That to the show semes greate too worldly eye Who dwelles in Princes fauours that knowes him selfe Or at the least for gettes not what he was Who lookes not hye that catcheth worldly wealth Which slippes away as dewe vpon the grasse Fye on it fye it leades to endles fire And meare destruction bringes on them that it desire But in valleys lowe the qiuetst dwelling is On loftye mountaines the storming blast doth blowe The mounting Phenix shall witnesse bée of this Who doth full well the heartes of climbers showe Whose ende with her doth meare destruction call Which doth from loftye skyes belowe to ashes fal Who with Icarus séemes to flye a lofte Or with the Pine his fellowes ouergrowes That many times with fortune is not skofte And with the Pine be rente and spoilde of bowes Who standeth in conceyte with folishe fonde Nessus That in the ende of his misfortune misses But what auailde the Bookes that I haue read The wicked ende of none might cause mée to amende I sawe long syth howe euery Tyrant spead By worthy writers wose actes had Clerkly pende And theyr succes that in such vice abounded Howe short they rainde and were by God confounded But let me bée for so I maye no doubte Full well be made a mirrour to each one That be in Princes fauour make them selues so stout As I vnhappy wretch haue beene not long a gone I had so deepe a witte to purchase worldly wealth In vertue a very foole and cleane deceiu de my selfe And with these wordes his paines so much encreaste That worse then mad a thousand times he flinges Then to the brinke of loathsome lake hee preste And cryed behold what wicked doinges bringes Drawe neare good Morpheus harken what I saye And to thy friendes report another daye I was quoth hée aduaunste to such degrée And in the fauour stoode of Alexanders grace So much at last that in all causes hée Looke mine aduise in thinges that doubtful was My counsell lead him euer as my list Who had a sâ—te I not his friende his purpose mist All men gaue place when I in counsell close Unto this noble Emperoure both night and day My fame eache howre encreased styl and rose I saued whome my list agayne I put awaye Whome pleased mee and ruled mee at will I made both good and bad full glad to please mée still Vetronius Turinus is my proper name Chiefe counseller this famous Emprour too Which bleard my inward eyes in tasting of the same I could not know my selfe as I was wont to doe Such incoÌ„parable sweetnesse is found in Princes fauor Whom Fortune calles so high forgets their owne behauiour Such hap a while excéedeth Loios taste Whose sinatch some lickoras lips the most doe wishe Yet whosoeuer to gape therefore doth haste Sal trye in th ende Serdonia plaine it is For sweetest meates soure sauce they saye is best This is and euermore was vsed at eache feast Thus I elect and chosen chiefe of all In secreate familiaritie with this noble man I was so pufte with pride I did mistrust no fall Thus eache mans heart through dread and feare I wan A while I plaide the Bâ—are I nipt both yong and olde I kept them so in awe to barke none durst bée bolde Thus euery man of mée did stand in feare Eache one with bending knées to me did bowe They honoured mée â—s I the â–ª Emproure were I gaped for such glory as was not méete nor dew Thus like a chowgh depaint in peacoks tayles Amid the gulfe of Cille I hoyst my rotten sayles And at the length this one thing blinded me When euery man my lawfull fauour sought Then I began to looke both stowte and hie I spake them fayre when inwarde ill I thought Great bribes I did receyue and made all men beléeue That whome my list I coulde both gladde and grieue Thus ritche I made my selfe and most men poore That to this noble Emproure any sute procurde And those of whome the Emproure made a store Such meanes I wrought that long he not indurde And yet a greater sleyght then this I vsed long I dayly sought to wrest all men with wrong Faire wordes I â—edde them with and nothing elles On eyther part their money I receyued I eate their kirnels and fed them with the shelles Who trusted me that scaped vndeceyued I playde the Mariner that looketh backe and rowes And yet with floode his boate contrarie flowes For where these suters did awayte to knowe By me this noble Emperour his pleasure Then would I nodde my head and frindely countenaunce showe As who shoulde saye abyde a nother leysure Thus of the Emprours graue determination I made a trade as t were an occupation Till at the length all men with murmuration Perceyuing that I fabled with them so With open Iawes made open exclamation And earnest lookes cast on me too and fro Whereat report a Poste did sende for Fame Which causd hir crooked Trumpets sound abrode the same Thus to this noble Princes eares at length it came And publisht all abroade it was on euery side And of the same accusde of euery man That rounde about me stoode and to the Emprour cryde O famous noble prince incline thine eares to heare Turinus wickednesse to thée shall now appeare Then all my former lyfe disclosed was And prooude by credible persons before my face When the Emperour vnderstoode both more and les He iudgde me to be led into the market place Where straungers were of countries far and nye Which grieude me worse then twentie times to die In the market place sometime where I with pryde More like a Prince then otherwise had walkd the stones There to a stake my limbes full fast they tyde With cruell engins inuented for the nonce Where young and olde stoode rounde about to sée The fall of him which earst did looke full hie Then hidden malice did shewe his furious face Whose tongues before as swéete as suger séemde And crying sayde thou Tyraunt voyde of grace The proofe is plaine it was not as thou wéende Thou thought thou had our harts because we capt and knéelde Which inwardely with spitefull hate we stéelde Then curses blacke into the skies they sende To all the Gods where mightie Ioue doth sitte That after all this shame I might be torne and rent Within the puddle of Plutos stincking pitte And there withall their handes a pace they clappe Gréene stickes and stubble about the stake they wrap And fire thereto on euery side they set Whose powdering smoke mountes vp the loftie skies The flashing flame eche man was prone to let To th' ende thereby my doubled paine might rise Thus lingered life with tormentes worse then death By meanes of smoke compelde to yelde my breath Whereat with gladsome heartes reioyced many a one Tooth ' great reproche of all my bloode and line With hast a Bedle Themperour calde on And straightly chargde about the stake that
will last and not be spent Oh very fooles deceyued foule ye bée If happe be on your sides example take by mée To know my life and what I was sometime Who liues and sées me lie amiddes this endelesse wo That woulde not doubt the like rewarde in fine That I deserued iustly long ago I must confesse my paine to little is Though twentie times it were much worse then this Harke what I say the stoutst among you all Who fitteth hext that hath not cause to feare Some blast doth blow that giues the grieuous fall It s often seene euen once in twentie yere Though Fortune hoyse the seates of some aloft Yet shée delightes to cast them downe as ofte Nothing more brittle is then state of man Both night and day expâ—â—ience doth appéere Yet notwithstanding who doe not what they can To liue like Goddes as long as they be héere Though time do teache al thinges begunne mast ende No mendement yet I sée of such as doe offende Except the Gods they thought for to displace From out their seates wherein they sitte on hie Or that from Ioue for to dispose the mace Wherewith hée rules the earth and all the skie Else wot I not what all this mischiefe meanes For Codrus lou'de of Gods ritch men disdains On heapes to Pluto headlong here they runne Hell scarse is able the halfe part to holde The father is torment for wronging of his sonne And eke the sonne for like in triple folde The mother for the daughter sustaines wo The daughter for the mother and many other mo But how happie be they that welth do not taste And that with pouertie yelde thankes to the Gods No doubt aboue the starres all such men are plaste They be not scourged nor whipped with our roddes Therefore by our harmes learne to be warned Else shall you be sure with vs to be charmed At the which wordes then Morpheus alofte did call What art thou quod he tell me thy name streight way Shee aunswered and sayde euen so with spéede I shall If it please thee here a while to bide and stay And if it be not long I am content quoth he And so with woful plainte these wordes declared she O Morpheus Morpheus I am that wofull wight That once did sitte in Peters seate and place A man I seemde to be alas in all mens sight And yet a wicked woman the lesse my grace I did take vpon me the Gospell for to guide Yet contrarie both I and mine did liue besyde And Iohan was I calde and of my birth a Citie Named Maience tooke hir proper name Brought vp in learned scooles the more great pitie That grace had not béene lincked to the same Learning I loued of all ritchesse vnder heauen Till I conquered the knowledge of Sciences seauen I refused my countrie and frindes euery one Many a Proâ—ince I trauaylde to and fro Better learned then my selfe I met not with one Of what estate or degrée he were high or loe And in all these places where euer I came I was thought among the people to be a very man. In Englande once I was the countrey to peruse From thence to Roome I did returne with spéede Within the which I did no deale refuse Gramer Sophistry Logike and Rethorike for to reade My fellowe not founde so ready was my braine Nothing wanted Morpheus but grace I tel thée plaine In Lotaries time that Emperour was then After the death of Leo by full election I was chosen for my wisedome aboue al men To haue the Papall dignitye in my protection And so was made Pope and ruled as my lyst Tyll my abhomination accusde mée or I wist For hauing at my wyll what harte could best thinke And ruling as it were all men as pleased mée Then layde I away both Booke Pen and Inke The swelling fleshe with them could not agrée I spared neyther Cardinal Bishop Munke nor Frier To fulfil my desire I past not who they were Tyll at the last I chaunsed great with Childe At Saint Iohns Laterans deliuered was I And thus the Seate of Peter by mee was defilde Alas therefore full oft to late I crye Afterwarde deposed I was and so put downe And begged my bread both in Countrey and Towne At this filthye acte the Gods were offended And sente mee to Pluto his Judgement to trye Out of all the Heauens I was then suspended And heare am adlotted in paines still to lye Loe nowe thou knowest both the cause and my name Therefore I pray thee warne thy friendes of the same Tell women that haue fine pollytike wittes That except they dread the Gods with honour due Whome Fortune hexte of all with Scepture hits The hurtfull fall be they sure doth ensue Although her nature bée sometime to smile It 's best yet take héede shée winke them not a wile From valley lowe when Titan mounts the Hilles Hée doth dismount as fast as rise before The Phenix scaling skies with singed quilles Turnes to the Earth againe what néedeth more For fluddes that rise when at the hexte they bée Doe fall as fast againe the proofe we sée And finallye will euerye kinde of wight As well as women them selues to knowe and sée And that in time of wealth they set theyr sight To vewe what such doe wante that simpler bée Their goodes and Landes with state of noble raine Bewty Youth and al thinges els shall shrinke againe You knowe the nine worthies lasted but a time The monstrous mountes do waste and weare awaye Then what is it that is made of sliche and slime That can vpon the earth long stand or staye All is but fleshe which wasteth like the snowe When life shall part the wisest doth not knowe Nowe alas sith the world is thus vnsure And fleshe so fraile what fooles bée mortall men That haue such hope in that for to endure That straight shall slip awaye they know not when What gaines get they that winne a litle pelfe For which the Gods at last condempne him selfe These wordes thus sayde the rage of furious hell With new inuented miseries gan then to increase That very woe and sorrowe did compell This newe founde Pope from further talke to cease Within my secreate hart I pitied much her case Bicause shée was a woman and had so litle grace But then to sée the great Souseheaded Friars With Iommarnold Muncks on heapes how fast they fel Beside platterfasde Abbots Priests with pricke eares Howe busie they were it passeth tongue to tell I thinke they sang for they gaped so wide That to heare theyr seruice I might not abide Eache nowke was full of Nunnes as busye as the best Properly apparelled like newe fashioned Players Prating Pardoners were Cookes of the Feast Whose scullions were a number of beastly Southsaierâ— Euery one occupied not one of them was idle But neyther with Testament nor with Sacred Bible At length they fell out what so euer was the matter They fought with Sensars
But ouer the pit with letters blacke this sentence there was pende This is the place of iust rewarde for Tyrauntes in the ende Then by and by a thundring voyce came poudering vp the pitte Which sayde remember th ende you men in chayres of state that sit For Pluto is the Iaylor here to mightie Ioue aboue He pardons none but all alike take heede it doth behooue Which words did make my hart to shrink as flowers doe in June So that to speake one worde for life I durst not once presume But in my heart I wisht all men King Mydas mucke to flée And speciallye the number that of mightie honor bee For they that reade the Poetes workes shal here of Mydas much And how he crau'de all to be golde that he might féele or touche But though the Poets fabled so and I in dreames doe faine Yet let not Tyrauntes better trust but taste of Plutos paine ⧠The rewarde that Rosamond had in hell for murdering of hir husbande Albonius and liuing vitiouslie in hir husbandes dayes WHen from this Pope we were depart and gone Meaning to returne the night was almost spent But there fast by we hearde one crye a non Which sayde Alas alas to late I doe repent My wanton dayes my lustie youthfull toyes Haue banisht me from Aungels part of ioyes The sounde there of a woman did present For Sâ—reminglie it rang among the caues Which when we hearde we coulde not be content But scalde the cragges among the flaming waues Till at the last a dungeon had we spyde Wherein the woman was that latelye cryde And as we stoode thereof to take the vewe In scalding furnesse whose flash doth still increase A seeming noble Dame with crowne and scepture nâ— we Among a number gaâ— first of all to prease And sayd Oh Morpheus such haste why dost thou make â–ª I pray thee bide a while yet for a womans sake Wherefore quoth hée my presence doth no good And yll I may abide the night is almost spent Shee hearing this cryed out as one were wood Abide and beare two wordes then go I am content Dispatche quoth hee for long I cannot bide But first of all thy name and cause describe Oh quoth shée this place prepared is For wickednesse the iust rewarde to bée And such as liue against the Goddes amisse Be vsed here with tormentes as you see Sith Morpheus thou all dreames dost shew eche where Publish this abroade how we are vsed here And let them know how Rosamonde the Quéene To Albonyus late wife that was sometime Lyeth torment here as thou hast present seene For filthie life and odious bloodie crime My life did craue none other ende but this Therefore beholde rewarde of wickednesse Therefore let mée to women warning bée To honor God the beste and next their spoused mates And say that Rosamonde thus sayde to thee Who doth not so shall enter at these gates It doth become eache woman night and daye To holde them well content at what their husbandes saye You lustie bloodes possest with hawtie hartes â–ª Your loftie lookes correct with meaner state Refuse to playe these wanton wilfull partes From follye flée least you repent to late Sometime I lookte as hye as hexte of you Which is the onelye cause I bid al ioyes adewe Séeme not to swell a hast ye worde to heare No vauntage séeke nor quarrels frame to breede An honest womans part is euer to forbeare The sayinges of her husband if wel shée thinke to spéede Where loue is linkte wordes cannot brewe the bate But where dissemblers are fewe wordes then causeth hate And laye aside your newe disguised raye Leaue prancking of your selues with painted face From whirling heyre and there your eyes prophaned stay Bée faithful Matrons found in euery place Who doth hir spowsed Mate in any case betraye Shall sure repent it sore with mée another daye For if that grace had light vpon my side Then had I dread before the doubtfull ende And so escaped that which nowe alas I bide As Guerdon méete for them that so offend For through one word I heard my husband saye My stomack was so stowte I made him straight away Which was but small and easie to bée borne But that the wicked sprite mée tempte to seeke his blood For euen as Judas his Maisters death had sworne Infect with like temptacion that present time I stoode Uengeance I inuented and vengeance haue I caught â–ª To seeke my Husbandes life mine owne destruction brought Loe this was the cause At my Husbands returne From doing great Battailes in Countreys full farre Being his pleasure a while for to Soiourne To rest him at ease after his Warre Let call a Triumphe and made a great Feast To the which assembled all his Lordes of the best And being in his meriment Thus Jested with mée Tooke a Goblet with Wine and these words theÌ„ he sayd Drinke a tawnt to thy Father Wife quoth hée Who before in Battaile was wounded to dead Thus for to saye much is not a mis Who euer doth speake it where any grace is But alas vnhappilye I as most women bée Was pufte full of Pride and mutable minde I swelde as a Toade his death for to sée Yet spake I him fayre his sences to blinde O God what mischiefe can women inuent And if a man alter but once theyr intent When I spake him as fayre as heart might deuise And made the greatst shewe of Faithfull true loue Inwardlye then I dyd hate and despise My noble Husbande all Creatures aboue Therefore I confesse it is harde for to knowe When a woman speakes fayre if shée meanes it or no. I polluted filthilye my Husbandes bedde With one of his seruauntes whome after I made Most Traiterously to smite of his head As hée laye a sléepe with his owne sworde or blade And so tooke his Treasure and to the Seas wée fled There leauing my Husband wounded to dead This Squiers name that did this wicked déede Melchis was called a stoute worthy Knight In Rauenne there became to procéede A mighty Prince of great power and might Yet for all this with him straight I tyred For eache daye on my filthy lust beastly desired Were hée Gentle or simple I spared none Of one aboue another I made no store For shame Feare and Grace from mee were quite gone I paste not a pinne were they Ritche or poorâ— My filthy fleshe so wickedly was sette That all was but fishe that came to the nettâ— But among al the rest one noble man That then of Rauenne was a gouernour As ofte as pleased him nowe and than Had greate delite to holde mée as Paramour On whome a while my flitting minde did runne As erst it had of Melchis latelye done For whose sake Melchis my husbande newe Through treason framde and vile Duplicitye Within my heart his death I gan to brewe Because at large I thought to liue more viciously To worke the feate by sleyght and scape the blame I
to the prayse of soome That by my losse to honour great prayse haue â—oome Sith Morpheus thou art here and brought thy friend with thée Be witnesse of the woe that Tarquine bydeth here Sith Poets haue pende the wicked life of mée Of my rewarde thou mayst reporte well bere For the purpose none more méeter then thou here It is no councell that all the worlde doth knoe Nor yet forgot that was done long agoe Fie on rapine through guilefull treason wrought Fie on the swelling flesh that soule and bodie kils Fie on filthinesse whose ende is euer nought And fie on folly that all good maner spils Take héede all you that follow fleshly wils Of me prowde Tarquine made a mirror clere So may you shunne the paines I suffer here Beholde when I did Lucrece finde in bed Through harmefull sleight premeditate before With naked sworde in hand to hir I sayde Consent to me quoth I else shalt thou liue no more Thy tender fleshe this Lainche shall eâ—rue full sore Then will I slea the worst thy house within I le make report you were committing sinne Which wordes did rauishe so her noble sence and witte That tremblingly shee quakes as doeth the Aspen Leaâ—e Feare streight compeld her quakinglye to sit Like as shee woulde depart with vitall breath The naked Sworde in sight stil threatning present death Thus I rauisht a Ladye both vertuous and chaste Wherfore I am coÌ„pelde alas these sorowes to taste Whereat eache tongue did talke to my disprayse And for the same I banisht was for euer Sith then all my posteritiâ— aye euermore decayes Loe thus the Gods their vengance doe deliuer Bewayled be the daye that then I did com thither Among my wicked deedes this onely was the worst Therefore I was and am for euermore accurst I am a sacke of sorrowe in this sincke And stiâ—cking pâ—dole wherein you see me lye Whose faultes with mine respondent pende with inke Were euer hearde or scande with learned eye As vice to my reproache so vertues Fame doth flye Tooth ' prayse of Lucrecia and example of all such As of hir doe delight and of me doe reade much For when this wilfull act committed was â–ª And I had fed my lust this noble matron on Then for to liue nothing she loued lesse With wringing handes Alas she maketh mone Come Atropos quoth â—â—ee make hast that I were gone And crying still come Clotho come make spéede Of Lucrece life vntwine the fatall thréede Then pardon craued shée of Colatine And of hir father Spurius by and by I haue made offence wo woorth the wicked time Thus wéeping sayde this Lady rufully I hearing this from thence departed spedilye And left in wofull plight this Dame drownd vp with teares Whose vertues in women full rarely now appeares But al you Ladies Wiues and Maides eache one Of what degree or yet estate you bée No doubte although Lucrecia bée gone As myrâ—our maye remaine this â—â—orye when you sée So may you learne the gifte of chastitye What loue you ought your husbandes for to beare In spending of her daies the profe doeth plaine apeare O wretched wight quod he howe dare I shewe my face The earth doeth threate this wilfull acte of myne It is and wil be Iudgde I wanted grace Thus losing honour I steynde my Auncientes line At all that beare my name the people doe repâ—â—e Yea the very stones that in the streates doe lye Into the Heauens vpon this crime doe crye Then wished shée Ipolas happye chaunce Or Virgineas ende or Didos long agoe Quod shee thereof this deede false Taquine should not vaunce That nowe for euer shame abroade shal bâ—oâ— And shall my husband wâ—â—te him serued so That shall hee not quod shee a swoorde shée tooke In blattering blood the vit all breath forsooke Loe Morpheus alas nowe haue I tolde thée all And of my being here the cause wherefore and whye Nowe mayst thou thinke my grace was very small That in my life coulde not for mercye crye But wickednesse craâ—es vengeaunce to the skye And not without a cause the Gods doe punishe hate And so they doe al them that liue in whoredome state But Morpheus Morpheus sith thou séest my lot A blessed déede it is the same for to declare From Ritche and Poore I praye the hide it not Proclaime howe wicked men rewarded are From Pride and whoredome wishe thy friendes beware â–ª The time is short on earth they haue to dwell But endles tormentes euer bide in hell If mortall men did knowe what paine is heare Then woulde they lothe the worlde they loue so well Their pompe their Pride and all theyr glittering geare To punishe the paunche some feare would sure compell All treason and fleshlye fraude for to expell All Tyrantes trades no doubte they would forgoe And if they felt the least of this my woe But hée that blinded is with ease and wealth Their rauisht heartes hath dulde their wittes as lead Gods feare is gone and eache man for him selfe To purchase pelfe the worldling toyles his head The Childe forgettes his Father being dead To taste of death him selfe no deale mistrust Tyll grizlye ghost do blowe that néedes away he must Alas howe vaine is all thing on the earth What care to catche what feare to kéepe it still What sorrowe it settes where should bee ioye and mirth Ingendering hate there as should bee good will. Prouoking wrath The verye spirite to spill And yet beholde howe euerye man doth watche And with the trowte the choking hoke doth catche And thus fare well nowe gette you hence from mée You knowe my minde deale in it as you will My wicked acte and iuste rewarde you sée And howe my paine increaseth euer still Awaye quod hée beholde downe yonder hill Alecto comes with flaming flashing winges For pride whordome a thousand plagues shée brings Then streight departed wée and left him there And wandering vp and downe those smokye pittes Mée thought a rufull voice as it a woman were Fast bye declard what plagues shée felt by â—ittes To heare her plaint I almost lost my wittes On whoredome still shée cryed woe worth that wicked sinne That mortal fleshe so much deliteth in But when I calde to minde the leade wherein I sawe Tarquinus lye with flames of Brimstone whose In middes whereof hée stoode vp to the chinne All blubberid with blisters alas not frée one spotte And howe with sodden Pitche his body all was blotte Twoo fiends shot thonder boltes at him on either side Whereat hée dowkes his careful face to hide Thus in this fornace amid these boyling heates Hée standeth to the Chin but when hée dowketh soe And thus the fezing dartes ofte in his visage beates The feare thereof increaseth double woe Thus Tarquine was rewarded and so were thousandes moe That had theyr factes declared to theyr face Which was to late as then to crye for grace ⧠The rewarde of Medea for hir wicked actes and
actes regardes Leaue of your inuocation your crossings and your charmes Alas it is abomination and doth increase your harmes You parents it is time to looke your younglings to Least with this Prince you say in fine heartes case and child adue Keepe in your daughters strayght best counsell I can geue Least that perhaps shee catch a bayte that both your harts may greue And bring them vp in feare and godlie bookes to reede And then be sure that thou shalt heare that wel thy chide shall speede And banish wilie will from out thy daughters place His sleyghtie shiftes will thousands spill you know he wanteth grace Let bouldenesse banisht be lay libertie aside And looke you neuer doe agree to paint them vp in pride And so you shall reioyce your daughters dayes to see VVith Helchias lift vp your voyce with prayse as glad as hee Thus farwell Virgins all God guide you in his way I doubt not but Medeas fill your tender heartes shall fraye And sith shee broyles in hell whereas release is none There I am sure that shee shall dwell it helpeth not to mone I cannot weepe therefore to thinke what partes shee playde Shee lost hir soule for euermore hir name is quite decayde Take heede hir gaines you see the Gods not one doe spare For this or that looke what they be rewarded well they are ⧠The wordes of tormented Tantalus being rewarded for his extortion and couetousnes Oppressing of the poore people of his Countrey And for other wicked actes IF any here haue cause for to complaine What maye I doe that pined am for foode I wishe and wante I craue but all in vaine I sée the tempting fruite and so I doe the â—â—ood Whereof to eate and drinke I wish none other good If all the world were mine sharpe hunger gnawes me so To haue my belly â—ilde al this I would forgoe No ioye nor pleasure halfe doth glad the heart Nor greatest thing that minde hath thought most swéete Though all were mine in euery place and parte And that eache man were knéeling at my féete Like pleasure to this woe was not compared yet For hunger passeth all who knewe his part with mée No death so bad as liuing thus to bée But wickednes want'h not his iust reward All you that beare rule therefore Howe you come thereby it 's best you haue regard And being mighty how you vse the poore Yóur owne infirmityes remember euermore Beware of couetousnes it 's a slye and slieghtye baite â–ª The father of Ipocrisie and forger of disceite And ambition is a priuie poison It 's also a pestilens couered closse The nourishe of enuie the fountaine of treason The mouthe of make bate to all mens losse The blinder of hartes as the world nowe goes Making of remedies diseases greate store And of pure salues many a great sore But hée that séekes aboue the rest to bée And gapes to reache the highest starre alofte No doubt many times forgetteth equitie And also Justice it plaine appeareth ofte Who desireth glorye that fortune hath not skofte â–ª Though lulde a while within her fichle lappe At length she leaues him cadgde within her cruel trappe But al to late alas I doe confesse My wicked crimes wherefore I suffer nowe In time and space I would not finde redresse To God nor man I would not bende nor bowe No mans Judgement but mine owne I would allowe Repent that life I thought I had no neede For as on earth I thought eache where to spéede Though for my helpe confession come to late Yet in time confession is a remedie It confoundeth vices restoreth vertues to eache estate Deuilles it vanquisheth in greatest extremitie The Gates of Paradise it openeth most fréely Gods vengeaunce ceasseth if man confesse betime But so to doe the grace was neuer mine Sith confession is the life of a sinner A glorye to good men and necessary to thoffendour Hée that will not confesse whereof he was beginner His grace with mine maye bée called sclender But happye is hée that goodes ill gotte doth render To them againe from whence they came at first Bée sure otherwaies they stande to God accurst Alas how vaine is pleasure that most so much imbrace With what diligence and expectacion men Doe séeke this worldly wealth that bideth but a space Sliding stilye hence no time appointed when Wherefore I wishe you all Gods hasty wrath token Boast not to daye what thou wilt doe to morrowe Or y the Sun go down thy mirth may turne to sorow Set little by richesse and riche shalt thou be Set lest by renowme and faâ—ne shall loue thée best Care not for afflictions take them quietlie Let reason rule thée so shalt thou be in rest He that scapes the wrath of mightie â—oue is bles But they that wicked are no doubt must plagued bée What néedeth better proofe or tryall but by me For iudgement without mercie is euer due To them that be vnmercifull to the poore But sure mightie men doe thinke Gods worde not true They thinke to line and dure for euermore As I my selfe did Alas I crye therefore My wicked déedes my woe doe still increase And puttes me out of doubt my paines shall neuer cease One day déemeth another from time to time Of this or that as things doe chaunce to fall But the last day giueth iudgement declaring euery crime When eche man is compelde to make accountes for all Then swéete worldely welth doth taste like bitter gall Who hath sustained wrongs for vengaunce then shall cry Th'oppressors of the poore shal perish by and by And with these wordes he snatche that the trée The fruite whereof declined to his lippe Which on the sodain from hys mouth gan flée And sâ—oodes with swelling waues vpon his chinne doe hit Yet might he not attaine thereof one bit But staruing standes betwéene these two for foode Disguisde for want of meate this careful Caitiue stood And looking backe by chaunce hée Morpheus spyed And me that stoode vpon a bancke aboue To whome streight waye hée showted houlde and cryed Come néere good Morpheus and see the paines I prooue And warne all them to whome thou bearest loue my wicked lyfe that once I ledde to flée Byd them restore the gooddes got wrongfully And what 's thy name quoth Morpheus woulde I know From whence thou came of whome thou art descended And why thou doest endure this cruell woe What hast thou done the Gods be thus offended My actes quoth hée might well haue bene amended But when I was on earth and had the worlde at will Lactaneius I neuer thought to dye but to haue liued still I am the sonne of Iupiter a God of mightie fame And borne of Plote as witnesse writers olde And at my birth had Tantalus to name Lorde of many a countrie I was a Captaine bolde But the cause of my plague the Poets haue mistolde
Roges of whome I spake of late Wée chaunste â—â— heare a woeful wight y did bewaile his state And Tiranny his name was calde who lou'd to leime the poore And suppe the gaine of sweating browes for to increase his store This mighty mate ne mercy mindes when he on soile did dwell But eate vp all on euery side as they that want can tel The widow and the Fatherles the Stranger that doth toyle His household Seruitours and al hée séeketh for to spoyle Whome lended hée his â—ares vnto but onelye vnto suche As vnto Pluto sacrifizde theyr soules to gaine him muche Tyl at the last his Tiranny the ayre corrupt with smell Whereat the Skies did turne theyr hewe and Limbo gan to yell The Mountaines roare by Eccos voice into the Heauens hye The scrikes and cryes of wronged wights and al togeather flye The Preachers powred teares apace repentance styl they cryde But al in vaine his eares were stopte such newes he might not bide His stoared grouÌ„d his racked rents his heards of goats with sheepe His prouling pickâ—haÌ„ks made him to forget his duty cleane Whom when y Ioue perusde and searchte his flintish Pharaos heart graine Upon the snappe grimme Mors he sends to stick him with his Dart. Who wound him so that Atropos to line straight laid the launce Gods people by this Tyrants death from bondage to aduaunce Whose wandring ghost to Carons bote with fearful grenes is gone To dwell among the damned sprites for other hope is none Where in a pit a place is pitchte a woeful chayre to sit In molten mettall to the Crowne a place for Tyrantes fit His officers bande him round about with bagges of money thrust Which neuer cease with gnashing téeth to lend him many a dust Medusa is his Coke to dresse this wretche his meate Which sets before him crawling Snakes and vgly Todes to eate His counsellers bée retcht on length theyr Guts on hookes bée torne Whose fowle deformed filthy tongus bewaile that they were borne â–ª Thus tost torne with torments great with thuÌ„derbolts bethwakt On forkes fleshhooks streind stretcht eche ioynt from other crakt And to augment this Misers griefe with hookes they hale him out Uppon a frosen scaffolde hoyst this Tyraunt lookes about Where hellish Hegges and Furies shewe a sight t' increase his paine Which is the ioyfull Eden fieldes where saued soules remaine The blisfull bankes there might he sée the valleyes swéete fayre Where wants no floures of noble taste for to perfume the ayre All kinde of fruites do shew themselues and readie ripe they hynge Of pleasures passing man to wishe there wantes no kinde of thinge â–ª Pernassus hill to base a bancke to be comparde to this Or Helicon in such respect a wéedie pyngle is Nor Cithera pearle of all the earth is ought but counterfet Though it were deckt with all the golde that Alexander geâ— Tho I had dronke and supped vp sweete Aganippes well Or Gâ—baâ—elus skilfull floodes yet want I skill to tell The heapes of ioyes this ioyfull fielde is garnished with all Doth much surmount this worldly blisse thrise more then suger gall For there Sir Tellus doth not taste of Hiemps frosen face Nor Boreas bragges the weakest twigge sturs not within that place â–ª For Phebus hee his golden beames disperseth here and there And Iupiter the siluer droppes from skies doth cause retire In season due to mol fie these fieldes of endelesse blisse Where none may come but such as by the Goddes appoynted is Whose garmentes be as white as snow on instrumentes they sing And neuer cease but praysing God of earth and heauen king And crownes vpon their heads they were aungels foode they eate Still Gloria â—â— excelâ—â—â— sing to â–ª th Lambe vpon the seate There might this Tyraunt well beholde the poore whome he oprest â–ª Amid these ioyes for euermore appoynted for to rest And such as least he did estéeme and all be rent with wrong Their happie life eche houre did see and daylie hearde their song Which when he hearde a triple paine assaultes this caytiues ghost When hee did way his mundâ—â—â— mucke and heauens treasure lost In equall ballaunce when he tryed how Conscience him accusde Quoth hee fie on you Imâ—es of hell that thus haue me abusde Meaning by the muckhill Mates which whispred in his eare And taught him how Goddes people poore for gaines to rend teare To ride to runne to hale and drawe as bondeslaues euery houre To whippe and scourge no mo then all that were within his poure But Oh quoth hée let all the worlde example take by mee Let neuer greatest Prince on earth thinke other but to dye Oh fye on goodes thryse fye on golde and tentimes fie on such As shall procure great mightie men the poore by wrong to touch And then he wrange his handes for wo what happe had I quoth hée To lende my eares to Dunghil Doltes at their commaunde to bée And banisht from my seruice quite the bloode of gentle race Which alwayes counsaylde me to minde mine honor and my grace But as the Rauens séeke their praye or Woolfe the spoyle pursues So did the Churles by meanes of me eache where their furie vse The sonnes of Théeues rustick Carles might leade me as they list So that the gobs of gloring golde they brought to freight my fist Yet as they spoylde the coast abroade from me so did they pinche So that at euerye elne I scarce receyued halfe an inche I pitied not the Wydowes cause nor fatherlesse I wayde Both townes and countries rounde about to pastures great I layde â–ª Yet had I mines with vineyardes large with corne and cattell store Yea Lordships lands parckes houge wide yet stil I lookt for more Mules and Camels infinite Townes and Castles greate Thus Fortune with hir smiling lookes hir worldly hookes can bayte To catche the couetous Tyrant with to present to Plutos grace Whose wickednesse he doth rewarde full well within this place And then hée lookt vpon these slaues much yll quoth he betide You verlots borne that thus bewitcht a Prince of such a pride â–ª Much yll and wo may hap to thée thou foule deformed slaue And all thy mates that mooued mée this mundan mucke to craue The childe vnborne curse you yours the hils shall sounde the same The stones in stréets cry out on you the skies proclaime your shame The heauens abhor both you and yours hel rend you with his iawes And Furies all in Stigion streames torment you with their clawes â–ª Much more he sayde but what it was for skrikes we coulde not tell His men of trust and hée that time in tormentes so did yell But still they bang him with these bagges like madmen in their rage And streite these furies with their hookes did mouÌ„t him from the stage Where tumbling hée in molten golde doth walter here and there Till at the length of him nor his we coulde not sée nor here