THE COMPLAINT OF SIGEBERT.

How Sigebert was thrust from his throne, and miserably slayne by a heardman. This tragedie dooth teach both prince and subject his duetie at large.[1213]

1.Two parts in one a heardman here must play,My tale must tende eche prince’s lyfe to mende,And this my talke most playnely must displaye,How farre a subiect may himselfe defendeAgaynst his liege,[1214]his souerayne lorde and king,If his default his commonweale dooth bringTo miserie: therefore a litle whileAttende, and knowe the tenoure of my stile.2.A subiect I of base and lowe degree,This headlesse corps of lyfe I did depriue,(KingSigebertit was) with crueltie:Whose lust was lawe, whilst he was here aliue,To feele my force it was his destinie:Then crueltie I wrackt with crueltie,And to reuenge the wrong that earst he wrought,With losse of lyfe his lawlesse lust he bought.3.ThisSigeberttheSaxonsrulde by west,Their auncient lawes he at his lyst did chaunge,For which his commons did him much detest:The duke ofCornwellwoulde not let him raungeThus at his wyll, but wisht him like a friend,To mende his faultes, or els his life to ende:Then he in rage this duke my master’s lyfe,His cruel handes bereaude with blooddy knife.4.A lawelesse life to lawlesse death dooth hale,When witlesse wil wyl passe the powere of may:Then il mishappe dooth drowne in dolour’s daleThe peruerse prince, whose wit doth beare the sway:IustAbel’sblood to God for vengeance calde,For blood with blood the bloodsheader is thralde,And him whom here before you I present,For sheading bloode, my blade his lyfe hath hent.5.As he three yeares his people did oppresse,Then they whose backe that burden coulde not beare,With one consent they did his state distresse,To reaue him of his crowne they did not feare,They him desposde from honour and renowne:His hateful happe so frowardly did frowne,That he who had a kingdome but of late,Forlorne he nowe must begge from gate to gate.6.Doo nothing muse at his deserued happe,For many more as he their liues haue led:Ioue’svengeance iust such wretches dooth inwrappeWith change most strange, when he their blood will shed:OfDioniseofSyracusia,OfNeroe’sdeath ofPhalarisdecay,Who list to reade, he passing plaine shal finde,That he of heauen their sorrow hath assignde.7.And out of doubte God did ordayne the falOf him, whom here I headlesse haue in hand,Who wandring in a wood amidst his thralI mette by chaunce, of whom I did demaundHis name, and place: who thus replide with feare:“O friende, I am for meate nowe staruen wel neare,Giue me therefore I thee beseech and praySome meate to keepe my carkasse from decay.”8.Some pilgrime poore, or wayfaring man him straightI iudgde, and gaue him what my scrippe would yeelde;And whilst we both thus on a banke dyd baite,From sighes and sobbes himselfe he coulde not wielde,Which made me aske agayne his name and place,But silent he did mourne with frowning face:Yet at the last by vrging too and fro,He thus declarde the cause of al his woe.9.“O miser I, more wretch then thee by much,I neuer coulde compare with thine estate,This hearde of swine against thee neuer grutch;I kept a hearde, which did their heardman hate,A hateful heard of murmuring men I meane,Which dyd depriue me of my[1215]honour cleane:And now I leade my lothsome life you see,Impalde amidste a maze of misery.10.“With chaunged chaunce (aye me) I chased am,And frowning fate such sorrowe hath assignde,That lothing life, most like a quiet lambe,My naked necke to blocke of bale I binde:With cruell knife (O care) come shread my twist,So shall my soule by corps decay be blist:But sith that care nor fate wil doo this deed,Doo thou the same I thee beseech, with speede.11.“First hatefull hope with flattering face did faune,With dreade when deepe despaier would me haue drownde,[1216]Then chaunged chaunce did checke me with the pauneOf woful want, when good successe did soundA blessed blast: and nowe (to tel the truth)I haue the mate, by raging rooke of ruth:[1217]Lo thus I liue, which dayly wishe to dye,And life (alas) dooth make my misery.12.“If lothsome life (of this my corps) the kingDooth moue one way, the bishope bids me backe:If to that poynt the queene me backe doth bring,On th’other side, the knight dooth woorke my wracke,The other poyntes with paunes be al possest,And here the rooke of ruth dooth reaue my rest:And being brought into this strange estate,I do confesse my selfe to haue a mate.13.“Sith sorrowe so hath seasde vpon my bones,That nowe too late I doo lament my losse,And sith no meanes may turne my gastfull gronesTo ioyfull glye, sith trouble still doth tosseMe to and fro, in walteryng waues of woe:Death is my friend, and life I compt my foe:Which death though once my feeble fleshe did feare,Yet now I fayne would feele his murdring speare.14.“In gurging gulfe of these such surging seas,Mypouersoule who drown’d you wil request,[1218]I wretched wight haue sought mine owne disease,By myne owne meanes my state it was distrest:For whilst I meant to make my lust a lawe,Iustice me from my high estate did drawe:So that I fynde, and feele it nowe with payne,Al worldly pompe, al honour is but vayne.15.“Which honour I to fiery flames compare,For when they flash and flourishe most of all,Then suddaynely their flamings quenched are:For proofe whereof, to minde nowe let vs calAntigonus, andPtollemeusgreat,CæsarandMithridate, we may repeat,WithDarius, and greatAntiochus,Cambiseseke, and conqueringPyrrhus.16.“And I the last myght fyrst haue had my place,They al as I with flaming fierie showe,Were quenched quite: dame fortune did deface,Yea hatefull happe, euen then did ouerthroweVs most, when most we had our harte’s desire:When most we flourisht like the flames of fyre,Euen then the seas of sorowe did preuayle,And made vs weare a blacke wamenting[1219]sayle.17.“And here before my death, I wyl repeateTo thee the thing which I of late did dreame,That thou and al the worlde may see, how greatA care it is to rule a royal realme:My dreame shal showe, that blisse doth not consistIn wealth nor want: but he alone is blest,Who is content with his assigned fate,And neuer striues to clime to higher state.18.“When seemelySolhad rest his glittering gleames,AndNoxthe earth with darkenesse did imp[a]le:[1220]DameSinthiathen with her bright burnishte beames,The shadowed shades of darkenesse did assayle,ThenSomnuscausde my senses al to quayle:On careful couche then being layde to rest,With doubtful dreames I strangely was distrest.19.“In cottage colde where care me thought did keepe,With naked neede and want of wherewithal:Where pouertie next begger’s doore did creepe,And where expences were so passing smal,That al men deemde that man forethrong’d with thral,Which there did dwel, euen there from bondage free,I viewde a man al voyde of miserie.20.“And whilst I musde how he in bliue of blisseCoulde leade his life amidst that caue of care,From princely court proceeded eare I wist,A man, with whom there might no man compare:His wealth, his wit, his courage were so rare,That none before nor since were like to him:Yet he mee thought in waues of woe did swimme.21.“This man had al that men could wyshe or craueFor happy state, yet nought he had in deede:The other, he had nought that men would haue,Yet had he al, beleeue it as thy creede:This saying of that happy man I reade,That hauing nought, yet al thinges so I haue,That hauing nought, I nothing more doo craue.22.“The king mee thought with al his courtly trayne,Past to the place where pouertie did dwel,With frowning face and with a troubled brayne,With woe and want, his vexed vaynes did swell,With myrth and ioy the poore man did excel:And being come vnto his house ymadeOf one poore hogsheadde, thus to him he sayde.23.“'Diogenes, thou lead’st a lothsome life,Me thinke thou might’st much better spend thy timeWithin my court, both thou and eeke thy wife:Thou by that meanes to high estate maist clime:I haue the wealth, and thou art voyde of crime,And loe, before thy face, I here am prestTo geue thee that, which thou shalt nowe request.’24.“'Stand backe (sir kyng) thy vaunting vowes be vaine,I nothing recke, thy promise, goodes, nor lande,AndTitan’sstately streames would me sustayneWith heate, if thou from thys my doore wouldst stande:Thou tak’st away much more then thy commaundeCan geue agayne: thy giftes so vile I deeme,That none but fooles such follies do esteeme.25.“'With conquest thou hast wonne the worlde so wide,And yet thou canst not winne thy wandring wyll:Thou wouldest winne an other worlde beside:But tushe, that facte doth farre surpasse thy skyll:Thou neuer wilt of conquest haue thy fyll,Til death with daunting darte hath conquer’d thee,Then must thou leue behynd, thy monarchie.26.“'With greate assaultes my selfe I haue subdude,In all respectes, I haue my harte’s desyre,With a contented minde I am endude,To hygher state I neuer will aspire:More like a prince then any pore esquire,I leade my life: and sith my state is such,Aske thou of me, for I can geue thee muche.’27.“All dasht with dreade me thought in fuming heate,He sayd, departing thence in hast with speede:'If I were notAlexanderthe great,I would becomeDiogenesindeed,Who leades his life al voyd of woeful dread:He hath the welth which I cannot obtayne,I haue the welth which wise men do disdayne.28.“'I liue in feare, I languishe al in dreade,Welth is my woe, the causer of my care,With feare of death I am so il bestead,That restlesse I much like the hunted hare,Or as the canuiste kite, doth feare the snare:Ten hundred cares haue brought me to the baye,Ten thousand snares for this my lyfe men laye.29.“'WhenPhiliphe ofMacedonthe king,One realme me lefte, I could not be content,Desier prickte me to an other thing,To winne the worlde it was my whole intent,Which donne, another worlde to winne I ment:When least I had, then most I had of blesse,Now, al the worlde, and al vnquietnesse.30.“'No woe to want of contentation,No welth to want of riches and renowne,For this is seene in euery nation,The highest trees be sonest blowen downe,Ten kinges do dye before one clubbishe clowne:Diogenesin quiet tunne doth rest,WhenCæsaris with carking care distrest.’31.“Wherewith me thought he was departed quite,AndMorpheusthat sluggishe god of sleepe,Did leaue my limmes, wherewith I stoode vpright,Deuising long what profite I could reapeOf this my dreame, which playnly did expresseThat neyther want nor wealth doth make man’s blesse:Who hath the meane with a contented minde,Most perfect blesse his God hath him assignde.32.“But I, who liude a crowned king of late,And nowe am forste of thee to begge my bread,I cannot be content with this estate,I lothe to liue, I would I wretch were deade,Despayer she doth feede me with decay,And pacience is fled and flowne away:Doe thou therefore, O heardeman, play thy parte,Take thou this blade, and thrust it to my harte.”33.“O Sir,” I sayd, “the goddes defend that IShould causelesse kil a man in myserye,Tel me thy name and place, then by and byI wyl prouide for thyne aduersitie:”Then he replide: “My name isSigeberte,I am the man which wrought thy master’s smart:I rulde of late this realme euen at my liste,Take thou reuenge with that thy friendly fiste.”34.“And wel content: I wyl reuenge with speede,The death of him whome causelesse thou didst kill:KingSigebert, and art thou he indeede?Sith he thou art, dispacth and make thy wyl;For to my lorde this day I wyl presentThy head: therefore thy former faultes repent,Thou seest the blocke on which thy lyfe must ende,Call thou for grace that God may mercie send.”35.Wherewith he kneelyng by the blocke of bale,“Dispatch,” quoth he, “and do that friendly deede:O welcome death, and farewel fortune fraile,Dispatch good friende, dispatch my lyfe with speede.”Wherewith, on blocke he stretcht his necke outright,And sayd no more, but praying me to smite:I gaue the stroke which ended al his care,A blouddie stroke, which did my death prepare.36.For I who hopte to haue some great rewardeFor killing of my maister’s father’s foe:Was hanged strayght, my cause was neuer hearde,Such was my chance and wel deserued woe:For when my lord had heard me tel the tale,Howe I his king and myne did there assayle,His frowning face did put me in great feare,He sighte and sobde, and sayd as you shal heare.37.“O caitife vile, O impe of Satan’s seede,And hast thou kylde our soueraigne lorde and kyng?His due deserte deserueth death indeede,Yet what made thee to doo so vile a thinge?What though he dyd my father causelesse kyll?What though he rulde the realme with lawlesse wyll?Shall we therefore, with cruel bloudy knyfe,Depriue our lorde and king of vitall lyfe?38.“O filth fye, may[1221]subiects false surmise,With murthering mindes their gouernour resiste?That may not be: forTullywonderous wyse,Plato, in whom true knowledge dooth consiste,They both agreed that no man ought to kyllA tyrant, though he hath hym at his wyll:Yet thou (thou wretche) this bloudy deed hast donne,The like was neuer seene vnder the sunne.39.“When God wyl plague the people for their sinne,Them then to scourge he doth a tyrant sende,We should therefore that subiectes be, beginWith earnest minde our former faultes t’amende;Which if we do, it is to great auaile,Man’s force is fonde, fighting cannot preuayle:And he who doth resist the magistrate,Resisteth God, repenting al to late.40.“If subiects be by peruerse prince opprest,They then must pray that God the change maye make:Which God no doubt rebellion doth detest,No subiect may his sword nor[1222]armoure takeAgainst his prince, whom God hath placed there:Yet hath this wretch al voyde of subiecte’s feare,Destroyde a king whome God did thrust from throne:Alas, poore king, thy death I do bemone.41.“But he who hath thy lyng’ring lyfe destroyde,Shal be destroyd, and finde it passing playne,That no man may a prince’s lyfe anoye:Although the prince desiers to be slayne,Yet subiectes must from sheading bloud refrayne:From which, seeing that this wretch could not abstayne,Let him be hangde as I before decreed,A iust rewarde for his so vile a deed.”42.Then I forthwith to end my lyfe was led,I hopte to haue preferment for my deede,I was preferde, and hangde al saue the head:Did euer man the lyke example read?Not one I thinke: therefore, goodMemorie,In register inrolle thou this for mee,That they who liue and read the fall I felt,May finde how fate most strangely with me delte.43.Yet my desert doubt dyd death deserue,Though hatred dyd not make mee kyll my kyng,Yet lucre lewde dyd force my feete to swarue,That hatefull hap mee to this bale dyd bring:Let them then learne that heedlesse liue by hope,Her hatefull hestes wyll bring them to the rope:And happy he, who voyde of hope can leadeA quiet lyfe, all voyd of fortune’s dread.44.Perillus, he who made the bull of brasse,Lyke him I hopte to haue some great rewarde,But he in brasen belly broyled was,And to a skarfe of hempe I was preferde:So they that meane by other’s harmes to rise,Their dying day shall ende with dolefull cries:And here I ende, approuing that most true,From wicked workes no goodnesse can insue.

Two parts in one a heardman here must play,My tale must tende eche prince’s lyfe to mende,And this my talke most playnely must displaye,How farre a subiect may himselfe defendeAgaynst his liege,[1214]his souerayne lorde and king,If his default his commonweale dooth bringTo miserie: therefore a litle whileAttende, and knowe the tenoure of my stile.

Two parts in one a heardman here must play,

My tale must tende eche prince’s lyfe to mende,

And this my talke most playnely must displaye,

How farre a subiect may himselfe defende

Agaynst his liege,[1214]his souerayne lorde and king,

If his default his commonweale dooth bring

To miserie: therefore a litle while

Attende, and knowe the tenoure of my stile.

A subiect I of base and lowe degree,This headlesse corps of lyfe I did depriue,(KingSigebertit was) with crueltie:Whose lust was lawe, whilst he was here aliue,To feele my force it was his destinie:Then crueltie I wrackt with crueltie,And to reuenge the wrong that earst he wrought,With losse of lyfe his lawlesse lust he bought.

A subiect I of base and lowe degree,

This headlesse corps of lyfe I did depriue,

(KingSigebertit was) with crueltie:

Whose lust was lawe, whilst he was here aliue,

To feele my force it was his destinie:

Then crueltie I wrackt with crueltie,

And to reuenge the wrong that earst he wrought,

With losse of lyfe his lawlesse lust he bought.

ThisSigeberttheSaxonsrulde by west,Their auncient lawes he at his lyst did chaunge,For which his commons did him much detest:The duke ofCornwellwoulde not let him raungeThus at his wyll, but wisht him like a friend,To mende his faultes, or els his life to ende:Then he in rage this duke my master’s lyfe,His cruel handes bereaude with blooddy knife.

ThisSigeberttheSaxonsrulde by west,

Their auncient lawes he at his lyst did chaunge,

For which his commons did him much detest:

The duke ofCornwellwoulde not let him raunge

Thus at his wyll, but wisht him like a friend,

To mende his faultes, or els his life to ende:

Then he in rage this duke my master’s lyfe,

His cruel handes bereaude with blooddy knife.

A lawelesse life to lawlesse death dooth hale,When witlesse wil wyl passe the powere of may:Then il mishappe dooth drowne in dolour’s daleThe peruerse prince, whose wit doth beare the sway:IustAbel’sblood to God for vengeance calde,For blood with blood the bloodsheader is thralde,And him whom here before you I present,For sheading bloode, my blade his lyfe hath hent.

A lawelesse life to lawlesse death dooth hale,

When witlesse wil wyl passe the powere of may:

Then il mishappe dooth drowne in dolour’s dale

The peruerse prince, whose wit doth beare the sway:

IustAbel’sblood to God for vengeance calde,

For blood with blood the bloodsheader is thralde,

And him whom here before you I present,

For sheading bloode, my blade his lyfe hath hent.

As he three yeares his people did oppresse,Then they whose backe that burden coulde not beare,With one consent they did his state distresse,To reaue him of his crowne they did not feare,They him desposde from honour and renowne:His hateful happe so frowardly did frowne,That he who had a kingdome but of late,Forlorne he nowe must begge from gate to gate.

As he three yeares his people did oppresse,

Then they whose backe that burden coulde not beare,

With one consent they did his state distresse,

To reaue him of his crowne they did not feare,

They him desposde from honour and renowne:

His hateful happe so frowardly did frowne,

That he who had a kingdome but of late,

Forlorne he nowe must begge from gate to gate.

Doo nothing muse at his deserued happe,For many more as he their liues haue led:Ioue’svengeance iust such wretches dooth inwrappeWith change most strange, when he their blood will shed:OfDioniseofSyracusia,OfNeroe’sdeath ofPhalarisdecay,Who list to reade, he passing plaine shal finde,That he of heauen their sorrow hath assignde.

Doo nothing muse at his deserued happe,

For many more as he their liues haue led:

Ioue’svengeance iust such wretches dooth inwrappe

With change most strange, when he their blood will shed:

OfDioniseofSyracusia,

OfNeroe’sdeath ofPhalarisdecay,

Who list to reade, he passing plaine shal finde,

That he of heauen their sorrow hath assignde.

And out of doubte God did ordayne the falOf him, whom here I headlesse haue in hand,Who wandring in a wood amidst his thralI mette by chaunce, of whom I did demaundHis name, and place: who thus replide with feare:“O friende, I am for meate nowe staruen wel neare,Giue me therefore I thee beseech and praySome meate to keepe my carkasse from decay.”

And out of doubte God did ordayne the fal

Of him, whom here I headlesse haue in hand,

Who wandring in a wood amidst his thral

I mette by chaunce, of whom I did demaund

His name, and place: who thus replide with feare:

“O friende, I am for meate nowe staruen wel neare,

Giue me therefore I thee beseech and pray

Some meate to keepe my carkasse from decay.”

Some pilgrime poore, or wayfaring man him straightI iudgde, and gaue him what my scrippe would yeelde;And whilst we both thus on a banke dyd baite,From sighes and sobbes himselfe he coulde not wielde,Which made me aske agayne his name and place,But silent he did mourne with frowning face:Yet at the last by vrging too and fro,He thus declarde the cause of al his woe.

Some pilgrime poore, or wayfaring man him straight

I iudgde, and gaue him what my scrippe would yeelde;

And whilst we both thus on a banke dyd baite,

From sighes and sobbes himselfe he coulde not wielde,

Which made me aske agayne his name and place,

But silent he did mourne with frowning face:

Yet at the last by vrging too and fro,

He thus declarde the cause of al his woe.

“O miser I, more wretch then thee by much,I neuer coulde compare with thine estate,This hearde of swine against thee neuer grutch;I kept a hearde, which did their heardman hate,A hateful heard of murmuring men I meane,Which dyd depriue me of my[1215]honour cleane:And now I leade my lothsome life you see,Impalde amidste a maze of misery.

“O miser I, more wretch then thee by much,

I neuer coulde compare with thine estate,

This hearde of swine against thee neuer grutch;

I kept a hearde, which did their heardman hate,

A hateful heard of murmuring men I meane,

Which dyd depriue me of my[1215]honour cleane:

And now I leade my lothsome life you see,

Impalde amidste a maze of misery.

10.

“With chaunged chaunce (aye me) I chased am,And frowning fate such sorrowe hath assignde,That lothing life, most like a quiet lambe,My naked necke to blocke of bale I binde:With cruell knife (O care) come shread my twist,So shall my soule by corps decay be blist:But sith that care nor fate wil doo this deed,Doo thou the same I thee beseech, with speede.

“With chaunged chaunce (aye me) I chased am,

And frowning fate such sorrowe hath assignde,

That lothing life, most like a quiet lambe,

My naked necke to blocke of bale I binde:

With cruell knife (O care) come shread my twist,

So shall my soule by corps decay be blist:

But sith that care nor fate wil doo this deed,

Doo thou the same I thee beseech, with speede.

11.

“First hatefull hope with flattering face did faune,With dreade when deepe despaier would me haue drownde,[1216]Then chaunged chaunce did checke me with the pauneOf woful want, when good successe did soundA blessed blast: and nowe (to tel the truth)I haue the mate, by raging rooke of ruth:[1217]Lo thus I liue, which dayly wishe to dye,And life (alas) dooth make my misery.

“First hatefull hope with flattering face did faune,

With dreade when deepe despaier would me haue drownde,[1216]

Then chaunged chaunce did checke me with the paune

Of woful want, when good successe did sound

A blessed blast: and nowe (to tel the truth)

I haue the mate, by raging rooke of ruth:[1217]

Lo thus I liue, which dayly wishe to dye,

And life (alas) dooth make my misery.

12.

“If lothsome life (of this my corps) the kingDooth moue one way, the bishope bids me backe:If to that poynt the queene me backe doth bring,On th’other side, the knight dooth woorke my wracke,The other poyntes with paunes be al possest,And here the rooke of ruth dooth reaue my rest:And being brought into this strange estate,I do confesse my selfe to haue a mate.

“If lothsome life (of this my corps) the king

Dooth moue one way, the bishope bids me backe:

If to that poynt the queene me backe doth bring,

On th’other side, the knight dooth woorke my wracke,

The other poyntes with paunes be al possest,

And here the rooke of ruth dooth reaue my rest:

And being brought into this strange estate,

I do confesse my selfe to haue a mate.

13.

“Sith sorrowe so hath seasde vpon my bones,That nowe too late I doo lament my losse,And sith no meanes may turne my gastfull gronesTo ioyfull glye, sith trouble still doth tosseMe to and fro, in walteryng waues of woe:Death is my friend, and life I compt my foe:Which death though once my feeble fleshe did feare,Yet now I fayne would feele his murdring speare.

“Sith sorrowe so hath seasde vpon my bones,

That nowe too late I doo lament my losse,

And sith no meanes may turne my gastfull grones

To ioyfull glye, sith trouble still doth tosse

Me to and fro, in walteryng waues of woe:

Death is my friend, and life I compt my foe:

Which death though once my feeble fleshe did feare,

Yet now I fayne would feele his murdring speare.

14.

“In gurging gulfe of these such surging seas,Mypouersoule who drown’d you wil request,[1218]I wretched wight haue sought mine owne disease,By myne owne meanes my state it was distrest:For whilst I meant to make my lust a lawe,Iustice me from my high estate did drawe:So that I fynde, and feele it nowe with payne,Al worldly pompe, al honour is but vayne.

“In gurging gulfe of these such surging seas,

Mypouersoule who drown’d you wil request,[1218]

I wretched wight haue sought mine owne disease,

By myne owne meanes my state it was distrest:

For whilst I meant to make my lust a lawe,

Iustice me from my high estate did drawe:

So that I fynde, and feele it nowe with payne,

Al worldly pompe, al honour is but vayne.

15.

“Which honour I to fiery flames compare,For when they flash and flourishe most of all,Then suddaynely their flamings quenched are:For proofe whereof, to minde nowe let vs calAntigonus, andPtollemeusgreat,CæsarandMithridate, we may repeat,WithDarius, and greatAntiochus,Cambiseseke, and conqueringPyrrhus.

“Which honour I to fiery flames compare,

For when they flash and flourishe most of all,

Then suddaynely their flamings quenched are:

For proofe whereof, to minde nowe let vs cal

Antigonus, andPtollemeusgreat,

CæsarandMithridate, we may repeat,

WithDarius, and greatAntiochus,

Cambiseseke, and conqueringPyrrhus.

16.

“And I the last myght fyrst haue had my place,They al as I with flaming fierie showe,Were quenched quite: dame fortune did deface,Yea hatefull happe, euen then did ouerthroweVs most, when most we had our harte’s desire:When most we flourisht like the flames of fyre,Euen then the seas of sorowe did preuayle,And made vs weare a blacke wamenting[1219]sayle.

“And I the last myght fyrst haue had my place,

They al as I with flaming fierie showe,

Were quenched quite: dame fortune did deface,

Yea hatefull happe, euen then did ouerthrowe

Vs most, when most we had our harte’s desire:

When most we flourisht like the flames of fyre,

Euen then the seas of sorowe did preuayle,

And made vs weare a blacke wamenting[1219]sayle.

17.

“And here before my death, I wyl repeateTo thee the thing which I of late did dreame,That thou and al the worlde may see, how greatA care it is to rule a royal realme:My dreame shal showe, that blisse doth not consistIn wealth nor want: but he alone is blest,Who is content with his assigned fate,And neuer striues to clime to higher state.

“And here before my death, I wyl repeate

To thee the thing which I of late did dreame,

That thou and al the worlde may see, how great

A care it is to rule a royal realme:

My dreame shal showe, that blisse doth not consist

In wealth nor want: but he alone is blest,

Who is content with his assigned fate,

And neuer striues to clime to higher state.

18.

“When seemelySolhad rest his glittering gleames,AndNoxthe earth with darkenesse did imp[a]le:[1220]DameSinthiathen with her bright burnishte beames,The shadowed shades of darkenesse did assayle,ThenSomnuscausde my senses al to quayle:On careful couche then being layde to rest,With doubtful dreames I strangely was distrest.

“When seemelySolhad rest his glittering gleames,

AndNoxthe earth with darkenesse did imp[a]le:[1220]

DameSinthiathen with her bright burnishte beames,

The shadowed shades of darkenesse did assayle,

ThenSomnuscausde my senses al to quayle:

On careful couche then being layde to rest,

With doubtful dreames I strangely was distrest.

19.

“In cottage colde where care me thought did keepe,With naked neede and want of wherewithal:Where pouertie next begger’s doore did creepe,And where expences were so passing smal,That al men deemde that man forethrong’d with thral,Which there did dwel, euen there from bondage free,I viewde a man al voyde of miserie.

“In cottage colde where care me thought did keepe,

With naked neede and want of wherewithal:

Where pouertie next begger’s doore did creepe,

And where expences were so passing smal,

That al men deemde that man forethrong’d with thral,

Which there did dwel, euen there from bondage free,

I viewde a man al voyde of miserie.

20.

“And whilst I musde how he in bliue of blisseCoulde leade his life amidst that caue of care,From princely court proceeded eare I wist,A man, with whom there might no man compare:His wealth, his wit, his courage were so rare,That none before nor since were like to him:Yet he mee thought in waues of woe did swimme.

“And whilst I musde how he in bliue of blisse

Coulde leade his life amidst that caue of care,

From princely court proceeded eare I wist,

A man, with whom there might no man compare:

His wealth, his wit, his courage were so rare,

That none before nor since were like to him:

Yet he mee thought in waues of woe did swimme.

21.

“This man had al that men could wyshe or craueFor happy state, yet nought he had in deede:The other, he had nought that men would haue,Yet had he al, beleeue it as thy creede:This saying of that happy man I reade,That hauing nought, yet al thinges so I haue,That hauing nought, I nothing more doo craue.

“This man had al that men could wyshe or craue

For happy state, yet nought he had in deede:

The other, he had nought that men would haue,

Yet had he al, beleeue it as thy creede:

This saying of that happy man I reade,

That hauing nought, yet al thinges so I haue,

That hauing nought, I nothing more doo craue.

22.

“The king mee thought with al his courtly trayne,Past to the place where pouertie did dwel,With frowning face and with a troubled brayne,With woe and want, his vexed vaynes did swell,With myrth and ioy the poore man did excel:And being come vnto his house ymadeOf one poore hogsheadde, thus to him he sayde.

“The king mee thought with al his courtly trayne,

Past to the place where pouertie did dwel,

With frowning face and with a troubled brayne,

With woe and want, his vexed vaynes did swell,

With myrth and ioy the poore man did excel:

And being come vnto his house ymade

Of one poore hogsheadde, thus to him he sayde.

23.

“'Diogenes, thou lead’st a lothsome life,Me thinke thou might’st much better spend thy timeWithin my court, both thou and eeke thy wife:Thou by that meanes to high estate maist clime:I haue the wealth, and thou art voyde of crime,And loe, before thy face, I here am prestTo geue thee that, which thou shalt nowe request.’

“'Diogenes, thou lead’st a lothsome life,

Me thinke thou might’st much better spend thy time

Within my court, both thou and eeke thy wife:

Thou by that meanes to high estate maist clime:

I haue the wealth, and thou art voyde of crime,

And loe, before thy face, I here am prest

To geue thee that, which thou shalt nowe request.’

24.

“'Stand backe (sir kyng) thy vaunting vowes be vaine,I nothing recke, thy promise, goodes, nor lande,AndTitan’sstately streames would me sustayneWith heate, if thou from thys my doore wouldst stande:Thou tak’st away much more then thy commaundeCan geue agayne: thy giftes so vile I deeme,That none but fooles such follies do esteeme.

“'Stand backe (sir kyng) thy vaunting vowes be vaine,

I nothing recke, thy promise, goodes, nor lande,

AndTitan’sstately streames would me sustayne

With heate, if thou from thys my doore wouldst stande:

Thou tak’st away much more then thy commaunde

Can geue agayne: thy giftes so vile I deeme,

That none but fooles such follies do esteeme.

25.

“'With conquest thou hast wonne the worlde so wide,And yet thou canst not winne thy wandring wyll:Thou wouldest winne an other worlde beside:But tushe, that facte doth farre surpasse thy skyll:Thou neuer wilt of conquest haue thy fyll,Til death with daunting darte hath conquer’d thee,Then must thou leue behynd, thy monarchie.

“'With conquest thou hast wonne the worlde so wide,

And yet thou canst not winne thy wandring wyll:

Thou wouldest winne an other worlde beside:

But tushe, that facte doth farre surpasse thy skyll:

Thou neuer wilt of conquest haue thy fyll,

Til death with daunting darte hath conquer’d thee,

Then must thou leue behynd, thy monarchie.

26.

“'With greate assaultes my selfe I haue subdude,In all respectes, I haue my harte’s desyre,With a contented minde I am endude,To hygher state I neuer will aspire:More like a prince then any pore esquire,I leade my life: and sith my state is such,Aske thou of me, for I can geue thee muche.’

“'With greate assaultes my selfe I haue subdude,

In all respectes, I haue my harte’s desyre,

With a contented minde I am endude,

To hygher state I neuer will aspire:

More like a prince then any pore esquire,

I leade my life: and sith my state is such,

Aske thou of me, for I can geue thee muche.’

27.

“All dasht with dreade me thought in fuming heate,He sayd, departing thence in hast with speede:'If I were notAlexanderthe great,I would becomeDiogenesindeed,Who leades his life al voyd of woeful dread:He hath the welth which I cannot obtayne,I haue the welth which wise men do disdayne.

“All dasht with dreade me thought in fuming heate,

He sayd, departing thence in hast with speede:

'If I were notAlexanderthe great,

I would becomeDiogenesindeed,

Who leades his life al voyd of woeful dread:

He hath the welth which I cannot obtayne,

I haue the welth which wise men do disdayne.

28.

“'I liue in feare, I languishe al in dreade,Welth is my woe, the causer of my care,With feare of death I am so il bestead,That restlesse I much like the hunted hare,Or as the canuiste kite, doth feare the snare:Ten hundred cares haue brought me to the baye,Ten thousand snares for this my lyfe men laye.

“'I liue in feare, I languishe al in dreade,

Welth is my woe, the causer of my care,

With feare of death I am so il bestead,

That restlesse I much like the hunted hare,

Or as the canuiste kite, doth feare the snare:

Ten hundred cares haue brought me to the baye,

Ten thousand snares for this my lyfe men laye.

29.

“'WhenPhiliphe ofMacedonthe king,One realme me lefte, I could not be content,Desier prickte me to an other thing,To winne the worlde it was my whole intent,Which donne, another worlde to winne I ment:When least I had, then most I had of blesse,Now, al the worlde, and al vnquietnesse.

“'WhenPhiliphe ofMacedonthe king,

One realme me lefte, I could not be content,

Desier prickte me to an other thing,

To winne the worlde it was my whole intent,

Which donne, another worlde to winne I ment:

When least I had, then most I had of blesse,

Now, al the worlde, and al vnquietnesse.

30.

“'No woe to want of contentation,No welth to want of riches and renowne,For this is seene in euery nation,The highest trees be sonest blowen downe,Ten kinges do dye before one clubbishe clowne:Diogenesin quiet tunne doth rest,WhenCæsaris with carking care distrest.’

“'No woe to want of contentation,

No welth to want of riches and renowne,

For this is seene in euery nation,

The highest trees be sonest blowen downe,

Ten kinges do dye before one clubbishe clowne:

Diogenesin quiet tunne doth rest,

WhenCæsaris with carking care distrest.’

31.

“Wherewith me thought he was departed quite,AndMorpheusthat sluggishe god of sleepe,Did leaue my limmes, wherewith I stoode vpright,Deuising long what profite I could reapeOf this my dreame, which playnly did expresseThat neyther want nor wealth doth make man’s blesse:Who hath the meane with a contented minde,Most perfect blesse his God hath him assignde.

“Wherewith me thought he was departed quite,

AndMorpheusthat sluggishe god of sleepe,

Did leaue my limmes, wherewith I stoode vpright,

Deuising long what profite I could reape

Of this my dreame, which playnly did expresse

That neyther want nor wealth doth make man’s blesse:

Who hath the meane with a contented minde,

Most perfect blesse his God hath him assignde.

32.

“But I, who liude a crowned king of late,And nowe am forste of thee to begge my bread,I cannot be content with this estate,I lothe to liue, I would I wretch were deade,Despayer she doth feede me with decay,And pacience is fled and flowne away:Doe thou therefore, O heardeman, play thy parte,Take thou this blade, and thrust it to my harte.”

“But I, who liude a crowned king of late,

And nowe am forste of thee to begge my bread,

I cannot be content with this estate,

I lothe to liue, I would I wretch were deade,

Despayer she doth feede me with decay,

And pacience is fled and flowne away:

Doe thou therefore, O heardeman, play thy parte,

Take thou this blade, and thrust it to my harte.”

33.

“O Sir,” I sayd, “the goddes defend that IShould causelesse kil a man in myserye,Tel me thy name and place, then by and byI wyl prouide for thyne aduersitie:”Then he replide: “My name isSigeberte,I am the man which wrought thy master’s smart:I rulde of late this realme euen at my liste,Take thou reuenge with that thy friendly fiste.”

“O Sir,” I sayd, “the goddes defend that I

Should causelesse kil a man in myserye,

Tel me thy name and place, then by and by

I wyl prouide for thyne aduersitie:”

Then he replide: “My name isSigeberte,

I am the man which wrought thy master’s smart:

I rulde of late this realme euen at my liste,

Take thou reuenge with that thy friendly fiste.”

34.

“And wel content: I wyl reuenge with speede,The death of him whome causelesse thou didst kill:KingSigebert, and art thou he indeede?Sith he thou art, dispacth and make thy wyl;For to my lorde this day I wyl presentThy head: therefore thy former faultes repent,Thou seest the blocke on which thy lyfe must ende,Call thou for grace that God may mercie send.”

“And wel content: I wyl reuenge with speede,

The death of him whome causelesse thou didst kill:

KingSigebert, and art thou he indeede?

Sith he thou art, dispacth and make thy wyl;

For to my lorde this day I wyl present

Thy head: therefore thy former faultes repent,

Thou seest the blocke on which thy lyfe must ende,

Call thou for grace that God may mercie send.”

35.

Wherewith he kneelyng by the blocke of bale,“Dispatch,” quoth he, “and do that friendly deede:O welcome death, and farewel fortune fraile,Dispatch good friende, dispatch my lyfe with speede.”Wherewith, on blocke he stretcht his necke outright,And sayd no more, but praying me to smite:I gaue the stroke which ended al his care,A blouddie stroke, which did my death prepare.

Wherewith he kneelyng by the blocke of bale,

“Dispatch,” quoth he, “and do that friendly deede:

O welcome death, and farewel fortune fraile,

Dispatch good friende, dispatch my lyfe with speede.”

Wherewith, on blocke he stretcht his necke outright,

And sayd no more, but praying me to smite:

I gaue the stroke which ended al his care,

A blouddie stroke, which did my death prepare.

36.

For I who hopte to haue some great rewardeFor killing of my maister’s father’s foe:Was hanged strayght, my cause was neuer hearde,Such was my chance and wel deserued woe:For when my lord had heard me tel the tale,Howe I his king and myne did there assayle,His frowning face did put me in great feare,He sighte and sobde, and sayd as you shal heare.

For I who hopte to haue some great rewarde

For killing of my maister’s father’s foe:

Was hanged strayght, my cause was neuer hearde,

Such was my chance and wel deserued woe:

For when my lord had heard me tel the tale,

Howe I his king and myne did there assayle,

His frowning face did put me in great feare,

He sighte and sobde, and sayd as you shal heare.

37.

“O caitife vile, O impe of Satan’s seede,And hast thou kylde our soueraigne lorde and kyng?His due deserte deserueth death indeede,Yet what made thee to doo so vile a thinge?What though he dyd my father causelesse kyll?What though he rulde the realme with lawlesse wyll?Shall we therefore, with cruel bloudy knyfe,Depriue our lorde and king of vitall lyfe?

“O caitife vile, O impe of Satan’s seede,

And hast thou kylde our soueraigne lorde and kyng?

His due deserte deserueth death indeede,

Yet what made thee to doo so vile a thinge?

What though he dyd my father causelesse kyll?

What though he rulde the realme with lawlesse wyll?

Shall we therefore, with cruel bloudy knyfe,

Depriue our lorde and king of vitall lyfe?

38.

“O filth fye, may[1221]subiects false surmise,With murthering mindes their gouernour resiste?That may not be: forTullywonderous wyse,Plato, in whom true knowledge dooth consiste,They both agreed that no man ought to kyllA tyrant, though he hath hym at his wyll:Yet thou (thou wretche) this bloudy deed hast donne,The like was neuer seene vnder the sunne.

“O filth fye, may[1221]subiects false surmise,

With murthering mindes their gouernour resiste?

That may not be: forTullywonderous wyse,

Plato, in whom true knowledge dooth consiste,

They both agreed that no man ought to kyll

A tyrant, though he hath hym at his wyll:

Yet thou (thou wretche) this bloudy deed hast donne,

The like was neuer seene vnder the sunne.

39.

“When God wyl plague the people for their sinne,Them then to scourge he doth a tyrant sende,We should therefore that subiectes be, beginWith earnest minde our former faultes t’amende;Which if we do, it is to great auaile,Man’s force is fonde, fighting cannot preuayle:And he who doth resist the magistrate,Resisteth God, repenting al to late.

“When God wyl plague the people for their sinne,

Them then to scourge he doth a tyrant sende,

We should therefore that subiectes be, begin

With earnest minde our former faultes t’amende;

Which if we do, it is to great auaile,

Man’s force is fonde, fighting cannot preuayle:

And he who doth resist the magistrate,

Resisteth God, repenting al to late.

40.

“If subiects be by peruerse prince opprest,They then must pray that God the change maye make:Which God no doubt rebellion doth detest,No subiect may his sword nor[1222]armoure takeAgainst his prince, whom God hath placed there:Yet hath this wretch al voyde of subiecte’s feare,Destroyde a king whome God did thrust from throne:Alas, poore king, thy death I do bemone.

“If subiects be by peruerse prince opprest,

They then must pray that God the change maye make:

Which God no doubt rebellion doth detest,

No subiect may his sword nor[1222]armoure take

Against his prince, whom God hath placed there:

Yet hath this wretch al voyde of subiecte’s feare,

Destroyde a king whome God did thrust from throne:

Alas, poore king, thy death I do bemone.

41.

“But he who hath thy lyng’ring lyfe destroyde,Shal be destroyd, and finde it passing playne,That no man may a prince’s lyfe anoye:Although the prince desiers to be slayne,Yet subiectes must from sheading bloud refrayne:From which, seeing that this wretch could not abstayne,Let him be hangde as I before decreed,A iust rewarde for his so vile a deed.”

“But he who hath thy lyng’ring lyfe destroyde,

Shal be destroyd, and finde it passing playne,

That no man may a prince’s lyfe anoye:

Although the prince desiers to be slayne,

Yet subiectes must from sheading bloud refrayne:

From which, seeing that this wretch could not abstayne,

Let him be hangde as I before decreed,

A iust rewarde for his so vile a deed.”

42.

Then I forthwith to end my lyfe was led,I hopte to haue preferment for my deede,I was preferde, and hangde al saue the head:Did euer man the lyke example read?Not one I thinke: therefore, goodMemorie,In register inrolle thou this for mee,That they who liue and read the fall I felt,May finde how fate most strangely with me delte.

Then I forthwith to end my lyfe was led,

I hopte to haue preferment for my deede,

I was preferde, and hangde al saue the head:

Did euer man the lyke example read?

Not one I thinke: therefore, goodMemorie,

In register inrolle thou this for mee,

That they who liue and read the fall I felt,

May finde how fate most strangely with me delte.

43.

Yet my desert doubt dyd death deserue,Though hatred dyd not make mee kyll my kyng,Yet lucre lewde dyd force my feete to swarue,That hatefull hap mee to this bale dyd bring:Let them then learne that heedlesse liue by hope,Her hatefull hestes wyll bring them to the rope:And happy he, who voyde of hope can leadeA quiet lyfe, all voyd of fortune’s dread.

Yet my desert doubt dyd death deserue,

Though hatred dyd not make mee kyll my kyng,

Yet lucre lewde dyd force my feete to swarue,

That hatefull hap mee to this bale dyd bring:

Let them then learne that heedlesse liue by hope,

Her hatefull hestes wyll bring them to the rope:

And happy he, who voyde of hope can leade

A quiet lyfe, all voyd of fortune’s dread.

44.

Perillus, he who made the bull of brasse,Lyke him I hopte to haue some great rewarde,But he in brasen belly broyled was,And to a skarfe of hempe I was preferde:So they that meane by other’s harmes to rise,Their dying day shall ende with dolefull cries:And here I ende, approuing that most true,From wicked workes no goodnesse can insue.

Perillus, he who made the bull of brasse,

Lyke him I hopte to haue some great rewarde,

But he in brasen belly broyled was,

And to a skarfe of hempe I was preferde:

So they that meane by other’s harmes to rise,

Their dying day shall ende with dolefull cries:

And here I ende, approuing that most true,

From wicked workes no goodnesse can insue.

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