The Mirrour of Mutabilitie or Principall part of the Mirrour for Magistrates. Describing the fall of diuers famous Princes, and other memorable Personages. Selected out of the sacred Scriptures by Antony Munday, and dedicated to the Right Honorable the Earle of Oxenford |
 |
| 1. |
THE COMPLAINT OF
King Nabuchodonozor, sometime King of
Babilon, for the inordinate and excessive
PRIDE, that he vsed in his life time.
|
| 2. |
 | The Mirrour of Mutabilitie |  |
THE COMPLAINT OF King Nabuchodonozor, sometime King of Babilon, for the inordinate and excessive PRIDE, that he vsed in his life time.
Caput. 1.
On
highest tipe of Honors lofty name,
I some time did in Princely pomp remayne:
Bothe farre and neer I bore the golden fame,
And who but I in cheefe estate did reign?
Till suddainly in all my peacocks plumes:
I was throwen down for all my freating fumes.
I some time did in Princely pomp remayne:
Bothe farre and neer I bore the golden fame,
And who but I in cheefe estate did reign?
Till suddainly in all my peacocks plumes:
I was throwen down for all my freating fumes.
What so thou be that fayne wouldst knowe my name,
And how I liu'd, attend vnto my tale:
Nabuchodonozor, I am the very same,
Who suddenly was turnd from blisse to bale.
In Pride I rulde, and flaunted with the best:
Who me denayd, by power I supprest.
And how I liu'd, attend vnto my tale:
Nabuchodonozor, I am the very same,
Who suddenly was turnd from blisse to bale.
In Pride I rulde, and flaunted with the best:
Who me denayd, by power I supprest.
I am that King which did the Image frame,
Wherto all men should treble homage giue:
Those that rebeld should taste the scorching flame,
This in my Pride I vsde while I did liue.
Blood, blood, was all I dayly did desire:
Such was the rule wherto I did aspire.
Wherto all men should treble homage giue:
Those that rebeld should taste the scorching flame,
This in my Pride I vsde while I did liue.
Blood, blood, was all I dayly did desire:
Such was the rule wherto I did aspire.
When Sidrach, Misach, and Abednago,
To homage did my golden God disdayne:
In flaming Fornace soone I did them throwe,
Wherin I thought to woork their cruell payne.
But of my will, see how I was deceiued:
God by his might my puissant pomp bereued.
To homage did my golden God disdayne:
In flaming Fornace soone I did them throwe,
Wherin I thought to woork their cruell payne.
But of my will, see how I was deceiued:
God by his might my puissant pomp bereued.
His Angell did preserue them in the flame,
So that they did no harme at all sustayne:
No, not one hear did perish out of frame,
This when I saw, did gorge me with disdayne.
I thought my self inferiour vnto none:
But I as God triumphant rulde alone.
So that they did no harme at all sustayne:
No, not one hear did perish out of frame,
This when I saw, did gorge me with disdayne.
I thought my self inferiour vnto none:
But I as God triumphant rulde alone.
I thought eche wight was subiect vnto me,
I thought it prayse to beare a loftie name:
Pride rulde my hart, I could not Uertue see,
Uice did abound my pleasure for to frame.
A mortall man? no, no, a God and eke obayd:
My whole estate in pamperd Pride I swayd.
I thought it prayse to beare a loftie name:
Pride rulde my hart, I could not Uertue see,
Uice did abound my pleasure for to frame.
A mortall man? no, no, a God and eke obayd:
My whole estate in pamperd Pride I swayd.
No one I thought that could my power suppresse,
Much lesse I thought to finde my equall mate:
With woordes I causde to bow bothe more and lesse,
With hauty deeds I maintaynd still my state,
This stomack stout disdaynd to stoupe all:
This mightie minde no feare could once apall.
Much lesse I thought to finde my equall mate:
With woordes I causde to bow bothe more and lesse,
With hauty deeds I maintaynd still my state,
This stomack stout disdaynd to stoupe all:
This mightie minde no feare could once apall.
But yet the Lord to make me feele his might,
Bereft me cleane of mine Impeciall seat:
For seuen yeeres space, my Pride for to requite,
In shape of Oxe on ground he made me eat.
A iust reward which I did well deserue:
Since so I did disdayne his name to serue.
Bereft me cleane of mine Impeciall seat:
For seuen yeeres space, my Pride for to requite,
In shape of Oxe on ground he made me eat.
A iust reward which I did well deserue:
Since so I did disdayne his name to serue.
Yet at the length his mercy tooke such place,
That he restorde me to my Seat agayne:
And where before I ran an vncouth race,
With treble ioy my Crowne I did attayne.
Now I perciu'ed God brought my state so lowe:
And raysd me vp, that I my self might knowe.
That he restorde me to my Seat agayne:
And where before I ran an vncouth race,
With treble ioy my Crowne I did attayne.
Now I perciu'ed God brought my state so lowe:
And raysd me vp, that I my self might knowe.
Beholde how gratious was the Lord to me,
That liued long moste odious to beholde:
See how at length his mercy set me free,
And brought me home agayne into his folde,
And though that I did run awhile astray:
Loth was the Lord to see me cast away.
That liued long moste odious to beholde:
See how at length his mercy set me free,
And brought me home agayne into his folde,
And though that I did run awhile astray:
Loth was the Lord to see me cast away.
You Potentates that rule in high degree,
Remember how your state is heere vnsure:
And though on Earth a while your bidings be,
It is but lent, it dooth not aye indure.
Think as to day your life you doo sustayne:
To morrowe dead, the proofe heer of is playne.
Remember how your state is heere vnsure:
And though on Earth a while your bidings be,
It is but lent, it dooth not aye indure.
Think as to day your life you doo sustayne:
To morrowe dead, the proofe heer of is playne.
Think not to liue as Gods vpon the land,
Remember still that Pride will haue a fall:
Consider you are Subiect to Gods hand,
And in a moment passe away you shall.
Liue stil to dye, that you may redy be:
When God shall call eche one in his degree.
Remember still that Pride will haue a fall:
Consider you are Subiect to Gods hand,
And in a moment passe away you shall.
Liue stil to dye, that you may redy be:
When God shall call eche one in his degree.
See how my Pride was quickly layd in dust,
Beholde you may my Mutabilitie:
My Princely rule wheron I whole did trust,
Did naught auayle my state to fortifie.
He set me vp, agayne, he brought me lowe:
That I to you a warning plaine might showe.
Beholde you may my Mutabilitie:
My Princely rule wheron I whole did trust,
Did naught auayle my state to fortifie.
He set me vp, agayne, he brought me lowe:
That I to you a warning plaine might showe.
Remember diuers past in preter time,
That haue receiu'd as sudden fall as I:
And haue likewise offended in this crime,
Now wisely looke, you like tread not awrye.
Proud Lucifer fell down from Heauen hye:
And all through Pride God did in him espye.
That haue receiu'd as sudden fall as I:
And haue likewise offended in this crime,
Now wisely looke, you like tread not awrye.
Proud Lucifer fell down from Heauen hye:
And all through Pride God did in him espye.
Beware of Pride therfore my Brethern all,
With your estates still holde your selues content.
Pride, Pride, was only cause of my great fall,
And for my Pride beholde how I was shent.
Example take, be warned now by me:
Let me suffise your pattern for to be.
With your estates still holde your selues content.
Pride, Pride, was only cause of my great fall,
And for my Pride beholde how I was shent.
Example take, be warned now by me:
Let me suffise your pattern for to be.
And to my graue with speed I haste agayne,
Since I haue tolde that which I did desire:
For now I hope that you will shun the payne,
That comes through Pride, whose lew is lasting fire.
And thus adieu, God graunt eche one may see:
Unto his state, and so content to be.
Since I haue tolde that which I did desire:
For now I hope that you will shun the payne,
That comes through Pride, whose lew is lasting fire.
And thus adieu, God graunt eche one may see:
Unto his state, and so content to be.
FINIS.
| The Mirrour of Mutabilitie | |