University of Virginia Library

SCENE VI.

Enter Fortune in her Chariot drawne with Kings.
The Song.
Reuerence , due reuerence, faire dames do reuerence,
Vnto this Goddesse great do humble reuerence:
Do humble reuerence.
Fortune of worldly state the gouernesse,
Fortune of mans delight the Mistresse,
Fortune of earthly blisse the patronesse,
Fortune the spring of ioy and happinesse:
Lo, this is she, with twinkling of her eie,
That misers can aduance to dignity,
And Princes turne to misers miserie.
Reuerence, due reuerence.

Fortune.
Report hath spread, that Vertue here in place
Arriued is, her silly court to hold:
And therefore I am come with faster pace,
T'encounter her, whose countenance is so bold.
I doubt not, but by this my pompous shew,
By vestures wrought with gold so gorgeously,
By reuerence done to me of high and lowe,
By all these ornaments of brauerie,
By this my trayne that now attends me so,
By Kings that hale my Chariot to and fro,
Fortune is knowne the Queene of al renowne,
That makes, that marres, sets vp, and throwes adowne.
Well is it knowne, what contrary effects,
Twixt Fortune and dame Vertue hath beene wrought:
How still I her contemne, she me reiects;
I her despise, she setteth me at nought:
So as great warres are growne for soueraignty,
And strife as great, twixt vs for victorie.
Now is the time of triall to be had,
The place appoynted, eke in present here:
So as the trueth to all sorts, good and bad,
More cleere then light, shall presently appeare.
It shall be seene, what Fortunes power can doe,
When Vertue shall be forst to yeeld thereto.
It shall be seene when Vertue cannot bide,
But shrinke for shame, her silly face to hide.
Then Fortune shall aduaunce her selfe before
All harmes to helpe, all losses to restore.
But why do I my selfe thus long restrayne,
From executing this I do entend?
Time posts away, and words they be but vaine,
For deedes (indeed) our quarrell now must end.
Therefore in place I will no longer stay,
But to my stately throne my selfe conuay.


Reuerence, due reuerence, &c.