QVATORZAIN. 9. Nemesis.
Nemesis the daughter of Oceanus and Nox may be
called the Goddesse of reuenge, who was sent from
Iupiter to suppresse the pride and insolence of such as
are to much puft vp with arrogancie for the fruitiō
of worldly felicitie: and therfore Aristotle Li. de mundo,
affirmeth Nemesis to be the deuine power and
iustice of God to punish malefactors for their haynous
crimes, and to distribute to euery one according
to his demerits.
Red hote with rage whose heart with griefe doth bleede,
I come from Ioue fell Atropos to chide,
That cut too soone this Countesse vitall threede,
Where with her soule and bodie were fast tide:
While wicked men long liue in Ioy and pleasure,
She liu'd long time in sicknesse and in paine,
Who still accounted vertue her chiefe treasure,
And losse of worldly wealth heauens richest gaine:
Wherefore she fled to heauen, from whence I came,
And with reuenge to scourge mens insolence,
And those same ruthlesse destenies to tame,
That by this Ladies death Ioues wrath incence,
Who let the wicked long time liue in pride,
While she that best deserued, soonest dide.
