QVATORZAIN. 8. Fortuna.
Armipotens belli præses Tritonia Pallas
Fortuna as some suppose was the daughter of Oceanus,
albeit Hesiodus writing of the originall birth
of the Gods, makes no mention of her, yet she is
vainely reckoned among the number of the Gods as
Iuuenal witnesseth.
Nullum numen abest si sit prudentia, sed te
Nos facimus Fortuna deam Cæloque locamus.
She is the Goddesse of chance and inconstancie
she is saide to be blinde and to be rouled about vpon
a wheale as Tibullus in 1. Elegiarum. Versatur
celeri Fors leuis orbe rota.
I that do turne the rowling wheele of chaunce,
The blinde light Goddesse of vnconstancie,
That sometime did the Romaine Peers aduance,
To sway the worlds imperiall Monarchie:
I that doe kings enthrone, annoynt, and crowne,
And ofte depose them from the Royall seate,
I that on mightie Baiazeth did frowne,
And made the baseborne Tamberlaine so great:
Lament that death hath got the victorie,
While I am faine to flie away for feare,
For where death raines, there ends my soueraintie,
He casts downe Trophees which I did vpreare,
This Ladie whome I raisde to high degree,
Dyde not by chaunce but fatall destenie,
