soonest pry Whose nature thus I chose to be the mould Therein to worke what forme of hap I would 98 His owne compassion cause of his owne care Vpon his thought his constant promise stood Vertue in him most naturally rare No vile base humor tainted his pure blood His bounty still gaue good desert her food His mind so great and honorably free Made him too prone to loose credulitie 99 His counsels thus are combred by his care In nothing certaine bnt vncertaintie His friends resolu'd on nothing but dispaire Yet shewes he greatnes in most misery Each place become a stage for Tragedy By error wandring far beyond his scope Strong in desire but weakest in his hope 100 In publique shame oft counsell seemes disgrac'd No priuiledge can from the Fates protect In desperation counsell hath no taste Vntamed rage doth all aduise reiect Hiding the course which reason should direct Making himselfe the author of his harms VVithout experience valor wants his arms 101 Now I whose power in Williams wars was seene VVhen first on Williams conquest he begun To shew my selfe the worlds imperious Queene Now turne my selfe against his warlike son To lose by me by me his Father won On Englands part gainst Normandy to stand Which Normandy had conquered by my hand 102 The conquest William made vpon this Ile VVith Norman blood be-peopling Brittany Euen now as Brittons made within a while Turne with reuenge to conquer Normandy Thus victory goes back to victory That his own blood wins what before he won His conquering son subdu'd his conquering son 103 Thus Norman townes begirt with English arms The furious brother dealing wrathfull blowes Both pressing in where deadly perrill swarms These English-Norman Norman-English foes At last doe get what they at first did lose As Normandy did Englands fall prouoke Now Norman necks must beare the English yoke 104 The flood of mischiefe thus comes in againe VVhat Fortune works not alwaies seems pretéded The wind thus turn'd blows back the fire amaine VVhere first mischance began she will be ended And he defend him from those he offended For this we find the course of fatall things Is best discern'd in states of Realms Kings 105 On whom of late in Palaestine I smild In ciuill warrs now dreadfully I frowne He call'd from exile I from him exil'd To leaue his crowne who had refus'd a crowne Who beat all down now heare is beaten down Here to lose all who there had gotten all To make his fall more grieuous in his fall 106 To England now a prisoner they him bring Now is he hers which claim'd her for his owne A Captiue where he should haue been a King His dūgeon made wher shold haue been his throne Now buried there wheras he shold haue growne In one poore tower mew'd vp within one place Whose Empires bounds the Ocean shold embrace 107 Could mortall sence containe immortall hate Or reason sound the depth of things diuine Iudgement might stand amaz'd at Roberts state And thinke no might to be compar'd with mine That all power may vnto my power resigne And that in Roberts fall the world may see Amongst the starrs what power remaines in mee 108 That sword which on his fortune hath such power Yet powerles is to end his wretched dayes Those daies w c in their course all things deuoure To his swift griefe makes slow and lazie staies To Tyrannies long raigne he thus obaies That he in life a thousand deaths might die Onely in mercy rackt with crueltie 109 He hath no ioy but in his miseries His greatest comfort is the blessed light For which as I were angry with his eyes I make the King depriue him of his sight To sute his daies so iustly with the night That sencles stones to mone he should not see Yet sencles stones behold his misery 120 And this he felt that Fortune made him blinde Least his eyes obiects yet might lighten care That y e light wanting more might light his minde VVhose eyes might see how great his sorrows are That euery sence that sences woe might share And so that sence depriu'd of ioy alone Might more increase the griefe of euery one 111 These griefes and horrors enemies of rest VVhich murther life where they do harbor long Kill humors which his body oft opprest Vnnaturally thus making nature strong As out of deaths dead stock new life still sprong As life with death had tempted him till now Yet death to life no ease would er'e allow 112 Death he fear'd not is taught his end to feare Life once he lou'd with him now fall'n in loue That foe a friend to hurt him doth forbeare That friend a foe he cannot now remoue Twixt them he all extremities doth proue Aged in youth to pine his ioy thereby Youthfull in age to suffer misery 113 Courage forbids that he himselfe should kill His life too proud to be constrain'd to die His will permits not death now when he will VVhat would dispaire true valor doth deny Thus life's life foe death is deaths enemy VVilling to die by life him double killing Vrging to die twice dying he vnwilling 114 So many yeeres as he hath worne a crowne So many yeeres as he hath hop'd to rise So many yeeres he liues thus quite thrown downe So many yeeres he liues without his eyes So many yeeres in dying ere hee dyes So many yeeres lockt vp in prison strong Though sorrow make the shortest time seeme long 115 Thus sway I in the course of earthly things That Time might worke him euerlasting spite To shew that power yet euer makes not kings Nor that conceit can compasse my deceit In fined things such meruails infinite Nor any wonder is to be supposed In that wherein all wonders are inclosed 116 AT Fortuns speech they stand as all amaz'd Whilst Fame herselfe doth wonder at his woe And all vpon this deadly Image gaz'd VVhose misery shee had discribed so But in reuenge of this dispightfull foe Fame from a slumber as it seem'd awake On his behalfe thus for herselfe be-spake 117 What time I came frō world-renowned Rome To waken Europe from her drouzie traunce Summoning the Princes of great Christendome To Palaestine their Ensignes to aduaunce Soūding my trump in England Spaine Fraunce To moue the Christians to religious war Frō Pagans hands to free CHRISTS sepulchar 118 That holy Hermit Peter then as one VVhich as a Saint bewaild so great a losse With Bulloigne Godfrey Christs strong champion Vnder the Banner of the bloody CROSSE Now on the Alps the conquering collours tosse Leading along the brauest Christian band To reare their Tropheys in the HOLY LAND 119 Hether the flocks of gallant spirits do throng The place whence immortalitie doth spring To whom the hope of conquest doth belong Nor any thought lesse then to be a King Hether doth Fame her deerest children bring And in this Camp shee makes her treasury The rarest Iems of Europs Chiualry 120 This conquering lord
a lingring war That Arms might cease while mischiefe might increase To bring death neere by sending safety far In making that which made all quite might mar Treason crept in by this adulterate kay Into the closset where his counsailes lay 76 Thus made a friend to rob him of his friend The meanes a foe might weaken so his foe To frame this strange beginning to his end The well-cast plot or vtter ouerthrowe In this faire vizard masking in this showe That since hate thus in wearing would not proue He brings him now in habite of his loue 77 Thus reconcil'd by me one to the other Ioyn'd in this poore deuided vnion These brothers now make war vpon their brother As loth from them he should goe free alone To shape his mischiefe truly by their owne To drawe on griefe and vrge it to be more Because it came not fast enough before 78 This by fore-sight still wisely prouident To spur them on beyond degrees of ill To make their furie far more violent And ground their ruine on their peeuish will That mischiefe should be getting mischiefe still That iniurie so far should pitty chase As reconcilement neuer should take place 79 And here to shew my power on thee poore Fame I made thee now my greatest instrument That in the furie of this raging flame Euen in the height of Henryes discontent To Roberts eares the brute of war I sent Of Palaestine that leauing all with them He might away to great Ierusalem 80 With that sweet fume of honors shortest breath Feeding the humor which possest his hart VVhen now drew on the time of Williams death That in this fatall hower he should depart Herein to shew my very depth of Art That Henry now in England left alone Might seate himselfe in Roberts rightfull throne 81 The warlick Musique of these clattring Armes Doth stop his eares like a tempestious wind That now he finds no presage of his harmes Beyond all course so lifted is his mind Declaring well the greatnes of his kind Mounted so high within the spacious ayre As out of sight of ground he dreads no snare 82 His Father dy'd when first his cares tooke breath His Brother dyes now when his woes should die His sorrowes thus are strangely borne in death All-ending death brings forth his miserie Such is my power in humaine destenie That where an vtter ruine I pretend Destruction doth begin where hate should end 83 Thus laid the complot in the course of all I make his safetie vnto him more deare Seated from whence he neuer thought to fall Assur'd of good if any good there were That now each thought a Scepter seems to beare VVhich such a hold in his great spirit doth winne As after made his error prooue his sinne 84 VVith grace young Henry to his throne I bring Making great friends of mighty enemies She wing my power in this new raigning King As by my hand inuisibly to rise Decking his crowne with worldly dignities Forging his tongue with such a sacred fire As could perswade what ere he would desire 85 In Palaestine with Robert Fame doth rest In England with young Beauclark Fortune bides These mightie Ladies of these Lords possest Thus each of these with each of these deuides Thus weare we factious then on either sides Fame sor braue Short-thigh purchasing renowne Fortune for Beauclark for the English crowne 86 Thou wooest I win thou suest and I obtaine What I possesse that onely thou dost craue Thou layest out to gaine but what I gaine Thou dost desire I in possession haue Thou hordst I spend I lauish thou dost saue Thou scarsely art yet that thou art to mee Thou wouldst I can thou seruile I am free 87 Robert growne weake Henry recouered strength What quencht the Normans glory sir'd his will Robert is fallen Henry got vp at length Robert no guide Henry is steerd with skill Grounding his good on lucklesse Roberts ill Their mutuall courage and vnmooued hate Tels Henryes rise decline of Roberts state 88 From perrils safe no place at home he sees Abroad he wins at home he still doth lose At home wasted with ciuill enemies VVhilst he abroad is conquering forraine foes Wasting at home more then abroad he growes At home his daunger vnto many knowne Yet he abroad is carelesse of his owne 89 Now bring I Robert from these glorious wars Triumphing in the conquered Pagans flight From forraine broiles to toile in home-nurst iars From getting others Lands for's owne to fight Forced by wrong by sword to claime his right And with that sword in Panyms blood imbrude To saue himselfe by his own friends pursude 90 Thus he's inrich'd with that he cannot see With few vaine titles swelling in his name And all his substance but meere shadowes be VVhilst he strange castles in the aire doth frame Lo such a mighty Monarchesse is Fame That what she giues so easie is to beare As of those gifts none robbing need to feare 91 This whets his spleene but doth his strength abate Much care for coyne makes care for kingdoms lesse His feeblenes must hold vp Henries state These beare vp him which Roberts hopes suppresse Whose brothers comfort is in his distresse This is the meane he vndertooke to try VVith Roberts blood his safety first to buy 92 VVith kind intreaty he doth first begin Not fullie yet establisht as he would By this aduantage to get further in Till he had got a sure and faster hold Baiting vnseene deceit with sums of gold By yearely tribute from his crowne to rise To stop the mouth of passed iniuries 93 This peace to which the mutenie must yield And English tribute paid to Normandy VVhat Robert thinks his safegard's Henries shield And Roberts selfe doth Robert iniurie This tribute wrongs his true Nobilitie And frō this source from whence their peace shold spring Proceeds the cause of Roberts ruining 94 These summs the sinewes of Duke Roberts war Like howerly tides his flowing current sed And to his fier the liuely fuell are His will the streame and this the Fountaine head Hauing his humor fitlie cherished Deceiptfull Henry reobtaines at length Vnto his Arme adding Duke Roberts strength 95 This want his haughtie courage soone doth find Cutting the quils of his high flying wings That now he must commit him to the wind Driuen which way the furious tempest flings Powerlesse of that which giueth power to Kings VVhich desperate griefe his mind enrageth so As makes him past all reason in his woe 96 Honor gaue entertainment to beliefe Vnder which collour treason in was brought Which slew his strength before he selt the griese Pure innocence seldom suspecteth ought No base affection maister of his thought Nor maiestie inward deceit had learn'd More then to shew her outward eyes discern'd 97 Miserie seem'd nothing yet to him vnknowne Not knowing euill euill could not flie Not sauouring sorrow hauing tasted none To find lurking deceit he look'd too hie To honest minds Fraud doth the
for her own sinne Euen by that towne this zealous Lord did weepe To see her now defil'd with others sinne He wept he weepes for sinne and he for sinne He first shed teares he lastly sheddeth teares Those sacred drops the others drops endeares 167 What prince was found within the Christian hoast That carried marke of honor in his shield That with braue Roberts Lyons once durst boast Raging with furie in the bloody field VVhose mighty pawes a piller seem'd to weild Which froÌ„ their nostrhils breath'd a seeming flame VVhen he in pride amongst the Pagans came 168 His life with blood how dearely did he prize And neuer did he brandish his bright sword But many Pagan soules did sacrifize And all the ground with liuelesse truncks he stor'd Such was his loue vnto his dearest Lord That were true loue more purer then is loue Here in this loue his purenes he might proue 169 Who from his furie latelie fled away VVhen in the field far off they him espied Pursu'd in his faire presence make a stay As of his hand they willing would haue died His beautie so his feircenes mollified As taking death by valiant Roberts name Should to their liues giue euerlasting fame 170 The cruell Panyms thirsting after blood VVith his sweet beauty doe their hates a slake Yet when by him in danger they haue stood And that his valour did their rage awake And with their swords reuenge wold deeply take The edges turne as seeming to relent To pitty him to whom the blowes were sent 171 At feirce assaults where thousand deaths might fall His cheerfull smiles made death he could not kill Imperiously his sword commaunds the wall As stones should be obedient to his will The yeelding blood his blood did neuer spill His fury quencht with teares as with a flood And yet like fire consuming all that stood 172 When in the morne his Courser he bestrid The trumpets sound vnto his thoughts gaue fire But from the field he euer dropping rid As he were vanquisht onely in retire The neerer rest farther from his desire In bootie still his Souldiers share the crowns They rich in gold he onely rich in wounds 173 At this returne now in this sad retreate From heathens slaughter from the Christians fled This is not he which in that raging heate On mighty heapes laid Pagan bodies dead Whose plumed helme empaled in his head Mild as some Nimphlike â—â—â—gin now he seem'd VVhich some in fight a fearefull spirit deem'd 174 No tryumphs doe his victories adorne But in his death who on the Crosse had died No lawrell nor victorious wreath is worne But that red Crosse to tell him crucified This death his life this pouertie his pride His feast is fast his pleasure pennaunce is His wishes prayers his hope is all his blisse 175 Great Caluary whose hollow vaulted womb In his deere Sauiours death afunder riuen That rock-rent Caue that man-god burying tomb VVhich was vnto his blessed body giuen VVhose yeelding Ghost did shake the power of heauen Here as a Hermit could he euer liue Such wondrous thoughts vnto his soule they giue 176 Thus a poore Pilgrim he returnes againe His sumptuous roabes be turn'd to Palmers gray Leauing his Lords to lead his warlick traine Whilst he alone comes sadly on the way Dealing abroad his deare bloods purchas'd pray A hermits staffe his caresull hand doth hold VVhose charged Launce the beathen foe controld 177 Most louing zeale borne of more zealous loue Cares holy care faiths might ioyes food hopes kay The groundwork worlds bewitching cannot moue Of true desires the neuer failing stay The cheerfull light of heauens ne're-ending day Vertue which in thy selfe most vertuous art The fairest gyft of the most fairest part 178 But now to end this long continued strife Henceforth thy malice takes no further place Thy hate began and ended with his life His spirit by thee can suffer no disgrace Now in mine armes his vertues I imbrace His body thine his crosses witnes be His mind is mine and from thy power is free 179 Thou gau'st vp rule when he gaue vp his breath And at his end then did I first begin Thy hate was buried in his timelesse death Thou going out first did I enter in Thou loosing him thy losse then did I win And when the Fates did vp their right resigne Thy right his wrong thy hate his hap was mine 180 To the vnworthie world then get thee back Stuft with deceits and fawning flatteries There by thy power bring all things vnto wrack And fill the times with fearefull Tragedies And since thy ioy consists in miseries Heare his complaint who wanting eyes to see May giue thee sight which art as blind as hee 181 AT her great words whilst they in silence stand Poore haplesse Robert now remembring him Holding one bloody eye in his pale hand VVith countenance all dead and gastly grim As in a feauer shaking euery lim Euen with a pitteous lamentable grone Vailing his head thus breakes into his mone 182 Poore teare dim'd taper which hast lost thy brother And thus art lest to twinkle here alone Ah might'st thou not haue perrisht with the other And both together to your set haue gone You both were one one wanting thou not one Poore twins which like true friends one watch did keepe Why seuer'd thus y t so you shold not sleepe 183 And thou pore eye oh why sholdst thou haue light The others black eclipse thus soone to see And yet thy fellow be depriu'd of sight For thy sad teares the while to pitty thee Equall your griefes your haps vnequall be Take thou his darknes and thy sorrow hide Or he thy light his griefe so well espied 184 Let that small drop out of thy iuicie ball Canded like gum vpon the moist'ned thrid There still be fixed that it neuer fall But as a signe hang on thine eyes staind lid A witnes there what inward griefe is hid Like burning glasses sired by the Sonne Light all mens eyes to see what there is done 185 Now like to conduits draw my body drie By which is made the entrance to my blood Streame-gushing sluces plac'd in eyther eye VVhich shalbe fed by this continuall flood Whirlpooles of tears where pleasures citty stood Deuouring gulfes within a vastie land Or like the dead Sea euer hatefull stand 186 Where stood the watch-towers of my cheerful face Like Vestall Lamps lighted with holy flame Is now a dungeon and a lothed place The dark some prison of my hatefull shame That they themselues doe most abhor the same Through whose foule grates griefe full of miserie Still begging vengeance ceaseth not to crie 187 VVith dire-full seales death hath shut vp the dores VVhere he hath taken vp his dreadfull Inne In bloody letters shewing those fell sores That now doe raigne wherioy mirth haue beene This mortal plague the iust scourge of their sinne From whose contagion comfort quite is fled And they themselues in their selues buried 188 Poore
tears sith eyes your small drops cannot see And since the Fountains cease of my full eyes Teares get you eyes and help to pitty mee And water them which timelesse sorrow dryes Teares giue me teares lend eyes vnto my eyes So may the blind yet make the blind to see Else no help is to them nor hope to mee 189 Body and eyes vsurping others right Both altring vse contrarie vnto kind That eyes to eyes those dark which shold giue light The blind both guide guided by the blind Yet both must be directed by the mind Yet that which both their trustie guide should be Blinded with care like them can nothing see 190 The day abhors thee and from thee doth slie Night followes after yet behind doth stay This neuer comes though it be euernie This ere it comes is vanished away Nor night nor day though euer night and day Yet all is one still day or euer night No rest in darknes nor no ioy in light 191 Whilst light did giue me comfort to my mone Teares sound a meane to sound my sorrows deepe But now alasse that comfort being gone Tears do want eies which shold giue tears to weepe Whence I lost ioy there care I euer keepe What gaue me woe from me doth comfort take Delight a sleepe now sorrow still must wake 192 I saw my ill when ill could scarclie see I saw my good when I my good scarce knew Now see not ill when as my ill sees mee Hasting to that which still doth mee pursue VVith my lost eyes sorrow my state doth view In blindnes loosing hope of all delight And with my blindnes giue my cares full light 193 As man himselfe so the most hatefull beast The Worme enioyes the ayre as well as wee The little Gnat or thing that liues the least Of this by nature kindly is made free what thing hath mouth to brethe but eyes to see Though honor lost yet might I humbly craue To haue what beasts or flies or pore worms haue 194 Mine eyes hurt not the Sun nor steale the day Except a candle they see neuer light These monstrous walls do take that doubt away What feare then y t they shold harme y e night Needles is that sith tears haue blotted sight I know not then froÌ„ whence this hate should rise Except it onely be that they be eyes 195 The man-betraying Basilisk hath eyes Although by sight those eyes be made to kill Though her owne works be made her enemies Though naturally ordained vnto ill Yet in her selfe so iust is nature still How monstrous then am I alone in nature Denide of that she giues the vilest creature 196 Oh tyrannie more cruell far then death Though death be but the end of tyranie Death lends vs sight whilst she doth giue vs breath Of all the sences that the last doth dye In lyuing death how miserable am I In life of this sence me thus to depriue To make the others dye my selfe aliue 197 Eyes which with ioy like Sunnes haue risen oft To view that holy Citties glorious Towers And seene the Christian Ensignes raisd aloft Crowning the walls like garlands of rare flowers Now lie you perrisht in your Iuory bowers Nor shal you henceforth boast what you haue been But leaue the minde to thinke what you haue seen 198 You which haue seene faire Palestine â—estor'd And gorgeous Syon from the Paynims freed The Sepulcher of your most glorious Lord And y t faire Mount wher his sweet wouÌ„ds did bleed And with these sights my hungry soule did feed Within you brincks be drownd in your own blood Which oft haue view'd great Iordans sacred flood 199 Rake vp the sparks which nourished your fire VVithin the ashes of consumed eyes Those little brands which kindled youths desire The haples starrs of passed miseries VVander no more within your circling skies Vnder the Globes great compasse euer roule And in my minds great world now light my soule 200 Good night sweet Sunns your lights are cleane put out Your hollow pits be graues of all your ioy VVith dreadfull darknes compassed about VVherein is cast what murther can destroy That buried there which did the world annoy Those holy Fanes where vertue hallowed stood Become a place of slaughter and of blood 201 Poure downe your last refreshing euening dew And bathe your selues in fountains of your tears The day no more shall euer breake to you The ioyfull dawne no more at all appears No cheerfull sight your sorrow euer cheers Shut vp your windows ere constraint compell Be-take your selues to nights eternall Cell 202 HIS passion ending Fortune discontent Turning her back as shee away would flie Playing with fooles and babes incontinent As neuer toucht with humane misery Euen after death shewing inconstancy As straight forgetting what she had to tell To other speech and girlish laughter fell 203 VVheÌ„ graceful Fame conuaying thence her charge With all these troupes attended royallie Gaue me this booke wherein was writ at large Great Norman Roberts famous history T'amaze the world with his sad Tragedy But Fortune angry with her foe therefore Gaue me this gift That I should still be poore FINIS THE ARGVMENT OF MATILDA MATILDA for her beauty named the faire A second Lucretia the daughter of a noble Barron the Lorde Robert Fitzwater a man of great wisdom courage was long time followed of king Iohn who sought by all meanes possible to winne her to his vnlawfull desire But finding that all hee could deuise tooke no effect such was her wonderfull chastitie hee sought by force to take her from the Court and to sende her to some secret place where hee might fitlie accomplish his wicked intent but his purpose was preuented by her Fathers pollicie The King hereat enraged through despight subborned certaine malicious persons subtilly to accuse the Lord Fitzwater of rebellion where-vpon hee is banished Matilda flieth to Dunmowe in Essex and there became a Nunne in a Religious house there builded by IVGA a Virgin one of her Auncestors to vvhich place the King sendeth one to solicite his old sute with poyson eyther to yeelde to his desire or to end her life Shee seeing her Father banished none left to succour her and fearing to be takeÌ„ out of the Nunnary tooke the poyson and ended her dayes THE LEGEND of Matilda the chaste 1 IF to this some sacred Muse retaine Those choise regards by perfect vertue taught And in her chaste and virgin-humble vaine Doth kindlie cherrish one pure May den thought In whom my death hath but true pittie wrought By her I craue my life be reueald Which black obliuion hath too long concealed 2 Or on the earth if mercie may be found Or if remorce may touch the harts of men Or eyes may lend me teares to wash my wound Or passion be exprest by mortall pen Yet may I hope of some compassion then Three hundreth yeeres by all men ouer-past Now finding one to pittie mee at last 3 You blessed Imps
restraine Affections subiect to his mind should be Then absolute is it absolute he His mind commaunding kingly by abstaining As his commaund is absolute in raigning 132 His thoughts be pure as Christall without spot He is wisdom honour valure chastitie VVhat excellence is there that he is not Or what may be by him which cannot be He's Vertues true superlatiue degree From his affections neuer can proceed One little thought of this so vile a deed 133 Kings be the Gods Vizgerents here on earth The Gods haue power Kings frō that power haue might Kings should excell in vertue as in birth Gods punish wrongs kings shold maintain right They be the Suunes from which we borrow light And they as Kings should still in iustice striue With Gods from whō their beings they deriue 134 Empire euen like the Sunne doth draw all eyes And his Eclipse the soonest doth appeare Small vapours seeme great lights drawn to the skies Things ouer-head though far shew euer neare Small staines be great in things shold be most cleare Nothing so soone discernd by humaine sight As is the cloud which hides the cheerfull light 135 Inrag'd with this in greefes extremitie Minion quoth he tis now no time to prate Dispatch or els Ile drench you presently Of this nor that I stand not to debate Expects thou loue where thou reward'st with hate I passe not I how ere thou like the motion Haue done at once and quickly take the Potion 136 THis sudden terror makes me pause for breath Till sighing out at length this sad reply If it be so welcom to me my death This is the vtmost of extremitie And yet when all is done I can but die His will be done sith he will haue it so And welcome Death the end of all my woe 137 My loue is his whilst loue to him is due Allegiance binds that loue that loue tyes truth Vntrue to him if to my selfe vntrue Suspect is still a Page that waites on Youth Ensuing that which of it selfe ensu'th Plasters cure wounds nothing a wounded name Kings pardon death but cannot pardon shame 138 And thou my Deaths-man slaue vnto his lust Th' executioner of his lawlesse will In whom the Tyrant doth repose such trust Detract no time his murthering mind fulfill Doe what thou dar'st the worst thou canst but kill And tell the Tyrant this when I am dead I loath'd his beastly and adulterous bed 139 Nor let the King thy Maister euer thinke A vertuous Maid so cowardly and base As to be frighted with a poysoned drinke And liue an abiect in the worlds disgrace All eyes with shame to gaze me in the face That ages which heer-after shall succeede Shall hold me hatefull for so vile a deede 140 Strange be effects strange things in loue to proue He would take from me what he cannot take He loues my hate and doth but hate my loue And would vnmake what he doth striue to make And thus must loue be punisht for loues sake And would compell by force so to be held VVhich is nor was nor can be if compeld 141 To make that his which then cannot be his VVhich if once had is perisht being had Nor is not then the same that now it is Striuing to get what he to loose is glad VVhen pleasure with extreame excesse is mad Poore in the riches which haue spoiled me I rich in that in which I poore should be 142 Is this the greatest gyft he could bestowe Is this the Iewell wher-with he doth present me I am his friend what gives he to his foe If this in token of his loue be sent me Remedilesse I am it must content me Yet afterward a prouerb this shall proue The gyft King Iohn bestow'd vpon his Loue. 143 Then of this conquest let thy Soueraigne boast And make report with shame what he hath done A thing more easie then subdue an Hoast Or conquer Kingdoms as his Father wonne O haplesse Sire of this vnhappy Sonne And he more shame shall carrie to his graue Then Fortune honors to his Father gaue 144 Thus spoke my mind as women vse to doe Hoping thereby som-what to ease my hart But words I found did but increase my woe Augment his rage not mittigate my smart And now comes in the reckoning ere we part And now my valure must be try'd or neuer Or famous now or infamous for euer 145 Taking the poyson from his deadly hand Vnto the King caroust my latest draught Goe wretch quoth I now let him vnderstand He hath obtayn'd what he so long hath sought Though with my blood my fame I deerly bought And though my youth he basely haue betrayd Yet witnes Heauen I liu'd and dyed a Mayd 146 This cup the pen this poyson is the inke And in this vntoucht table of my brest To him I'le freely write what I doe thinke Where he shall find it feelingly exprest And what I doe omit tell thou the rest Yet rather then in any thing we'le varie VVe iointly will become one Secretarie 147 Then why repine I sith he thinks it meete He is my Soueraigne and my life is his Death is not bitter spyc'd with such a sweet Which leads the way to euerlasting blis He's all my ioy he all my glory is He is the tuch by whom my gold is tryed Onely by him my death is glorified 148 For could my life haue giuen life to me My youths faire flower yet blooming had not died Then how should this but meritorious be When by my death my life is sanctified Could euer thing more fitly be applied In this is loue in this his care I find My Lord is iust my Lord is only kind 149 Then let these teares th'Elixars of my loue Be to his soule a pure preseruatiue And let my prayers be of such force to moue That by my death my Soueraigne may suruiue And from his raigne let Fame herselfe deriue His glory like the Sunnes translucent rayes And as the heauen eternall be his dayes 150 And thou my carefull kind Phisition For phisick now thy patients patient be Appeale to heauen with true contrition And in thy conscience glasse thy foule sinne see To thee I'le be as thou hast beene to mee This potion take to rid thee from dispaire Euen as thy potion shall rid me of care 151 Faith finds free passage to Gods mercy seat Repentance carries heauens eternall kayes The greater sinnes bewept mercy more great A harty will makes straight th' offenders wayes Heauen rings for ioy when once a sinner prayes Of these sweet simples is my drink compounded VVhich shall cure both our soules both deeplie wounded 152 This mortall poyson now begins to rage And spreads his vigor thorough all my vaines There is no phisick can my greefe aswage Such is the torment which my hart destraines Boyling my intrales in most hellish paines And Nature weakned of her wonted force Must yeeld to death which now hath no remorce 153 And those pure thoughts which
on my youthfull story These were y e Wolues which thirsted for my blood These all vnlade their mischiefes at this bay And make the breach to enter my decay 61 These currs which liu'd by carrion of the court These wide-mouth'd helhounds long time kept at bay Finding the King to credit their report Like greedie Rauens follow for their pray Despightfull Langton fauorit to the King This was the Serpent stroke me with his sting 62 Such as beheld this lightning from aboue My Princely Ioue from out the ayre to thunder This Earth-quake which did my foundation moue This boystrous strome this vnexspected wonder They thought my Sunne had been eclipsed quite And all my day now turn'd to Winters night 63 My youth embowel'd by their curious eyes VVhose true reports my lyfe anotomis'd VVho still pursu'd me like deceitfull spyes To crosse that which I wantonly deuis'd Perceiue the traine me to the trap had led And down they come like hailstones on my head 64 My Sunne eclips'd each starre becomes a Sunne When Phoebus failes then Cynthia shineth bright These furnish vp the Stage my act is done Which were but Glo-worms to my glorious light They erst condemn'd by my perfections doome In Phoebus Chariot now possesse my roome 65 The Commons swore I led the Prince to vice The Noble-men said I abus'd the King Graue Matrons such as lust could not intice Like women whispred of another thing Such as could not aspire vnto my place These were subborn'd to offer me disgrace 66 The staffe thus broke wheron my youth did stay And like the shaddow all my pleasures gone Now with the winds my ioyes fleet hence away The silent night makes musick to my mone The tatling Ecchoes whispring with the ayre Vnto my words sound nothing but dispayre 67 The frowning Heauens are all in sable clad The Planet of my liues misfortune raineth No musick serues a dying soule to glad My wrong to Tirants for redresse complaineth To ease my paine there is no remedie So far despayre exceeds extremitie 68 VVhy doe I quake my down-fall to report Tell on my Ghost the storie of my woe The King commaunds I must depart the court I aske no question he will haue it so The Lyons roring lesser Beasts doth feare The greatest flye when he approcheth neare 69 My Prince is now appointed to his gard As from a Traytor he is kept from me My banishment alreadie is prepard Away I must there is no remedie On paine of death I may no longer stay Such is reuenge which brooketh no delay 70 The skyes with clouds are all inuelloped The pitchy fogs eclipse my cheerfull Sunne The geatie night hath all her curtains spred And all the ayre with vapours ouer-runne Wanting those rayes whose cleernes lent me light My sun-shine day is turn'd black-fac'd night 71 Like to the bird of Leda's Lemmans die Beating his breast against the siluer streame The fatall Prophet of his destenie With mourning chants his death aproching theame So now I sing the dirges of my fall The Anthemes of my fatall funerall 72 Or as the faithfull Turtle for her make VVhose youth enioyd her deare virginitie Sits shrouded in some melancholly brake Chirping fotth accents of her miserie Thus halfe distracted sitting all alone With speaking sighs to vtter forth my mone 73 My beautie sdayning to behold the light Now weather-beaten with a thousand storms My dainty lims must trauaile day and night Which oft were luld in princely Edwards armes Those eyes where Beautie sat in all her pride VVith fearefull obiects fild on euery side 74 The Prince so much astonisht with the blowe So that it seem'd as yet he felt no paine Vntil at length awakned by his woe He sawe the wound by which his ioyes were slaine His cares fresh bleeding fainting more and more No Cataplasma now to cure the sore 75 Now weepe mine eyes and lend me teares at will You sad-musd sisters help me to indite And in your faire Castalia bathe my quill In bloodie lines whilst I his woes recite Inspire my Muse â Heauens now from aboue To paint the passions of a princely loue 76 His eyes about their rowling Globes doe east To find that Sunne frō whom they had their light His thoughts doe labour for that sweet repast VVhich past the day and pleasd him all the night He counts the howers so slolie how they runne Reproues the day blames the loytring Sunne 77 As gorgious Phoebus in his first vprise Discouering now his Scarlet-coloured head By troublous motions of the lowring skies His glorious beames with foggs are ouer-spread So are his cheerfull browes eclips'd with sorrow w t cloud y t shine of his youths-smiling morrow 78 Now showring downe a flood of brackish teares The Epithemas to his hart-swolne griefe Then sighing out a vollue of despayres VVhich only is th'afflicted mans reliefe Now wanting sighes all his teares were spent His tongue brake out into this sad lament 79 O breake my hart quoth he ô breake and dye Whose Infant thoughts were nurst with sweet delight But now the Inne of care and miserie VVhose pleasing hope is murthered by despight O end my dayes for now my ioyes are done VVanting my Piers my sweetest Gaueston 80 Farewell my Loue companion of my youth My soules delight the subiect of my mirth My second selfe if I report the truth The rare and only Phenix of the earth Farwell sweet friend with thee my ioyes are gon Farewell my Piers my louely Gaueston 81 VVhat are the rest but painted Imagrie Domb Idols made to fill vp idle roomes But gaudie Anticks sports of foolerie But fleshly Coffins goodly gilded toombs But Puppets which with others words replie Like pratling Ecchoes soothing euery lie 82 O damned world I scorne thee and thy worth The very source of all iniquitie An ougly dam that brings such monsters forth The maze of death nurse of impietie A filthy sinke where lothsomnes doth dwell A Labyrinth a Iayle a very hell 83 Deceitfull Syren Traytor to my youth Bane to my blisse false theese that steal'st my ioyes Mother of lyes sworne enemie to truth The ship of fooles fraught all with gauds toyes A vessell stuft with foule hypocrisie The very temple of Idolatrie 84 O earth-pale Saturne most maleuolent Combustious Planet tyrant in thy raigne The sword of wrath the root of discontent In whose ascendant all my ioyes are slaine Thou executioner of foule bloody rage To act the will of lame decrepit age 85 My life is but a very map of woes My ioyes the fruit of an vntimely birth My youth in labour with vnkindly throwes My pleasures are like plagues that raigne on earth All my delights like streams that swiftly runne Or like the dewe exhaled by the Sunne 86 O Heauens why are you deafe vnto my mone Sdayne you my prayers or scorne to heare my misse Cease you to moue or is your pitty gone Or is it you which rob me of my blisse What are you
blind or wink and will not see Or doe you sport at my calamitie 87 O happy climat what so ere thou be Cheerd with those sunnes the fair'st that euer shon Which hast those Starrs which guide my destenie The brightest Lamps in all the Horizon O happy eyes that see what most I lack The pride and beautie of the Zodiack 88 O blessed Fountaine source of all delight O sacred spark that kindlest Vertues fier The perfect obiect of the purest sight The superficies of true loues desire The very tuchstone of all sweet conceite On whom all graces euer-more awaite 89 Thus whilst his youth in all these storms was tost And whilst his ioyes lay speechlesse in a trance His sweet content with such vnkindnes crost And lowring Fortune seem'd to looke a skance Too weake to swim against the streamfull time Fore-told their fall w c now sought most to clime 90 Camelion-like the world thus turnes her hue And like to Proteus puts on sundry shapes One hastes to clime another doth ensue One falls another for promotion gapes Flockmell they swarme like flies about the brim Some drown whilst others w t great danger swim 91 And some on whom the Sunne shone passing faire Yet of their Sommer nothing seeme to vaunt They sawe their fall presaged by the ayre If once this Planet were predominant Thus in their gate they flew with wings of feare And still with care doe purchase honor deare 92 Thus restlesse Time that neuer turnes againe VVhose winged secte are slyding with the Sunne Brings Fortune in to act another Scene By whom the Plot already is begunne The argument of this black tragedie Is vertues fall to raise vp infamie 93 The brute is blowne the King doth now pretend A long-look'd voyage to the Holy-land For which his Subiects mighty sums doe lend And whilst the thing is hotly thus in hand Blind Fortune turnes about her fickle wheele And breaks y e prop which maks y e building reele 94 I feare to speake yet speake I must perforce My words be turn'd to teares euen as I write Mine eyes doe yet behold his dying course And on his Hearse me thinks I still indite My paper is hard sable Ebon wood My pen of Iron and my Inke is blood 95 Loe here the time drew on of Edwards death Loe here the dolefull period of his yeares O now he yeeldeth vp that sacred breath For whom the Heauens do shower down floods of teares For whom the Sun euen mourning hides his face For whom the earth was all too vile and base 96 May I report his dolefull obsequie VVhen as my Ghost doth tremble at his name Faine would I vvrite but as I vvrite I die My ioynts apald vvith feare my hand is lame I leaue it to some sacred Muse to tell Vpon whose life a Poets pen might dwell 97 No sooner was his body vvrapt in lead And that his mournfull Funerals vvere done But that the Crowne vvas set on Edwards head Sing I-o now my Ghost the storme is gone The wind blows right loe yonder breaks my day Caroll my Muse and now sing care away 98 Carnaruan now calls home vvithin a vvhile Whom vvorthy Long-shanks hated to the death Whom Edward swore should dye in his exile He vvas as deere to Edward as his breath This Edward lou'd that Edward loued not Kings wils perform'd dead mens words forgot 99 Now waft me wind vnto the blessed Ile Rock me my ioyes loue sing me with delight Now sleepe my thoughts cease sorrow for a while Now end my care come day farwell my night Sweet sences now act euery one his part Loe here the balme that hath recur'd my hart 100 Loe now my Ioue in his ascendant is In the Aestiuall solstice of his glorie Now all the Stars prognosticate my blis And in the Heauen all eyes may read my storie My Comet now worlds wonder thus appeares Foretelling troubles of ensuing yeares 101 Now am I mounted with Fames golden wings And in the tropick of my fortunes height My flood maintayned with a thousand springs Now on my back supporting Atlas weight All tongues and pens attending on my prayse Surnamed now the wonder of our dayes 102 VVho euer sawe the kindest Romaine dame VVith extreame ioy yeeld vp her latest breath VVhen from the wars her Sonne triumphing came And stately Rome had mourned for his death Her passion here might haue exprest a right VVhen once I came into the Princes sight 103 VVho euer had his Lady in his arms Which hath of loue but felt the miserie Touching the fire that all his sences warms Now clips with ioy her blushing Iuorie Feeling his soule in such delights to melt Ther's none but he can tell the ioyes we felt 104 Like as when Phoebus darting forth his rayes Glydeth along the swelling Ocean streams And whilst one billow with another playes Reflecteth back his bright translucent beams Such was the conflict then betwixt our eyes Sending forth looks as tears doe fall and rise 105 It seem'd the ayre deuisd to please my sight The whistling wind makes musick to my tale All things on earth doe feast me with delight The world to me sets all her wealth to sale VVho now rules all in Court but I alone VVho highly grac'd but onely Gaueston 106 Now like to Mydas all I touch is gold The clowds doe showre downe gold into my lap If I but winck the mightiest are controld Plac'd on the turret of my highest hap My Cofers now euen like to Oceans are To whom all floods by course doe still repare 107 With bountie now he franckly seales his loue And to my hands yeelds vp the Ile of Man By such a gift his kingly mind to proue Thys was the earnest where-with he began Then Wallingford Queene Elnors stately bower With many a towne and many a goodly tower 108 And all those summs his Father had prepard By way of taxes for the Holy-land He gaue me franckly as my due reward In bountie thus it seem'd he pleasd his hand Which made the world to wonder euery howre To see me drowned in this golden showre 109 Determin'd now to hoyse my saile amaine The Earle of Cornwall he created me Of England then the Lord high Chamberlaine Cheese Secretarie to his Maiestie VVhat I deuisd his treasure euer wrought His bountie still so answered to my thought 110 Yet more to spice my ioyes with sweet delight bound by his loue apprentice to my pleasure VVhose eyes still leueld how to please my sight VVhose kindnes euer so exceeded measure Deuisd to quench my thirst with such a drink As from my quill drops Nectar to my inck 111 O sacred Bountie mother of Content Prop of renowne the nourisher of Arts The Crowne of hope the roote of good euent The trump of Fame the ioy of noble harts Grace of the heauens diuinitie in nature Whose excellence doth so adorne the creature 112 Hee giues his Neece is marriage vnto me Of royall blood for beautie