hurt, till with their creditours they gree.

11.

Some say the City also tooke the name
Of _Lud_ my brother: for hee it reparde:
And I must needes as true confesse the same,
For why that time no cost on it hee sparde:
He still increast and peopled euery warde,
And bad them aye _Kaerlud_, the City call,
Or _Ludstone_, now you name it _London_ all.

12.

At length hee died, his children vnder age,
The elder named was _Androgeus_:
Committing both vnto my brother’s charge,
The yonger of them hight _Tennancius_:
The _Britaynes_ wanting aged rulers thus,
Choose for that time _Cassibellane_ their King,
My brother Iustice ment in euery thing.

13.

The _Romayne_ then the mighty _Cæsar_ fought
Agaynst the _Galles_, and conquerde them by might:
Which done, hee stoode on shoares where see hee mought
The _Ocean_ Seas, and _Britayne_ clieues full bright.
(Quoth hee) what region lyes there in my sight?
Mee thinkes some Iland in the Seas I see,
Not yet subdued, nor vanquist yet by mee.

14.

With that they told him wee the _Britaynes_ were,
A people stout, and fearce in feates of warre:
(Quoth hee) the _Romaynes_ neuer yet with feare
Of nation rude were daunted of so farre,
Wee therefore mind to proue them what they are.
And therewithall hee[708] letters hither sent,
By those ambassage brought, and thus they went.[709]

C. IVLIVS CÆSAR
Consull of Rome, to Cassibellane
King of Britayne, sendeth greeting.

Sith that the Gods haue giuen vs all the West,
As subiects to our _Romayne_ Empire hie,
By warre, or as it seemed _Ioue_ the best,
Of whom wee _Romaynes_ came, and chiefly I:

Therefore to you which in the _Ocean_ dwell,
(As yet not vnderneath subiection due)
Wee send our letters greeting: wete yee well
In warlike cases thus wee deale with you,

First, that you, as the other regions, pay
Vs tribute yearely, _Romaynes_ wee require:
Then, that you will with all the force you may
Withstand our foes as yours, with sword and fire:

And thirdly, that by these you hostage[710] send
T’assure the couenaunts once agreed by you:
So with your daunger lesse our warres may end
Else bid wee warre. _Cassibellane_ adieu.

CÆSAR.

15.

No sooner were these[711] _Cæsar’s_ letters seene,
But straight the King for all his nobles sent,
Hee shewde them what their auncestours had beene,
And prayde them tell in this their whole intent:
Hee told them whereabout the _Romaynes_ went,
And what subiection was, how seruile they
Should bee if _Cæsar_ bare their pompe away.

16.

And all the _Britaynes_ euen as set on fire,
(My selfe not least enflamed was to fight)
Did humbly him in ioyfull wise desire,[712]
That hee his letters would to _Cæsar_ write,
And tell him playne wee past not of his spite:
Wee past as litle of the _Romaynes_, wee,
And lesse then they of vs, if lesse might bee.

17.

Wherefore the ioyfull King agayne replide,
Through counsaile wise of all the nobles had:
By letters hee the _Romaynes_ hests denide,
Which made the _Britaynes_ hauty harts full glad:
And eke the _Romayne_ Consull proude as mad[713]
To heare these letters written: thus they went,
Which hee agayne to mighty _Cæsar_ sent.

CASSIBELLANE
King of Britayne to C. Iulius
Cæsar Consull of Rome.

As thou, O _Cæsar_, writste the Gods haue geuen to thee
The west: so I replye, they gaue this Island[714] mee.
Thou sayst you _Romaynes_ and thy selfe of Gods discend,
And darst thou then to spoile our _Troian_ bloud pretend?
Againe, though Gods haue giu’n thee all the world as thine,
That’s parted from the world, thou getst no land of mine.
And sith likewise of Gods wee came a Nation free,
Wee owe no tribute, ayde, or pledge to _Rome_, or thee:
Retracte thy will, or wage thy warre, as likes thee best:
Wee are to fight, and rather then to frendship, prest.
To saue our Countrye from the force of foraine strife,
Eche _Britayne_ here is well content to venter life.
Wee feare not of the end or daungers thou doest tell,
But vse thy pleasure if thou maist, thus fare thou well.

CASSIBELLANE.

18.

When _Cæsar_ had receau’d his aunswere so,
It vext him much hee thereupon decreede[715]
To wage vs warre, and worke vs _Britaynes_ woe:
Wherefore[716] hee hasted hitherwarde with speede.
Wee _Britaynes_ eke preparde our selues[717] with heede
To meete the _Romaynes_, all in warlike guise,
With all the force, and speede wee[718] might deuise.

19.

And here the wiser deemde[719] it meeter much
T’assayle them first[720] at th’entry on this land,
Then for to giue aryuall here[721] to such,
Might with our victualls ayde[722] our selues withstand:
’Tis better far thy enmy to aband[723]
Quite from thy borders, to a forayne[724] soyle,
Then hee at home thee and thy Countrye spoile.

20.

Wherefore wee met him at his entry in,
And pitche our camps directly in his way:
Wee minded sure to leese, or else to winne
The praise, before wee past from thence away:
So when that both the armies were in ray,
And trumpets blaste on euery side was blowne,
Our mindes to either eche were quickly knowne.

21.

Wee ioyned battayle, fearcely both wee fought,
The _Romaynes_ to enlarge their Empyre’s fame:
And wee with all the force and might wee mought,
To saue our Countrye and to keepe our name:
O, worthy _Britaynes_! learne to doe the same:
Wee brake the rayes of all the _Romayne_ hoast,
And made the mighty _Cæsar_ leaue his boast.

22.

Yet hee the worthyest Captaine euer was,
Brought all in ray and fought agayne a new,
His skilfull souldiers hee could bring to passe
At once, for why his traynings all they knew:
No sooner I his noble corps did vewe,
But in I brake amongste the Captaynes band,
And there I fought with _Cæsar_ hand to hand.

23.

O God thou mightst haue giuen a _Britayne_ grace,
T’haue slayne the _Romayne Cæsar_ noble then,
Which sought his bloud the _Britaynes_[725] to deface,
And bring in bondage valiaunt worthy men,
Hee neuer should haue gone to _Rome_ agen,
To fight with _Pompey_, or his peeres to slay,
Or else to bring his Countrey in decay.

24.

It ioyde my harte, to strike on _Cæsar’s_ crest,
O _Cæsar_, that there had bene none but wee!
I often made my sword to try thy brest,
But Lady Fortune did not fauoure mee:[726]
I able was mee thought with _Cæsars_ three
To try the case: I made thy harte to quake,
When on thy crest with mighty stroke I strake.

25.

The strokes thou strookste mee hurt mee nought at all,
For why, thy strength was nothing in respect:
But thou hadst bath’d thy sword in poyson all,
Which did my wound, not deadly els, infect:
Yet was I or I parted thence bewreckte,
I gate thy sworde from thee for all thy fame,
And made thee flye for feare to eate the same.

26.

For when thy sword was in my target fast,
I made thee flye and quickely leaue thy hold,
Thou neuer wast in all thy life so gast,
Nor durst agayne bee euer halfe so bold:
I made a number _Romaynes_ hartes full cold:
Fight, fight, you noble _Britaynes_ now (quoth I)
Wee neuer all will vnreuenged die.

27.

What _Cæsar_ though thy prayse and mine bee od,
(Perdy the stories[727] scarce remember mee)
Though Poets all of thee doe make a God,
(Such simple fooles in making Gods they bee)
Yet if I might[728] my quarell try’d[729] with thee,
Thou neuer hadst retournde to _Rome_ agayne,
Nor of thy faithfull friends bin beastly slayne.

28.

A number _Britaynes_ mightst thou there haue seene
Death-wounded fight,[730] and spoile their spitefull foes:
My selfe maimde slewe and mangled mo (I weene)
When I was hurte then twenty more of those:
I made the _Romaynes_ harts to take their hose,[731]
In all the campe no _Romayne_ scarce I spide,
Durst halfe the[732] combate gainst a _Britayne_ byde.

29.

At length I met a noble man, they cald
Him _Labienus_, one of _Cæsar’s_ friends,
A Tribune erst[733] had many _Britaynes_ thrald,
Was one of _Cæsar’s_ legats, forth hee sends:
Well met (quoth I) I minde to make th’amends,[734]
For all thy frendships[735] to our Countrey crew:
And so with _Cæsar’s_ sword his friend I slew.

30.

What neede I name you euery _Britayne_ here,
As first the King, the nobles all besyde,
Full stout and worthy wights in warre that were,
As euer erst the stately _Romaynes_ tryde:
Wee fought so long they durst no longer bide:
Proude _Cæsar_ hee for all his bragges and boste
Flew backe to ships, with halfe his scattered hoste.

31.

If hee had bene a God (as sotts him nam’d)
Hee could not of vs _Britaynes_ taken foile,
The Monarche _Cæsar_ might haue bene asham’d
From such an Island with his ships recoyle,
Or else to flye and leaue behinde the spoile:
But life is sweete, hee thought it better flye,
Then byde amongste vs _Britaynes_, here[736] to die.

32.

I had his sword was named _Crocea mors_,
With which hee gaue mee in the head a stroke,
The venime of the which had such a force,
It able was to pearce the harte of oke:
No medcines might the poyson out reuoke,
Wherefore though scarce hee perced had the skin,
In fifteene dayes my braynes it rancled in.[737]

33.

And then to soone (alas) therefore I dyde,
Yet would to God hee had returnde agayne,
So that I might but once the dastard spyde,
Before hee went I had the serpent slayne.
Hee playde the coward cutthrote all to playne:
A beastly serpent’s harte that beaste detects,
Which, or hee fight, his sworde with bane infects.

34.

Well, then my death brought _Cæsar_ no renowne,
For both I gate thereby eternall fame,
And eke his sworde to strike his friends adowne:
I slewe therewith his _Labiene_ by name:
With Prince against my Countrey foes I came,
Was wounded yet did neuer faynt nor yeelde,
Till _Cæsar_ with his souldiers fled the fielde.

34.

Who would not venter life in such a case?
Who would not fight at Countrye’s whole request?
Who would not meeting _Cæsar_ in the place,
Fight for life, Prince, and Countrye, with the best?
The greatest courage is by facts exprest:
Then for thy Prince, with fortitude, as I,
And Realme’s defence,[738] is praise to liue or dy.

35.

Now write my life when thou hast leasure, and
Will all thy countrymen to learne by mee,
Both for their Prince and for their natiue land,
As valiaunt, bolde, and fearelesse for to bee.
A paterne playne of fortitude they see:
To which directly if themselues they frame,
They shall preserue their Countrye, fayth, and fame.

LENUOY.[739]

1.

When noble _Nennius_ thus had ended talke,
Me thought he vanisht with so sweete a smell,[740]
As though the[741] graces all with him had walkte,
And what I heard of musicke did excell,
Like notes of instruments no tongue can tell,
In[742] harmony of such an heauenly noyes,
Me seemde they passed all our earthly ioyes.

2.

Their tunes declarde the battayle all so right,
As if the _Britaynes_ and the _Romaines_ than
Had presently in hearing and in sight,
A fresh the bloudy battayle all began:
Me thought I heard the vertues of the man
By notes declarde, and _Cæsar’s_ daungers tolde
More plainely then with eyes I might beholde.

3.

But when they came to tell of _Cæsar’s_ flight,
I saw the _Romaines_ fall me thought full fast,
And all the _Britaynes_ chace them euen till night:
Wherewith, the sound of _British_ trumpets blast
Made me so madde, amazed[743] at the last,
I lookt about for sworde or weapon, I
To runne with _Britaynes_ cryde, they flie, they flie.

4.

Their flight to ships and foyle the trumpets sound,
And blewe the victours triumphes at returne:
The noyse well nigh my sences did confound,
And made my heart with all their loues to burne:
But when they gan the wounded _Britaynes_ mourne
With doubled wayling shrickes, such cryes they sente
And sobbes and sighes, wel nigh my heart they rente.

5.

Eke chiefly they at noble _Nennius_ stayde,
They seemde with dolefull tunes their notes to riue:
And sodaynly his prayse againe they playde,
O worthie _Nennius_ for thy factes aliue!
The trumpe of fame was straightly chargde reuiue,
And keepe, maintaine and celebrate his prayse:
Which done, me thought they vanisht[744] quite their wayes.

6.

On this in troubled traunce I lay a while,[745]
In ioy reioycing what a wight he was,
A worthie Duke,[746] that for this noble Ile
So fought it forth, a myrrour fayre,[747] a glasse
For those aliue: his vertues so surpasse,[748]
That[749] for his factes, fight, fortitude, and fame,
He well deserues[750] an euerlasting name.

7.

At such a time and place is vertue tryde,
When manhood may both Prince and countrey please,
But such a brunt the valiant will abide,
And bende their force to worke their countreye’s ease:
They thinke no trauayle loste, by land, or Seas,
But venture fortune, goods, life, landes and heale,
To fight it out for Prince and publique weale.

8.

You that haue heard or read the worthie factes
Of _Nennius_ here, (though[751] rudely pende by mee)
Learne so to fight, let so your[752] noble actes
By those that after come, recounted bee:
I may full well reioyce he spake to mee,
For if I had not stayde to heare him then,
I thinke he scarce had come to speake agen.[753]

9.

But next me thought appeared plaine in sight
A noble Lorde, which once had lost his head,
Of person tall, well set, a comely wight,
Whome proude despite aliue to slaughter lead:
Thus wise he wilde me penne how earst he spead,
Perswading me, perdy, to write agen
His fall, amongst the _Britayne_ noble men.

Howe the Lord Irenglas cosen to king Cassibellane
was slayne by the Lord Elimine cosen to
Androgeus Earle of London, about the
yeere before Christ, 51.

1.

Amongst the rest that whilome sate aloft,
Amongst the rest, that once had happie chaunce,
Amongst the rest, that had good Fortune oft,
Amongst the rest, that coulde themselues aduaunce,
Amongst the rest, that led in warres the staunce,[754]
And wanne the palme, the prayse, renowne, and fame,
[(Yet after fell in proofe to trye the same)]
Leaue in thy booke a place to put my name.

2.

[Which, _Higgins_, if thou shalt, and write therein
This tale I tell, no doubt thou shalt me please;
Thy selfe likewise thereby maist profit win;
For why, who writes such histories as these,
Doth often bring the Readers hearts such ease,
And[755] when they sitte, and see what he doth note,
And lessons learne to saue his[756] armour coate,
Well fare his heart (say they) this worke that wrote.

3.

Perhaps thou answere wilt and eke confesse,
They may in deede giue thankes, and that is all:
They can (saist thou) I thinke giue scarcely lesse,
For such a gifte a guerdon farre too small:
Well, yet doe write, content thy selfe withall,
Thou must the ende that God appoyntes abide:
Though they ingratefull be of reason wide,
Thou must not therefore this thy talent hide.

4.

This I obiect not that I thinke is so,
But if it erst haue chaunced so to hitte,
Thou shouldst not therefore let these stories go,
Which may perchaunce so exercise thy witte,
And may so frame thy phrases fine and fitte,
Though now no other gifte then thankes thou haue:
Yet shall thy verses liue, thy name to saue,
And spread thy prayse, when thou art layde in graue.

5.

But sure I thinke among so great a sort,
As shall thy workes and writinges chaunce to see,
Of courtzy all thou canst not finde them short,
But some must needes consider well of thee:
Though some doe pinche and saue, to thriue and thie,
And some doe polle and pill to get the pelfe,
And some haue layde vp all on leesing shelfe,
Yet some will well consider of thy selfe.

6.

I had almost stept in with thee so farre,
To bid thee wryte and register my name,
(Because I fearde of late the _Romayne_ warre
Thou wrotste, had ended all thy former frame,
And I had beene excluded from the same)
That now I feare I wery thee with talke,
While from my purpose farre aloofe I stalke,
In steed of choyse, for cheese to giue thee chalke.][757]

7.

Wherefore I will be briefe, and tell thee all
My minde, the cause why I doe now appeare.[758]
I will recite to thee my sodayne fall,
And what in life mine exercises were:
To which since I doe see thee set thine eare,
Marke now my tale, and beare it well away,
Marke what mee brought so sodayne in decaye,
[And marke of lusty life the vnstable staye.]

8.

Let who so stands trust to a stedfast holde,
(Yf hee suppose hee may a steedy finde)
And then hee neede not stagger when hee nolde,
As I and others calde agayne to minde:
But trust not Fortune, shee is counted blinde,[759]
To prayse her prankes occasion giues no cause:
Doe wisely, or you prayse her take the pause,
[Else may you proue your selues at length but dawes.]

9.

Some loue to boast what fortune they haue had,
Some other blame misfortune theyrs as fast,
Some tell of fortunes there bee good and bad,
Some fooles of fortune make themselues agast,
Some shewe of fortune comming, present, past,
And say there is a fate that ruleth all:
But sure it seemes theyr wisdome is but small,
[To talke so much of Lady Fortune’s ball.]

10.

No fortune is so bad our selues ne frame,[760]
There is no chaunce at all hath vs preseru’d,
There is no fate whom wee haue neede to blame,
There is no destiny but is deseru’d,
No lucke that leases vs safe or vnpreseru’d:
Let vs not then complayne of Fortune’s skill,
For all our good descends from God’s good will,
[And of our lewdnes springeth all our ill.]

11.

If so a man might stay on Fortune’s holde,
Or else on Prince, as piller of defence,
Then might my selfe t’haue done[761] the same bee bolde,
In euery perill, purpose, or pretence:
_Cassibellane_ as much as any Prince,
Lou’d mee his cosin[762] _Irenglas_ by name,
Both for my feats in armes, and fauour, fame,[763]
[And for because I of his linage came.]

12.

I came (by parents) of his regall race,
Liude happy dayes (if happy mortall bee)
Had (as I sayd) his fauour, bare the grace,
I was his loyall seruant[764] franke and free,
But what of this at all preuayled mee?
Yet furthermore the feates of armes I knew,
I fought in field, when mighty _Cæsar_ flewe,
[And of the _Romaynes_ came my part I slewe.]

13.

Shall I for this prayse Fortune ought at all?
Did Fortune ought in this? no whit bee sure:[765]
Or shall I blame her after for my fall,
That neuer could mee any hurte procure?
T’was glory vayne did sweetely mee allure,
Wherefore giue care, and then with pen disclose
[A tale which (though but rudely I dispose)
Who reades and heares it both, may pleasure those.[766]]

14.

Full happy were our Countrey men that dy’d,
And[767] noble _Nennius_, in the field wee[768] fought:
When first both _Britaynes_, and the _Romaynes_ tryd
With dint of sword, if titles theyrs were ought:
They dyed in theyr defence, no pompe they sought,
They liu’d to see their Countrey conquere still,
They dy’d before they felt of priuate ill,
[And bare eache other all their liues, good will.]

15.

When _Cæsar_ so with shamefull flight recoyl’d,
And left our _Britayne_ land vnconquer’d first,
Which only thought our Realme and vs t’haue spoyl’d,
Wee came to see (of all our field the worst)
Our souldiers slayne. O cruell _Cæsar_ curst
(Quoth wee) should all these giltlesse _Britaynes_ die[769]
[For thine ambition? fie, O _Cæsar_, fie,]
That durst not[770] byde but like a dastard flie.

16.

But then to see them in aray to lie,
And for to see them wounded all before,
Not one but in his place his life did trye,
To see the _Romaynes_ bloudy backes that bore
In field, flight, dead, and scattered[771] on the shore,
What thousand tongues (thinke you) could tell our ioy[772]
This made our hartes reuiue, this pleas’d our _Roy_,[773]
[And wee lesse fearde our enemies all annoy.]

17.

With trompets mourning tune, and wayling cries,
And drummes, and fluits, and shawmes, wee sound adieu,
And for our friends wee watred all our [weeping] eyes,
As loth to leese the liues of such a [noble] crew:
To th’earth wee bare them all in order dew,
According vnto each man’s noble name,
And as their byrth requirde and worthy fame,
[Euen so to honour them, with herce wee came.]

18.

Of noble triumphes after was no spare,
Wee _Britaynes_ erst were neuer halfe so glad,
That so wee made the _Romaynes_ hence to fare,
No tongue can tell the harty ioyes wee had:
Wee were therewith so myrry mooded mad,[774]
Our fingers tickled still, which came from fight,
Wee had before our eyes our enmyes flight,[775]
[And nought was seemely then but warlike might.][776]

19.

So fares it when the meaner giue the spoyle,
And make the mighty all theyr force reuoke:
So fares it when great victours feele the foyle,
And meaner sorts of count doe giue the stroke,[777]
That pearceth euen the hardest harte of oke,
For where the weaker win the wage of fame,
[And stronger leese their wonted noble name,]
The victours harts a thousand ioyes enflame.

20.