Chapter 90

[516]This legend is not in the first edition.[517]Which sought by outrage golden gaines to winne. N.[518]A sleepie sicknesse, nam’d the Lethargie,Opprest me sore till death tooke life away:This was the guerdon of my gluttonie,As with the candles light the flie doth play,Though in the ende it worke her liues decay:So of the gluttons cup so long I drunke,Till drown’d in it with shamefull death I sunke. N.[519]This line omitted by Niccols.[520]In the first edition this legend is in quatrains.Forrex declares howe hee minding to kill his brother which ruled with him (that he might therby raigne alone) was by him slain. About the yeare before Christe, 491.Pride moues the mindes of stately wightesSuch hauty hartes to haue,And causeth vs for glory vayne,That is not ours to craue.Pryde pluckes out reason forth hir place,And planted will in stede:She puffes our mindes with vayne desires,Our fancies fonde to feede.Wherby we growe so obstinate,And so ambitious ill:That vs at length our brauery bidsIn all things vse our will.Ambition thinkes that lawefull is,Which likes hir fancie best:And demes she ought to haue hir forth,And swinge before the rest.She loues no mates, controlment sheeAnd warning doth despise:She demes her selfe in all hir deedeAnd actions, wonders wise.She hath desire of this and that,To get by crouche or clawe:By right or wrong she forceth not,She vseth will for lawe.No kinde, or countrey she regardes,No mother, father shee:Nor wyfe, or husbande, kithe or kin:But enuies eche degree.For if thy hart Ambition haue,Thy greedy mynde to still:Thou wilt not sticke thy dearest frende,Or nerest kin to kill.But as the prouerbe sayes that PrydeMust needes at length haue fall:Though we suppose of strength and powreWe haue the deuill and all.Euen so I say: Ambition makesVs often clime so hie:At length we fall, we come to nought,And drownde in darkenes lye.This may I Forrex well auouche,By proufe to true I finde:Wherefore I praye thee with the rest,Do put my faultes in mynde.My father olde, hight Gorboduge,Raignde three score yeares and three:And at his death gaue all his landeTwene Porrex proude and mee.Fiue yeares we helde it so in peace,In reste we ruled well:But at the last by pryde and wrathWe foule at discorde fell.We eache encrochte on others partes,For rule we liu’de at strife:And eache did seeke occasion ayeTo reaue the others life.I made this counte I elder was,By birth the realme was myne:By warre, or wrong, or bloud I mentTo haue it all in fine.And he although he yonger were,Esteemde his state so sureAs mine: and thought it his, if heeMy death might once procure.My mother eke that lou’de me moreAlthough he yonger was:By diuers meanes did helpe me stillTo bring my feates to passe.Wherby I thought my selfe so sureTo haue my purpose sped,As I requirde: if once I mightGet of his crafty head.See here what faith what frendship is,What loue what fauour weeDo shewe to any wight aliue,If once aloft we bee.To fathers we are faithlesse ofte:To brothers, butchers vile:Of sisters small accounte we make,And wedded wyues exile.If any kithe, or kin, we haue,By whom we vantage may:We care not by what cruell meanesTheir liues we take away.But for to get the seate alone,And for to wynne the crowne:We care not whom, nor when, nor how:So we may get them downe.O brutish beasts! nay worse then those,For they are still contentWith that they haue, what euer themHath God or Nature sent.But we do gape, and gaze for glore:We prowle, and powle, and pill,And sweare, and stare, and striue, and fight,And one another kill.And all for pompe, and glorie great,For name, renowne, estate:Not caring of the commons crye,Or God’s eternall hate.If I had had the giftes of grace,I neuer would haue soughtBy any meanes such worldly trashe,With brother’s bloud to bought.But as I ment euen so I sped,So bloudy butchers thye:When moste I deemde my purpose sure,He was to good for me.For as I thought his bloud to shed,I compast was about,So that for thousand kingdomes, ICould not with life scape out.He pearst my hart, what skilles it sith,My minde was euen as bad:For why what measure I him mente,My selfe like measure had.And so all such, as murder meane,Intende, or treason vse,Shall at the length, like ends attayne,Or worse they cannot chuse.[521]To tell my storie on the tragicke stage. N.[522]I may complaine that felt god Mars his rage,Alas, that fate to state should be so fell;Had I been meaner borne I know right well. N.[523]While that my kingly sire,Gorbodug, raign’d. N.[524]Not sticke oft times in field to fight. N.[525]Into her bowels by the force of hand,With steele and iron we do dig profound,Working her woe to make our ioyes abound. N.[526]If we behold the substance. N.[527]How he is made of elements. N.[528]Armie strong for field. N.[529]Heard the counsell. N.[530]Hope will slip. N.[531]Bred. N.[532]The concluding Alexandrine omitted by Niccolls.The Authour.When as king Forrex thus had tolde his tale,Me thought he stayde no whit but went his way.Then came a mangled corps as full of bale,And or he nerer came made half a stay.(Quoth Morpheus) come, for shame thou nedste not stay,As bad as thou haue tolde their tales before,And so must thou and diuers other more.[533]The life of Porrex was also re-written. It is thus in the first edition.Porrex recites howe for the slaughter of his brother, he was slaine by his owne mother and hir maydens, as he laye sleeping. About the yeare before Christ, 491.Genes. 4.From darkesome dennes, where cruel Cayne,And other like do lye:Whose bloudie blades were bathde in bloud,Poore caytiue thence come I.Annius.Where Typhon is, his brother slewe,Osiris in despite:And where their sister Isis is,Did him againe requite.Virgil. in culi.Where Dardanus to rule aloneHis brother made away:Etheocles, Polinices,At once did others sley.Seruius. 3. Aeneid. Ouid in Ibin.Where Helenus king Priam’s sonHis brother Theon kilde.Medea eke in bloudy wyse,Hir brother’s bloud that spilde.Statius.Where Tydeus is in hunting shoteHis brother through the side:Polytes eke his brother’s harteWith sworde that opened wyde.Herodotus. Gel. li. 4. cap. 3.And where as that Cambyses is,His sister once that slewe:And Polipontes king that made,His brother treason rewe.And cruell where Odores s,Which mercy did denyTo Mithridate his brother deare,That did for pardon crie.Herodotus.Eke where Learchus is, that didHis brother sicke destroy:With poyson deadly hoping so,To make him selfe a Roy.Ouid in Ibin.And where that wretche Mamertes lies,His brothers sonnes that spilte:And Sisapho tormenting him,For such an heynous gilte.Plutarch. Laert. Volater.Where Rhesus and Caduidus are,With shaftes their brethren slewe:And Philadelphus PtolomæHis brother’s death did brewe.Volater.Where Philopater PtolomæHis father made awayAnd after that his brother withHis dearest frendes did slay.Plato. 10. de rep.And where Ardieus, tyraunt vile,His aged father stroyde,And after that his elder brother,Kingdomes to enioyde.Cælius.Where Mithridates, beastly king,Of Pontus feeles anoye:Which mother his, and brother eke,Sixe children did destroye.Volater.Where is Antiochus the great,His brother brought to graue:That he might onely raigne alone,And all the kingdome haue.Liuius. Lucan. Ouid.Wher Romulus, that Remus slew,Of Romaines, first had fall:Though louing brother first he were,Presumde to scale the wall.Flores Histor.And where Mempricius lewde doth lye,A Britayne Prince that slue,His brother Manlius fearing lestHe were to him vntrue.Salust.Where Iurgurth eke that basterde is,His brethren brought to graue:That after them NumidiaHe might for kingdome haue.And where a thousande are beside,Which were to long to tell,Their parentes deare and brethren slue,And now in darkenes dwell.From thence I came a Britayne yore,Namde Porrex once a king:Againe to shewe what vices meeTo sodaine death did bring.Now list a while and then do write,What I thee tell, that others mayThemselues in such attempts as these,From bloudy acts, as brethren stay.My brother Forrex fiue yeares space,And I this kingdome helde:Betweene vs both the common weale,We scace did wisely welde.At length we fondly fell at strife,So Princes bide no mate,Nor make, nor partners, with to raigneBut beare their equals hate.The heire because I yongest was,Thought his by right the crowne:But I esteemde the halfe was mine,And all if he were downe.Whereby, O brothell, butcher eke,Not brother I did slay:My brother for to haue it all,And get his right away.Such are the acts of heedelesse youthes,Such are their studies still:Which care not what offence they make,So they their fancies fill.But as it is vniustice, andAn haynous acte to vse:Such murder, slaughter, parricideAnd iustice all refuse.So Ioue the iust at length requitesOur deedes: and makes vs reweWe euer were, to God, or manOr nature’s hestes vntrue.For when I deemde the crowne was mine,Which had my brother slayne,O griefe to tell, my mother, andHir maydens wrought my payne.Both for my fault, and for she lou’deMy brother Forrex still:With all hir maydes she came by night,My sleeping corps to kill.And I that slombring sleeping lay,Though many dreames fortoldeMy haplesse fall, could neuer wake,The meaning to vnfolde.But last supposing with my selfe,I cruell Tigres sawe,With rauening fearcenes rent their yong,Against dame Nature’s lawe.She came on me to fill my dreame,Before my eyes could wake,And with a dagger reft my life,For Forrex slaughter’s sake.Virgil in Culice.Much like Agaue and his mates,Shee and hir maydens gotThem tooles therefore, and hewde my corse,As small as fleshe to pot.Ouid. 6. Metamor.Or Progne Queene hir children slue,and hewde their membres small:In wrathfull ire made Tereus feede,and fil himselfe withall.Virgil. 8. Aegl.Or like Medea monster Queene,hir Iason’s sonnes that kilde:Because she was forsaken whenhis purpose was fulfilde.Like these was shee, nay worse, for why,This ended Brutus lyne:Brought me to ende and hir to shame,though first the fault were mine.Bid those beware that weene to winne,by bloudy acts the crowne:Lest from the height they feele the fallof topsy turuye downe.For if when they suppose themseluesaloft to touch the skie,There chaunce a storme, there is no holdeto staye themselues so hie.But faster farre, more swiftly they,and with more swinge descende,Then euer erst they could with allthere force to clime contende:Do bid them then in all their deedesmarke well the finall ende.[534]Or Typhon who for state and worldly pelfe,His deare Osiris. N.[535]Then to do the like may trie. N.[536]Orodes slew his brother. N.[537]So I my brother’s life away did take. N.[538]Procur’d the slaughter. N.[539]This. N.[540]They would not so aspire to Princes place. N.[541]From bale to blisse and downe from heauen to hell. N.[542]Touch not the Prince, crowne, scepter, &c. N.[543]The Authour.Next after Porrex came an other such,Had all his body quite in peeces rent:A desperate man, his life bewayling much:Which for he seemed sorely to lament,I was the rather him to heare content:That I might also note his story here,From like attempts of vices you to feare.[Here follows the tragedy of Kimarus, as at p. 208.][544]The author has followed the authority of the Polichronicon in making Porrex the survivor. In the chronicle by Harding and other authorities their destiny is reversed; though generally it is stated, that the conqueror obtained the kingdom through the powerful aid of the king of France. Upon the story of these brothers was founded the tragedy of Gorboduc, produced by Norton and Sackvile in 1561, which was one of the earliest legitimate productions of the English drama. The murderous events of their history seem not to have been considered sufficient to maintain the interest of the play, and the traditionary tale was deviated from by making the old king Gorboduc survive his sons, and to fall a sacrifice with the queen, to the rage of the multitude. But this accumulation of horror was in taste with the times, and Sir P. Sidney describes the piece as “full of morality, which it doth most delightfully teach, and thereby obtain the very end of poetry.”[545]The three formed part of a pentarchy, whereon the chronicles are uniform as to the obscurity.[546]Not in the first edition.[547]Right ouerrunnes. N.[548]After comes. N.[549]If good be gaine. N.[550]The grape growes on the vine and not the hop. N.[551]Of this now spoken, this would I inferre,Men may by might a kingdome long withholdNot due to them: but they far better wereTo yeeld vnto the right, what reason would.Good mettals bides the touch, which tries the gold,When copper counted counterfeit in cast,Is deem’d but drosse and called in at last. N.[552]I am that Pinnar, who when Brutus bloodExtincted was in bloodie Porrex raigne,Amongst the Princes in contention stood,Who in the Britaine throne by right should raigne:Mongst whom by might a part I did obtaine,That part of Albion call’d Logria hight,I did long time vsurpe against all right. N.[553]Stater who stept into the Scottish throne,And Rudacke, that vsurpt the Cambrian crowne,Their minds to mine did frame and ioyn’d in one,To keepe the Cornish Prince stout Cloten downe,Twixt whom and vs in fighting, for renowneFaire Ladie Albion Europes wondred Ile,Rob’d of her beautie was, alas the while. N.[554]Duke Cloten, though a man of worthie praise,Who claim’d the crowne as due to him by right:Could not preuaile till death did end his daies,His sonne Mulmucius that vndaunted KnightPursu’d his fathers claime with all his might,And meeting vs in many a bloodie field,At length in manly fight did make vs yeeld. N.[555]He Lion-like himselfe with his all troopeOf nimble Cornish met vs on the way,And to his conquering arme did cause vs stoope,The price of treason I with blood did pay,My wrong deem’d right appear’d in my decay.Who so by violence scales the throne of State,Seldome sits sure, but falles by violent fate. N.[556]Not in the first edition. It is scarcely necessary to notice to the reader the change to the anapæstic metre in this short life, which the author has just called “staylesse staggering footed verse.”[557]Desist not in histories truly to tell. N.[558]Mirrours. N.[559]Our souldiers were slaughter’d, or forced to yeeld. N.[560]Were killed before. N.[561]Or forced to yeeld, or abandon the coast. N.[562]Not in the first edition.[563]Esteem’d. N.[564]Bladhud’s fond deuice. N.[565]Adowne. N.[566]By my mishaps let other men be wise. N.[567](For Forrex hight and Porrex both were slayne. N.)[568]The wors er thereby our faithfull friends were. N.[569]We do enioy her vaine ioyes. N.[570]Stand. N.[571]When I who with others did thinke myselfe sure. N.[572]Who, when to field our power we did draw. N.[573]Donwallo with honour. N.[574]Oppose. N.[575]Not inserted in the first edition.[576]Mulmucius who with conquering blade did freeThe Britans troubled state from tyrants vile. N.[577]With me in Albany to leade a princely life. N.[578]His eie on Samye’s beautie had so fed. N.[579]By force of armes to beare the. N.[580]Erst bene heard mongst wise men sawes. N.[581]——the like by strife,Or make assault by wrong to winne a Prince’s wife. N.[582]But on his side the conquest did appear,I yeelded her. N.[583]For tribute hostage gaue to Beline ere he past. N.[584]And why false fortune my attempt did crosse. N.[585]At seas we met our foes. N.[586]The. N.[587]And threatned Beline sore. N.[588]Then appointed was to take the warre in hand. N.[589]Whose bounteous grace for aye my loue to him did bind. N.[590]Rashnes (by proofe I found) incurs the greatest ill. N.[591]With her his Dukedome. N.

[516]This legend is not in the first edition.

[517]Which sought by outrage golden gaines to winne. N.

[518]A sleepie sicknesse, nam’d the Lethargie,Opprest me sore till death tooke life away:This was the guerdon of my gluttonie,As with the candles light the flie doth play,Though in the ende it worke her liues decay:So of the gluttons cup so long I drunke,Till drown’d in it with shamefull death I sunke. N.

[518]

A sleepie sicknesse, nam’d the Lethargie,Opprest me sore till death tooke life away:This was the guerdon of my gluttonie,As with the candles light the flie doth play,Though in the ende it worke her liues decay:So of the gluttons cup so long I drunke,Till drown’d in it with shamefull death I sunke. N.

A sleepie sicknesse, nam’d the Lethargie,

Opprest me sore till death tooke life away:

This was the guerdon of my gluttonie,

As with the candles light the flie doth play,

Though in the ende it worke her liues decay:

So of the gluttons cup so long I drunke,

Till drown’d in it with shamefull death I sunke. N.

[519]This line omitted by Niccols.

[520]In the first edition this legend is in quatrains.Forrex declares howe hee minding to kill his brother which ruled with him (that he might therby raigne alone) was by him slain. About the yeare before Christe, 491.Pride moues the mindes of stately wightesSuch hauty hartes to haue,And causeth vs for glory vayne,That is not ours to craue.Pryde pluckes out reason forth hir place,And planted will in stede:She puffes our mindes with vayne desires,Our fancies fonde to feede.Wherby we growe so obstinate,And so ambitious ill:That vs at length our brauery bidsIn all things vse our will.Ambition thinkes that lawefull is,Which likes hir fancie best:And demes she ought to haue hir forth,And swinge before the rest.She loues no mates, controlment sheeAnd warning doth despise:She demes her selfe in all hir deedeAnd actions, wonders wise.She hath desire of this and that,To get by crouche or clawe:By right or wrong she forceth not,She vseth will for lawe.No kinde, or countrey she regardes,No mother, father shee:Nor wyfe, or husbande, kithe or kin:But enuies eche degree.For if thy hart Ambition haue,Thy greedy mynde to still:Thou wilt not sticke thy dearest frende,Or nerest kin to kill.But as the prouerbe sayes that PrydeMust needes at length haue fall:Though we suppose of strength and powreWe haue the deuill and all.Euen so I say: Ambition makesVs often clime so hie:At length we fall, we come to nought,And drownde in darkenes lye.This may I Forrex well auouche,By proufe to true I finde:Wherefore I praye thee with the rest,Do put my faultes in mynde.My father olde, hight Gorboduge,Raignde three score yeares and three:And at his death gaue all his landeTwene Porrex proude and mee.Fiue yeares we helde it so in peace,In reste we ruled well:But at the last by pryde and wrathWe foule at discorde fell.We eache encrochte on others partes,For rule we liu’de at strife:And eache did seeke occasion ayeTo reaue the others life.I made this counte I elder was,By birth the realme was myne:By warre, or wrong, or bloud I mentTo haue it all in fine.And he although he yonger were,Esteemde his state so sureAs mine: and thought it his, if heeMy death might once procure.My mother eke that lou’de me moreAlthough he yonger was:By diuers meanes did helpe me stillTo bring my feates to passe.Wherby I thought my selfe so sureTo haue my purpose sped,As I requirde: if once I mightGet of his crafty head.See here what faith what frendship is,What loue what fauour weeDo shewe to any wight aliue,If once aloft we bee.To fathers we are faithlesse ofte:To brothers, butchers vile:Of sisters small accounte we make,And wedded wyues exile.If any kithe, or kin, we haue,By whom we vantage may:We care not by what cruell meanesTheir liues we take away.But for to get the seate alone,And for to wynne the crowne:We care not whom, nor when, nor how:So we may get them downe.O brutish beasts! nay worse then those,For they are still contentWith that they haue, what euer themHath God or Nature sent.But we do gape, and gaze for glore:We prowle, and powle, and pill,And sweare, and stare, and striue, and fight,And one another kill.And all for pompe, and glorie great,For name, renowne, estate:Not caring of the commons crye,Or God’s eternall hate.If I had had the giftes of grace,I neuer would haue soughtBy any meanes such worldly trashe,With brother’s bloud to bought.But as I ment euen so I sped,So bloudy butchers thye:When moste I deemde my purpose sure,He was to good for me.For as I thought his bloud to shed,I compast was about,So that for thousand kingdomes, ICould not with life scape out.He pearst my hart, what skilles it sith,My minde was euen as bad:For why what measure I him mente,My selfe like measure had.And so all such, as murder meane,Intende, or treason vse,Shall at the length, like ends attayne,Or worse they cannot chuse.

[520]In the first edition this legend is in quatrains.

Forrex declares howe hee minding to kill his brother which ruled with him (that he might therby raigne alone) was by him slain. About the yeare before Christe, 491.

Pride moues the mindes of stately wightesSuch hauty hartes to haue,And causeth vs for glory vayne,That is not ours to craue.Pryde pluckes out reason forth hir place,And planted will in stede:She puffes our mindes with vayne desires,Our fancies fonde to feede.Wherby we growe so obstinate,And so ambitious ill:That vs at length our brauery bidsIn all things vse our will.Ambition thinkes that lawefull is,Which likes hir fancie best:And demes she ought to haue hir forth,And swinge before the rest.She loues no mates, controlment sheeAnd warning doth despise:She demes her selfe in all hir deedeAnd actions, wonders wise.She hath desire of this and that,To get by crouche or clawe:By right or wrong she forceth not,She vseth will for lawe.No kinde, or countrey she regardes,No mother, father shee:Nor wyfe, or husbande, kithe or kin:But enuies eche degree.For if thy hart Ambition haue,Thy greedy mynde to still:Thou wilt not sticke thy dearest frende,Or nerest kin to kill.But as the prouerbe sayes that PrydeMust needes at length haue fall:Though we suppose of strength and powreWe haue the deuill and all.Euen so I say: Ambition makesVs often clime so hie:At length we fall, we come to nought,And drownde in darkenes lye.This may I Forrex well auouche,By proufe to true I finde:Wherefore I praye thee with the rest,Do put my faultes in mynde.My father olde, hight Gorboduge,Raignde three score yeares and three:And at his death gaue all his landeTwene Porrex proude and mee.Fiue yeares we helde it so in peace,In reste we ruled well:But at the last by pryde and wrathWe foule at discorde fell.We eache encrochte on others partes,For rule we liu’de at strife:And eache did seeke occasion ayeTo reaue the others life.I made this counte I elder was,By birth the realme was myne:By warre, or wrong, or bloud I mentTo haue it all in fine.And he although he yonger were,Esteemde his state so sureAs mine: and thought it his, if heeMy death might once procure.My mother eke that lou’de me moreAlthough he yonger was:By diuers meanes did helpe me stillTo bring my feates to passe.Wherby I thought my selfe so sureTo haue my purpose sped,As I requirde: if once I mightGet of his crafty head.See here what faith what frendship is,What loue what fauour weeDo shewe to any wight aliue,If once aloft we bee.To fathers we are faithlesse ofte:To brothers, butchers vile:Of sisters small accounte we make,And wedded wyues exile.If any kithe, or kin, we haue,By whom we vantage may:We care not by what cruell meanesTheir liues we take away.But for to get the seate alone,And for to wynne the crowne:We care not whom, nor when, nor how:So we may get them downe.O brutish beasts! nay worse then those,For they are still contentWith that they haue, what euer themHath God or Nature sent.But we do gape, and gaze for glore:We prowle, and powle, and pill,And sweare, and stare, and striue, and fight,And one another kill.And all for pompe, and glorie great,For name, renowne, estate:Not caring of the commons crye,Or God’s eternall hate.If I had had the giftes of grace,I neuer would haue soughtBy any meanes such worldly trashe,With brother’s bloud to bought.But as I ment euen so I sped,So bloudy butchers thye:When moste I deemde my purpose sure,He was to good for me.For as I thought his bloud to shed,I compast was about,So that for thousand kingdomes, ICould not with life scape out.He pearst my hart, what skilles it sith,My minde was euen as bad:For why what measure I him mente,My selfe like measure had.And so all such, as murder meane,Intende, or treason vse,Shall at the length, like ends attayne,Or worse they cannot chuse.

Pride moues the mindes of stately wightesSuch hauty hartes to haue,And causeth vs for glory vayne,That is not ours to craue.

Pride moues the mindes of stately wightes

Such hauty hartes to haue,

And causeth vs for glory vayne,

That is not ours to craue.

Pryde pluckes out reason forth hir place,And planted will in stede:She puffes our mindes with vayne desires,Our fancies fonde to feede.

Pryde pluckes out reason forth hir place,

And planted will in stede:

She puffes our mindes with vayne desires,

Our fancies fonde to feede.

Wherby we growe so obstinate,And so ambitious ill:That vs at length our brauery bidsIn all things vse our will.

Wherby we growe so obstinate,

And so ambitious ill:

That vs at length our brauery bids

In all things vse our will.

Ambition thinkes that lawefull is,Which likes hir fancie best:And demes she ought to haue hir forth,And swinge before the rest.

Ambition thinkes that lawefull is,

Which likes hir fancie best:

And demes she ought to haue hir forth,

And swinge before the rest.

She loues no mates, controlment sheeAnd warning doth despise:She demes her selfe in all hir deedeAnd actions, wonders wise.

She loues no mates, controlment shee

And warning doth despise:

She demes her selfe in all hir deede

And actions, wonders wise.

She hath desire of this and that,To get by crouche or clawe:By right or wrong she forceth not,She vseth will for lawe.

She hath desire of this and that,

To get by crouche or clawe:

By right or wrong she forceth not,

She vseth will for lawe.

No kinde, or countrey she regardes,No mother, father shee:Nor wyfe, or husbande, kithe or kin:But enuies eche degree.

No kinde, or countrey she regardes,

No mother, father shee:

Nor wyfe, or husbande, kithe or kin:

But enuies eche degree.

For if thy hart Ambition haue,Thy greedy mynde to still:Thou wilt not sticke thy dearest frende,Or nerest kin to kill.

For if thy hart Ambition haue,

Thy greedy mynde to still:

Thou wilt not sticke thy dearest frende,

Or nerest kin to kill.

But as the prouerbe sayes that PrydeMust needes at length haue fall:Though we suppose of strength and powreWe haue the deuill and all.

But as the prouerbe sayes that Pryde

Must needes at length haue fall:

Though we suppose of strength and powre

We haue the deuill and all.

Euen so I say: Ambition makesVs often clime so hie:At length we fall, we come to nought,And drownde in darkenes lye.

Euen so I say: Ambition makes

Vs often clime so hie:

At length we fall, we come to nought,

And drownde in darkenes lye.

This may I Forrex well auouche,By proufe to true I finde:Wherefore I praye thee with the rest,Do put my faultes in mynde.

This may I Forrex well auouche,

By proufe to true I finde:

Wherefore I praye thee with the rest,

Do put my faultes in mynde.

My father olde, hight Gorboduge,Raignde three score yeares and three:And at his death gaue all his landeTwene Porrex proude and mee.

My father olde, hight Gorboduge,

Raignde three score yeares and three:

And at his death gaue all his lande

Twene Porrex proude and mee.

Fiue yeares we helde it so in peace,In reste we ruled well:But at the last by pryde and wrathWe foule at discorde fell.

Fiue yeares we helde it so in peace,

In reste we ruled well:

But at the last by pryde and wrath

We foule at discorde fell.

We eache encrochte on others partes,For rule we liu’de at strife:And eache did seeke occasion ayeTo reaue the others life.

We eache encrochte on others partes,

For rule we liu’de at strife:

And eache did seeke occasion aye

To reaue the others life.

I made this counte I elder was,By birth the realme was myne:By warre, or wrong, or bloud I mentTo haue it all in fine.

I made this counte I elder was,

By birth the realme was myne:

By warre, or wrong, or bloud I ment

To haue it all in fine.

And he although he yonger were,Esteemde his state so sureAs mine: and thought it his, if heeMy death might once procure.

And he although he yonger were,

Esteemde his state so sure

As mine: and thought it his, if hee

My death might once procure.

My mother eke that lou’de me moreAlthough he yonger was:By diuers meanes did helpe me stillTo bring my feates to passe.

My mother eke that lou’de me more

Although he yonger was:

By diuers meanes did helpe me still

To bring my feates to passe.

Wherby I thought my selfe so sureTo haue my purpose sped,As I requirde: if once I mightGet of his crafty head.

Wherby I thought my selfe so sure

To haue my purpose sped,

As I requirde: if once I might

Get of his crafty head.

See here what faith what frendship is,What loue what fauour weeDo shewe to any wight aliue,If once aloft we bee.

See here what faith what frendship is,

What loue what fauour wee

Do shewe to any wight aliue,

If once aloft we bee.

To fathers we are faithlesse ofte:To brothers, butchers vile:Of sisters small accounte we make,And wedded wyues exile.

To fathers we are faithlesse ofte:

To brothers, butchers vile:

Of sisters small accounte we make,

And wedded wyues exile.

If any kithe, or kin, we haue,By whom we vantage may:We care not by what cruell meanesTheir liues we take away.

If any kithe, or kin, we haue,

By whom we vantage may:

We care not by what cruell meanes

Their liues we take away.

But for to get the seate alone,And for to wynne the crowne:We care not whom, nor when, nor how:So we may get them downe.

But for to get the seate alone,

And for to wynne the crowne:

We care not whom, nor when, nor how:

So we may get them downe.

O brutish beasts! nay worse then those,For they are still contentWith that they haue, what euer themHath God or Nature sent.

O brutish beasts! nay worse then those,

For they are still content

With that they haue, what euer them

Hath God or Nature sent.

But we do gape, and gaze for glore:We prowle, and powle, and pill,And sweare, and stare, and striue, and fight,And one another kill.

But we do gape, and gaze for glore:

We prowle, and powle, and pill,

And sweare, and stare, and striue, and fight,

And one another kill.

And all for pompe, and glorie great,For name, renowne, estate:Not caring of the commons crye,Or God’s eternall hate.

And all for pompe, and glorie great,

For name, renowne, estate:

Not caring of the commons crye,

Or God’s eternall hate.

If I had had the giftes of grace,I neuer would haue soughtBy any meanes such worldly trashe,With brother’s bloud to bought.

If I had had the giftes of grace,

I neuer would haue sought

By any meanes such worldly trashe,

With brother’s bloud to bought.

But as I ment euen so I sped,So bloudy butchers thye:When moste I deemde my purpose sure,He was to good for me.

But as I ment euen so I sped,

So bloudy butchers thye:

When moste I deemde my purpose sure,

He was to good for me.

For as I thought his bloud to shed,I compast was about,So that for thousand kingdomes, ICould not with life scape out.

For as I thought his bloud to shed,

I compast was about,

So that for thousand kingdomes, I

Could not with life scape out.

He pearst my hart, what skilles it sith,My minde was euen as bad:For why what measure I him mente,My selfe like measure had.

He pearst my hart, what skilles it sith,

My minde was euen as bad:

For why what measure I him mente,

My selfe like measure had.

And so all such, as murder meane,Intende, or treason vse,Shall at the length, like ends attayne,Or worse they cannot chuse.

And so all such, as murder meane,

Intende, or treason vse,

Shall at the length, like ends attayne,

Or worse they cannot chuse.

[521]To tell my storie on the tragicke stage. N.

[522]I may complaine that felt god Mars his rage,Alas, that fate to state should be so fell;Had I been meaner borne I know right well. N.

[522]

I may complaine that felt god Mars his rage,Alas, that fate to state should be so fell;Had I been meaner borne I know right well. N.

I may complaine that felt god Mars his rage,

Alas, that fate to state should be so fell;

Had I been meaner borne I know right well. N.

[523]While that my kingly sire,Gorbodug, raign’d. N.

[524]Not sticke oft times in field to fight. N.

[525]Into her bowels by the force of hand,With steele and iron we do dig profound,Working her woe to make our ioyes abound. N.

[525]

Into her bowels by the force of hand,With steele and iron we do dig profound,Working her woe to make our ioyes abound. N.

Into her bowels by the force of hand,

With steele and iron we do dig profound,

Working her woe to make our ioyes abound. N.

[526]If we behold the substance. N.

[527]How he is made of elements. N.

[528]Armie strong for field. N.

[529]Heard the counsell. N.

[530]Hope will slip. N.

[531]Bred. N.

[532]The concluding Alexandrine omitted by Niccolls.The Authour.When as king Forrex thus had tolde his tale,Me thought he stayde no whit but went his way.Then came a mangled corps as full of bale,And or he nerer came made half a stay.(Quoth Morpheus) come, for shame thou nedste not stay,As bad as thou haue tolde their tales before,And so must thou and diuers other more.

[532]The concluding Alexandrine omitted by Niccolls.

The Authour.

When as king Forrex thus had tolde his tale,Me thought he stayde no whit but went his way.Then came a mangled corps as full of bale,And or he nerer came made half a stay.(Quoth Morpheus) come, for shame thou nedste not stay,As bad as thou haue tolde their tales before,And so must thou and diuers other more.

When as king Forrex thus had tolde his tale,

Me thought he stayde no whit but went his way.

Then came a mangled corps as full of bale,

And or he nerer came made half a stay.

(Quoth Morpheus) come, for shame thou nedste not stay,

As bad as thou haue tolde their tales before,

And so must thou and diuers other more.

[533]The life of Porrex was also re-written. It is thus in the first edition.Porrex recites howe for the slaughter of his brother, he was slaine by his owne mother and hir maydens, as he laye sleeping. About the yeare before Christ, 491.Genes. 4.From darkesome dennes, where cruel Cayne,And other like do lye:Whose bloudie blades were bathde in bloud,Poore caytiue thence come I.Annius.Where Typhon is, his brother slewe,Osiris in despite:And where their sister Isis is,Did him againe requite.Virgil. in culi.Where Dardanus to rule aloneHis brother made away:Etheocles, Polinices,At once did others sley.Seruius. 3. Aeneid. Ouid in Ibin.Where Helenus king Priam’s sonHis brother Theon kilde.Medea eke in bloudy wyse,Hir brother’s bloud that spilde.Statius.Where Tydeus is in hunting shoteHis brother through the side:Polytes eke his brother’s harteWith sworde that opened wyde.Herodotus. Gel. li. 4. cap. 3.And where as that Cambyses is,His sister once that slewe:And Polipontes king that made,His brother treason rewe.And cruell where Odores s,Which mercy did denyTo Mithridate his brother deare,That did for pardon crie.Herodotus.Eke where Learchus is, that didHis brother sicke destroy:With poyson deadly hoping so,To make him selfe a Roy.Ouid in Ibin.And where that wretche Mamertes lies,His brothers sonnes that spilte:And Sisapho tormenting him,For such an heynous gilte.Plutarch. Laert. Volater.Where Rhesus and Caduidus are,With shaftes their brethren slewe:And Philadelphus PtolomæHis brother’s death did brewe.Volater.Where Philopater PtolomæHis father made awayAnd after that his brother withHis dearest frendes did slay.Plato. 10. de rep.And where Ardieus, tyraunt vile,His aged father stroyde,And after that his elder brother,Kingdomes to enioyde.Cælius.Where Mithridates, beastly king,Of Pontus feeles anoye:Which mother his, and brother eke,Sixe children did destroye.Volater.Where is Antiochus the great,His brother brought to graue:That he might onely raigne alone,And all the kingdome haue.Liuius. Lucan. Ouid.Wher Romulus, that Remus slew,Of Romaines, first had fall:Though louing brother first he were,Presumde to scale the wall.Flores Histor.And where Mempricius lewde doth lye,A Britayne Prince that slue,His brother Manlius fearing lestHe were to him vntrue.Salust.Where Iurgurth eke that basterde is,His brethren brought to graue:That after them NumidiaHe might for kingdome haue.And where a thousande are beside,Which were to long to tell,Their parentes deare and brethren slue,And now in darkenes dwell.From thence I came a Britayne yore,Namde Porrex once a king:Againe to shewe what vices meeTo sodaine death did bring.Now list a while and then do write,What I thee tell, that others mayThemselues in such attempts as these,From bloudy acts, as brethren stay.My brother Forrex fiue yeares space,And I this kingdome helde:Betweene vs both the common weale,We scace did wisely welde.At length we fondly fell at strife,So Princes bide no mate,Nor make, nor partners, with to raigneBut beare their equals hate.The heire because I yongest was,Thought his by right the crowne:But I esteemde the halfe was mine,And all if he were downe.Whereby, O brothell, butcher eke,Not brother I did slay:My brother for to haue it all,And get his right away.Such are the acts of heedelesse youthes,Such are their studies still:Which care not what offence they make,So they their fancies fill.But as it is vniustice, andAn haynous acte to vse:Such murder, slaughter, parricideAnd iustice all refuse.So Ioue the iust at length requitesOur deedes: and makes vs reweWe euer were, to God, or manOr nature’s hestes vntrue.For when I deemde the crowne was mine,Which had my brother slayne,O griefe to tell, my mother, andHir maydens wrought my payne.Both for my fault, and for she lou’deMy brother Forrex still:With all hir maydes she came by night,My sleeping corps to kill.And I that slombring sleeping lay,Though many dreames fortoldeMy haplesse fall, could neuer wake,The meaning to vnfolde.But last supposing with my selfe,I cruell Tigres sawe,With rauening fearcenes rent their yong,Against dame Nature’s lawe.She came on me to fill my dreame,Before my eyes could wake,And with a dagger reft my life,For Forrex slaughter’s sake.Virgil in Culice.Much like Agaue and his mates,Shee and hir maydens gotThem tooles therefore, and hewde my corse,As small as fleshe to pot.Ouid. 6. Metamor.Or Progne Queene hir children slue,and hewde their membres small:In wrathfull ire made Tereus feede,and fil himselfe withall.Virgil. 8. Aegl.Or like Medea monster Queene,hir Iason’s sonnes that kilde:Because she was forsaken whenhis purpose was fulfilde.Like these was shee, nay worse, for why,This ended Brutus lyne:Brought me to ende and hir to shame,though first the fault were mine.Bid those beware that weene to winne,by bloudy acts the crowne:Lest from the height they feele the fallof topsy turuye downe.For if when they suppose themseluesaloft to touch the skie,There chaunce a storme, there is no holdeto staye themselues so hie.But faster farre, more swiftly they,and with more swinge descende,Then euer erst they could with allthere force to clime contende:Do bid them then in all their deedesmarke well the finall ende.

[533]The life of Porrex was also re-written. It is thus in the first edition.

Porrex recites howe for the slaughter of his brother, he was slaine by his owne mother and hir maydens, as he laye sleeping. About the yeare before Christ, 491.

Genes. 4.From darkesome dennes, where cruel Cayne,And other like do lye:Whose bloudie blades were bathde in bloud,Poore caytiue thence come I.Annius.Where Typhon is, his brother slewe,Osiris in despite:And where their sister Isis is,Did him againe requite.Virgil. in culi.Where Dardanus to rule aloneHis brother made away:Etheocles, Polinices,At once did others sley.Seruius. 3. Aeneid. Ouid in Ibin.Where Helenus king Priam’s sonHis brother Theon kilde.Medea eke in bloudy wyse,Hir brother’s bloud that spilde.Statius.Where Tydeus is in hunting shoteHis brother through the side:Polytes eke his brother’s harteWith sworde that opened wyde.Herodotus. Gel. li. 4. cap. 3.And where as that Cambyses is,His sister once that slewe:And Polipontes king that made,His brother treason rewe.And cruell where Odores s,Which mercy did denyTo Mithridate his brother deare,That did for pardon crie.Herodotus.Eke where Learchus is, that didHis brother sicke destroy:With poyson deadly hoping so,To make him selfe a Roy.Ouid in Ibin.And where that wretche Mamertes lies,His brothers sonnes that spilte:And Sisapho tormenting him,For such an heynous gilte.Plutarch. Laert. Volater.Where Rhesus and Caduidus are,With shaftes their brethren slewe:And Philadelphus PtolomæHis brother’s death did brewe.Volater.Where Philopater PtolomæHis father made awayAnd after that his brother withHis dearest frendes did slay.Plato. 10. de rep.And where Ardieus, tyraunt vile,His aged father stroyde,And after that his elder brother,Kingdomes to enioyde.Cælius.Where Mithridates, beastly king,Of Pontus feeles anoye:Which mother his, and brother eke,Sixe children did destroye.Volater.Where is Antiochus the great,His brother brought to graue:That he might onely raigne alone,And all the kingdome haue.Liuius. Lucan. Ouid.Wher Romulus, that Remus slew,Of Romaines, first had fall:Though louing brother first he were,Presumde to scale the wall.Flores Histor.And where Mempricius lewde doth lye,A Britayne Prince that slue,His brother Manlius fearing lestHe were to him vntrue.Salust.Where Iurgurth eke that basterde is,His brethren brought to graue:That after them NumidiaHe might for kingdome haue.And where a thousande are beside,Which were to long to tell,Their parentes deare and brethren slue,And now in darkenes dwell.From thence I came a Britayne yore,Namde Porrex once a king:Againe to shewe what vices meeTo sodaine death did bring.Now list a while and then do write,What I thee tell, that others mayThemselues in such attempts as these,From bloudy acts, as brethren stay.My brother Forrex fiue yeares space,And I this kingdome helde:Betweene vs both the common weale,We scace did wisely welde.At length we fondly fell at strife,So Princes bide no mate,Nor make, nor partners, with to raigneBut beare their equals hate.The heire because I yongest was,Thought his by right the crowne:But I esteemde the halfe was mine,And all if he were downe.Whereby, O brothell, butcher eke,Not brother I did slay:My brother for to haue it all,And get his right away.Such are the acts of heedelesse youthes,Such are their studies still:Which care not what offence they make,So they their fancies fill.But as it is vniustice, andAn haynous acte to vse:Such murder, slaughter, parricideAnd iustice all refuse.So Ioue the iust at length requitesOur deedes: and makes vs reweWe euer were, to God, or manOr nature’s hestes vntrue.For when I deemde the crowne was mine,Which had my brother slayne,O griefe to tell, my mother, andHir maydens wrought my payne.Both for my fault, and for she lou’deMy brother Forrex still:With all hir maydes she came by night,My sleeping corps to kill.And I that slombring sleeping lay,Though many dreames fortoldeMy haplesse fall, could neuer wake,The meaning to vnfolde.But last supposing with my selfe,I cruell Tigres sawe,With rauening fearcenes rent their yong,Against dame Nature’s lawe.She came on me to fill my dreame,Before my eyes could wake,And with a dagger reft my life,For Forrex slaughter’s sake.Virgil in Culice.Much like Agaue and his mates,Shee and hir maydens gotThem tooles therefore, and hewde my corse,As small as fleshe to pot.Ouid. 6. Metamor.Or Progne Queene hir children slue,and hewde their membres small:In wrathfull ire made Tereus feede,and fil himselfe withall.Virgil. 8. Aegl.Or like Medea monster Queene,hir Iason’s sonnes that kilde:Because she was forsaken whenhis purpose was fulfilde.Like these was shee, nay worse, for why,This ended Brutus lyne:Brought me to ende and hir to shame,though first the fault were mine.Bid those beware that weene to winne,by bloudy acts the crowne:Lest from the height they feele the fallof topsy turuye downe.For if when they suppose themseluesaloft to touch the skie,There chaunce a storme, there is no holdeto staye themselues so hie.But faster farre, more swiftly they,and with more swinge descende,Then euer erst they could with allthere force to clime contende:Do bid them then in all their deedesmarke well the finall ende.

Genes. 4.From darkesome dennes, where cruel Cayne,And other like do lye:Whose bloudie blades were bathde in bloud,Poore caytiue thence come I.

From darkesome dennes, where cruel Cayne,

And other like do lye:

Whose bloudie blades were bathde in bloud,

Poore caytiue thence come I.

Annius.Where Typhon is, his brother slewe,Osiris in despite:And where their sister Isis is,Did him againe requite.

Where Typhon is, his brother slewe,

Osiris in despite:

And where their sister Isis is,

Did him againe requite.

Virgil. in culi.Where Dardanus to rule aloneHis brother made away:Etheocles, Polinices,At once did others sley.

Where Dardanus to rule alone

His brother made away:

Etheocles, Polinices,

At once did others sley.

Seruius. 3. Aeneid. Ouid in Ibin.Where Helenus king Priam’s sonHis brother Theon kilde.Medea eke in bloudy wyse,Hir brother’s bloud that spilde.

Where Helenus king Priam’s son

His brother Theon kilde.

Medea eke in bloudy wyse,

Hir brother’s bloud that spilde.

Statius.Where Tydeus is in hunting shoteHis brother through the side:Polytes eke his brother’s harteWith sworde that opened wyde.

Where Tydeus is in hunting shote

His brother through the side:

Polytes eke his brother’s harte

With sworde that opened wyde.

Herodotus. Gel. li. 4. cap. 3.And where as that Cambyses is,His sister once that slewe:And Polipontes king that made,His brother treason rewe.

And where as that Cambyses is,

His sister once that slewe:

And Polipontes king that made,

His brother treason rewe.

And cruell where Odores s,Which mercy did denyTo Mithridate his brother deare,That did for pardon crie.

And cruell where Odores s,

Which mercy did deny

To Mithridate his brother deare,

That did for pardon crie.

Herodotus.Eke where Learchus is, that didHis brother sicke destroy:With poyson deadly hoping so,To make him selfe a Roy.

Eke where Learchus is, that did

His brother sicke destroy:

With poyson deadly hoping so,

To make him selfe a Roy.

Ouid in Ibin.And where that wretche Mamertes lies,His brothers sonnes that spilte:And Sisapho tormenting him,For such an heynous gilte.

And where that wretche Mamertes lies,

His brothers sonnes that spilte:

And Sisapho tormenting him,

For such an heynous gilte.

Plutarch. Laert. Volater.Where Rhesus and Caduidus are,With shaftes their brethren slewe:And Philadelphus PtolomæHis brother’s death did brewe.

Where Rhesus and Caduidus are,

With shaftes their brethren slewe:

And Philadelphus Ptolomæ

His brother’s death did brewe.

Volater.Where Philopater PtolomæHis father made awayAnd after that his brother withHis dearest frendes did slay.

Where Philopater Ptolomæ

His father made away

And after that his brother with

His dearest frendes did slay.

Plato. 10. de rep.And where Ardieus, tyraunt vile,His aged father stroyde,And after that his elder brother,Kingdomes to enioyde.

And where Ardieus, tyraunt vile,

His aged father stroyde,

And after that his elder brother,

Kingdomes to enioyde.

Cælius.Where Mithridates, beastly king,Of Pontus feeles anoye:Which mother his, and brother eke,Sixe children did destroye.

Where Mithridates, beastly king,

Of Pontus feeles anoye:

Which mother his, and brother eke,

Sixe children did destroye.

Volater.Where is Antiochus the great,His brother brought to graue:That he might onely raigne alone,And all the kingdome haue.

Where is Antiochus the great,

His brother brought to graue:

That he might onely raigne alone,

And all the kingdome haue.

Liuius. Lucan. Ouid.Wher Romulus, that Remus slew,Of Romaines, first had fall:Though louing brother first he were,Presumde to scale the wall.

Wher Romulus, that Remus slew,

Of Romaines, first had fall:

Though louing brother first he were,

Presumde to scale the wall.

Flores Histor.And where Mempricius lewde doth lye,A Britayne Prince that slue,His brother Manlius fearing lestHe were to him vntrue.

And where Mempricius lewde doth lye,

A Britayne Prince that slue,

His brother Manlius fearing lest

He were to him vntrue.

Salust.Where Iurgurth eke that basterde is,His brethren brought to graue:That after them NumidiaHe might for kingdome haue.

Where Iurgurth eke that basterde is,

His brethren brought to graue:

That after them Numidia

He might for kingdome haue.

And where a thousande are beside,Which were to long to tell,Their parentes deare and brethren slue,And now in darkenes dwell.

And where a thousande are beside,

Which were to long to tell,

Their parentes deare and brethren slue,

And now in darkenes dwell.

From thence I came a Britayne yore,Namde Porrex once a king:Againe to shewe what vices meeTo sodaine death did bring.

From thence I came a Britayne yore,

Namde Porrex once a king:

Againe to shewe what vices mee

To sodaine death did bring.

Now list a while and then do write,What I thee tell, that others mayThemselues in such attempts as these,From bloudy acts, as brethren stay.

Now list a while and then do write,

What I thee tell, that others may

Themselues in such attempts as these,

From bloudy acts, as brethren stay.

My brother Forrex fiue yeares space,And I this kingdome helde:Betweene vs both the common weale,We scace did wisely welde.

My brother Forrex fiue yeares space,

And I this kingdome helde:

Betweene vs both the common weale,

We scace did wisely welde.

At length we fondly fell at strife,So Princes bide no mate,Nor make, nor partners, with to raigneBut beare their equals hate.

At length we fondly fell at strife,

So Princes bide no mate,

Nor make, nor partners, with to raigne

But beare their equals hate.

The heire because I yongest was,Thought his by right the crowne:But I esteemde the halfe was mine,And all if he were downe.

The heire because I yongest was,

Thought his by right the crowne:

But I esteemde the halfe was mine,

And all if he were downe.

Whereby, O brothell, butcher eke,Not brother I did slay:My brother for to haue it all,And get his right away.

Whereby, O brothell, butcher eke,

Not brother I did slay:

My brother for to haue it all,

And get his right away.

Such are the acts of heedelesse youthes,Such are their studies still:Which care not what offence they make,So they their fancies fill.

Such are the acts of heedelesse youthes,

Such are their studies still:

Which care not what offence they make,

So they their fancies fill.

But as it is vniustice, andAn haynous acte to vse:Such murder, slaughter, parricideAnd iustice all refuse.

But as it is vniustice, and

An haynous acte to vse:

Such murder, slaughter, parricide

And iustice all refuse.

So Ioue the iust at length requitesOur deedes: and makes vs reweWe euer were, to God, or manOr nature’s hestes vntrue.

So Ioue the iust at length requites

Our deedes: and makes vs rewe

We euer were, to God, or man

Or nature’s hestes vntrue.

For when I deemde the crowne was mine,Which had my brother slayne,O griefe to tell, my mother, andHir maydens wrought my payne.

For when I deemde the crowne was mine,

Which had my brother slayne,

O griefe to tell, my mother, and

Hir maydens wrought my payne.

Both for my fault, and for she lou’deMy brother Forrex still:With all hir maydes she came by night,My sleeping corps to kill.

Both for my fault, and for she lou’de

My brother Forrex still:

With all hir maydes she came by night,

My sleeping corps to kill.

And I that slombring sleeping lay,Though many dreames fortoldeMy haplesse fall, could neuer wake,The meaning to vnfolde.

And I that slombring sleeping lay,

Though many dreames fortolde

My haplesse fall, could neuer wake,

The meaning to vnfolde.

But last supposing with my selfe,I cruell Tigres sawe,With rauening fearcenes rent their yong,Against dame Nature’s lawe.

But last supposing with my selfe,

I cruell Tigres sawe,

With rauening fearcenes rent their yong,

Against dame Nature’s lawe.

She came on me to fill my dreame,Before my eyes could wake,And with a dagger reft my life,For Forrex slaughter’s sake.

She came on me to fill my dreame,

Before my eyes could wake,

And with a dagger reft my life,

For Forrex slaughter’s sake.

Virgil in Culice.Much like Agaue and his mates,Shee and hir maydens gotThem tooles therefore, and hewde my corse,As small as fleshe to pot.

Much like Agaue and his mates,

Shee and hir maydens got

Them tooles therefore, and hewde my corse,

As small as fleshe to pot.

Ouid. 6. Metamor.Or Progne Queene hir children slue,and hewde their membres small:In wrathfull ire made Tereus feede,and fil himselfe withall.

Or Progne Queene hir children slue,

and hewde their membres small:

In wrathfull ire made Tereus feede,

and fil himselfe withall.

Virgil. 8. Aegl.Or like Medea monster Queene,hir Iason’s sonnes that kilde:Because she was forsaken whenhis purpose was fulfilde.

Or like Medea monster Queene,

hir Iason’s sonnes that kilde:

Because she was forsaken when

his purpose was fulfilde.

Like these was shee, nay worse, for why,This ended Brutus lyne:Brought me to ende and hir to shame,though first the fault were mine.

Like these was shee, nay worse, for why,

This ended Brutus lyne:

Brought me to ende and hir to shame,

though first the fault were mine.

Bid those beware that weene to winne,by bloudy acts the crowne:Lest from the height they feele the fallof topsy turuye downe.

Bid those beware that weene to winne,

by bloudy acts the crowne:

Lest from the height they feele the fall

of topsy turuye downe.

For if when they suppose themseluesaloft to touch the skie,There chaunce a storme, there is no holdeto staye themselues so hie.

For if when they suppose themselues

aloft to touch the skie,

There chaunce a storme, there is no holde

to staye themselues so hie.

But faster farre, more swiftly they,and with more swinge descende,Then euer erst they could with allthere force to clime contende:Do bid them then in all their deedesmarke well the finall ende.

But faster farre, more swiftly they,

and with more swinge descende,

Then euer erst they could with all

there force to clime contende:

Do bid them then in all their deedes

marke well the finall ende.

[534]Or Typhon who for state and worldly pelfe,His deare Osiris. N.

[534]

Or Typhon who for state and worldly pelfe,His deare Osiris. N.

Or Typhon who for state and worldly pelfe,

His deare Osiris. N.

[535]Then to do the like may trie. N.

[536]Orodes slew his brother. N.

[537]So I my brother’s life away did take. N.

[538]Procur’d the slaughter. N.

[539]This. N.

[540]They would not so aspire to Princes place. N.

[541]From bale to blisse and downe from heauen to hell. N.

[542]Touch not the Prince, crowne, scepter, &c. N.

[543]The Authour.Next after Porrex came an other such,Had all his body quite in peeces rent:A desperate man, his life bewayling much:Which for he seemed sorely to lament,I was the rather him to heare content:That I might also note his story here,From like attempts of vices you to feare.[Here follows the tragedy of Kimarus, as at p. 208.]

[543]The Authour.

Next after Porrex came an other such,Had all his body quite in peeces rent:A desperate man, his life bewayling much:Which for he seemed sorely to lament,I was the rather him to heare content:That I might also note his story here,From like attempts of vices you to feare.

Next after Porrex came an other such,

Had all his body quite in peeces rent:

A desperate man, his life bewayling much:

Which for he seemed sorely to lament,

I was the rather him to heare content:

That I might also note his story here,

From like attempts of vices you to feare.

[Here follows the tragedy of Kimarus, as at p. 208.]

[544]The author has followed the authority of the Polichronicon in making Porrex the survivor. In the chronicle by Harding and other authorities their destiny is reversed; though generally it is stated, that the conqueror obtained the kingdom through the powerful aid of the king of France. Upon the story of these brothers was founded the tragedy of Gorboduc, produced by Norton and Sackvile in 1561, which was one of the earliest legitimate productions of the English drama. The murderous events of their history seem not to have been considered sufficient to maintain the interest of the play, and the traditionary tale was deviated from by making the old king Gorboduc survive his sons, and to fall a sacrifice with the queen, to the rage of the multitude. But this accumulation of horror was in taste with the times, and Sir P. Sidney describes the piece as “full of morality, which it doth most delightfully teach, and thereby obtain the very end of poetry.”

[545]The three formed part of a pentarchy, whereon the chronicles are uniform as to the obscurity.

[546]Not in the first edition.

[547]Right ouerrunnes. N.

[548]After comes. N.

[549]If good be gaine. N.

[550]The grape growes on the vine and not the hop. N.

[551]Of this now spoken, this would I inferre,Men may by might a kingdome long withholdNot due to them: but they far better wereTo yeeld vnto the right, what reason would.Good mettals bides the touch, which tries the gold,When copper counted counterfeit in cast,Is deem’d but drosse and called in at last. N.

[551]

Of this now spoken, this would I inferre,Men may by might a kingdome long withholdNot due to them: but they far better wereTo yeeld vnto the right, what reason would.Good mettals bides the touch, which tries the gold,When copper counted counterfeit in cast,Is deem’d but drosse and called in at last. N.

Of this now spoken, this would I inferre,

Men may by might a kingdome long withhold

Not due to them: but they far better were

To yeeld vnto the right, what reason would.

Good mettals bides the touch, which tries the gold,

When copper counted counterfeit in cast,

Is deem’d but drosse and called in at last. N.

[552]I am that Pinnar, who when Brutus bloodExtincted was in bloodie Porrex raigne,Amongst the Princes in contention stood,Who in the Britaine throne by right should raigne:Mongst whom by might a part I did obtaine,That part of Albion call’d Logria hight,I did long time vsurpe against all right. N.

[552]

I am that Pinnar, who when Brutus bloodExtincted was in bloodie Porrex raigne,Amongst the Princes in contention stood,Who in the Britaine throne by right should raigne:Mongst whom by might a part I did obtaine,That part of Albion call’d Logria hight,I did long time vsurpe against all right. N.

I am that Pinnar, who when Brutus blood

Extincted was in bloodie Porrex raigne,

Amongst the Princes in contention stood,

Who in the Britaine throne by right should raigne:

Mongst whom by might a part I did obtaine,

That part of Albion call’d Logria hight,

I did long time vsurpe against all right. N.

[553]Stater who stept into the Scottish throne,And Rudacke, that vsurpt the Cambrian crowne,Their minds to mine did frame and ioyn’d in one,To keepe the Cornish Prince stout Cloten downe,Twixt whom and vs in fighting, for renowneFaire Ladie Albion Europes wondred Ile,Rob’d of her beautie was, alas the while. N.

[553]

Stater who stept into the Scottish throne,And Rudacke, that vsurpt the Cambrian crowne,Their minds to mine did frame and ioyn’d in one,To keepe the Cornish Prince stout Cloten downe,Twixt whom and vs in fighting, for renowneFaire Ladie Albion Europes wondred Ile,Rob’d of her beautie was, alas the while. N.

Stater who stept into the Scottish throne,

And Rudacke, that vsurpt the Cambrian crowne,

Their minds to mine did frame and ioyn’d in one,

To keepe the Cornish Prince stout Cloten downe,

Twixt whom and vs in fighting, for renowne

Faire Ladie Albion Europes wondred Ile,

Rob’d of her beautie was, alas the while. N.

[554]Duke Cloten, though a man of worthie praise,Who claim’d the crowne as due to him by right:Could not preuaile till death did end his daies,His sonne Mulmucius that vndaunted KnightPursu’d his fathers claime with all his might,And meeting vs in many a bloodie field,At length in manly fight did make vs yeeld. N.

[554]

Duke Cloten, though a man of worthie praise,Who claim’d the crowne as due to him by right:Could not preuaile till death did end his daies,His sonne Mulmucius that vndaunted KnightPursu’d his fathers claime with all his might,And meeting vs in many a bloodie field,At length in manly fight did make vs yeeld. N.

Duke Cloten, though a man of worthie praise,

Who claim’d the crowne as due to him by right:

Could not preuaile till death did end his daies,

His sonne Mulmucius that vndaunted Knight

Pursu’d his fathers claime with all his might,

And meeting vs in many a bloodie field,

At length in manly fight did make vs yeeld. N.

[555]He Lion-like himselfe with his all troopeOf nimble Cornish met vs on the way,And to his conquering arme did cause vs stoope,The price of treason I with blood did pay,My wrong deem’d right appear’d in my decay.Who so by violence scales the throne of State,Seldome sits sure, but falles by violent fate. N.

[555]

He Lion-like himselfe with his all troopeOf nimble Cornish met vs on the way,And to his conquering arme did cause vs stoope,The price of treason I with blood did pay,My wrong deem’d right appear’d in my decay.Who so by violence scales the throne of State,Seldome sits sure, but falles by violent fate. N.

He Lion-like himselfe with his all troope

Of nimble Cornish met vs on the way,

And to his conquering arme did cause vs stoope,

The price of treason I with blood did pay,

My wrong deem’d right appear’d in my decay.

Who so by violence scales the throne of State,

Seldome sits sure, but falles by violent fate. N.

[556]Not in the first edition. It is scarcely necessary to notice to the reader the change to the anapæstic metre in this short life, which the author has just called “staylesse staggering footed verse.”

[557]Desist not in histories truly to tell. N.

[558]Mirrours. N.

[559]Our souldiers were slaughter’d, or forced to yeeld. N.

[560]Were killed before. N.

[561]Or forced to yeeld, or abandon the coast. N.

[562]Not in the first edition.

[563]Esteem’d. N.

[564]Bladhud’s fond deuice. N.

[565]Adowne. N.

[566]By my mishaps let other men be wise. N.

[567](For Forrex hight and Porrex both were slayne. N.)

[568]The wors er thereby our faithfull friends were. N.

[569]We do enioy her vaine ioyes. N.

[570]Stand. N.

[571]When I who with others did thinke myselfe sure. N.

[572]Who, when to field our power we did draw. N.

[573]Donwallo with honour. N.

[574]Oppose. N.

[575]Not inserted in the first edition.

[576]Mulmucius who with conquering blade did freeThe Britans troubled state from tyrants vile. N.

[576]

Mulmucius who with conquering blade did freeThe Britans troubled state from tyrants vile. N.

Mulmucius who with conquering blade did free

The Britans troubled state from tyrants vile. N.

[577]With me in Albany to leade a princely life. N.

[578]His eie on Samye’s beautie had so fed. N.

[579]By force of armes to beare the. N.

[580]Erst bene heard mongst wise men sawes. N.

[581]——the like by strife,Or make assault by wrong to winne a Prince’s wife. N.

[581]

——the like by strife,Or make assault by wrong to winne a Prince’s wife. N.

——the like by strife,

Or make assault by wrong to winne a Prince’s wife. N.

[582]But on his side the conquest did appear,I yeelded her. N.

[582]

But on his side the conquest did appear,I yeelded her. N.

But on his side the conquest did appear,

I yeelded her. N.

[583]For tribute hostage gaue to Beline ere he past. N.

[584]And why false fortune my attempt did crosse. N.

[585]At seas we met our foes. N.

[586]The. N.

[587]And threatned Beline sore. N.

[588]Then appointed was to take the warre in hand. N.

[589]Whose bounteous grace for aye my loue to him did bind. N.

[590]Rashnes (by proofe I found) incurs the greatest ill. N.

[591]With her his Dukedome. N.

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