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 |
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| 1. |
THE COMPLAINT
of King Herod, the first Straunger that reigned
ouer the Ievves, for the exceeding ENVYE that
in his life he vsed.
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 | 2. |
 | The Mirrour of Mutabilitie |  |
THE COMPLAINT of King Herod, the first Straunger that reigned ouer the Ievves, for the exceeding ENVYE that in his life he vsed.
Caput. 2.
What
, shall I speak? or shall I holde my peace?
What shall I doo? all lothes my face to see:
The more I muse, the more dooth woe increace,
The more I shun, the more it followes me.
My former deeds I wish recalld to be.
But Uarlet fye, thou speakest to to late:
For right reuenge is falne vpon thy pate.
What shall I doo? all lothes my face to see:
The more I muse, the more dooth woe increace,
The more I shun, the more it followes me.
My former deeds I wish recalld to be.
But Uarlet fye, thou speakest to to late:
For right reuenge is falne vpon thy pate.
Why should I shun, or hide to showe my name?
To all the world I am an open gaze:
The infant young on Herod cryeth shame,
So black Defame my name abroad dooth blaze:
That to looke vp, oh how I stand in maze.
To Heauen, no, cast down thy head to Hell:
There is the place, where thou of right must dwel.
To all the world I am an open gaze:
The infant young on Herod cryeth shame,
So black Defame my name abroad dooth blaze:
That to looke vp, oh how I stand in maze.
To Heauen, no, cast down thy head to Hell:
There is the place, where thou of right must dwel.
But that all men may mirrour take by me,
List to the tale that heer I will vnfolde:
Heere warning take, let me your mirrour be,
See how at length I trapped am in holde:
You Gallants gay, take heed, be not to bolde,
Least that you run to soone in Enuyes snare:
And so be caught before you can beware.
List to the tale that heer I will vnfolde:
Heere warning take, let me your mirrour be,
See how at length I trapped am in holde:
You Gallants gay, take heed, be not to bolde,
Least that you run to soone in Enuyes snare:
And so be caught before you can beware.
I Herod am, whose hart with greefe did gore,
When Christe was borne, whom men their Sauiour call:
I sent foorth Mages to foresee therfore,
Which way I might procure him for my thrall:
In hart I still desirde his finall fall.
But God who sawe such Enuye in my brest:
Did me bereaue of that I hoped best,
When Christe was borne, whom men their Sauiour call:
I sent foorth Mages to foresee therfore,
Which way I might procure him for my thrall:
But God who sawe such Enuye in my brest:
Did me bereaue of that I hoped best,
Unto my hart it was an endles spight,
That of the Ievves a King he nam'd should bee:
O then (quoth I) if catch that wretch I might,
All were mine owne, mine honor then were free,
The pomp of all might then redound to me.
But they in whome I fully fixt my trust:
Returnd no more, their promise was vniust.
That of the Ievves a King he nam'd should bee:
O then (quoth I) if catch that wretch I might,
All were mine owne, mine honor then were free,
The pomp of all might then redound to me.
But they in whome I fully fixt my trust:
Returnd no more, their promise was vniust.
I vowed to come with homage to this King,
Dissembling then my ardent zeale of hart:
Hoping that so I might him vnder bring,
And by this drift fulfill my bloody part.
But all in vayne, the more returnd my smart.
And how I frye, and freat in spight therfore:
Iudge you if one may any wayes doo more.
Dissembling then my ardent zeale of hart:
Hoping that so I might him vnder bring,
And by this drift fulfill my bloody part.
But all in vayne, the more returnd my smart.
And how I frye, and freat in spight therfore:
Iudge you if one may any wayes doo more.
Condemd I am to the infernall flame,
For lothsome life which I would not preuent:
Proud Pluto now torments my noble name,
Now to to late I lothe my life lewd spent.
Be warnd therfore, eche man keep him content.
Clime not to high, for sudden comes the fall:
Which leads you to an euerlasting thrall.
For lothsome life which I would not preuent:
Proud Pluto now torments my noble name,
Now to to late I lothe my life lewd spent.
Be warnd therfore, eche man keep him content.
Clime not to high, for sudden comes the fall:
Which leads you to an euerlasting thrall.
You stately Kings that haue the charge in hand,
To gouern those that doo them Subiects vow:
Foresee by me such sinne for to withstand,
Be not to proud, vnto your duties bow.
Rememember you but Subiects are as now.
I can instruct how other should deplore:
But I my self could not take heed before.
To gouern those that doo them Subiects vow:
Foresee by me such sinne for to withstand,
Be not to proud, vnto your duties bow.
Rememember you but Subiects are as now.
I can instruct how other should deplore:
But I my self could not take heed before.
Call vnto minde the slaughter that I made,
Of tender infants from their mothers brest:
See how Dame Enuye led me by her shade,
That mercilesse poore Sucklings I opprest.
And through my Realme none could haue any rest.
But what reuenge did light on me therfore:
Is to well knowen, I need to speak no more.
Of tender infants from their mothers brest:
See how Dame Enuye led me by her shade,
That mercilesse poore Sucklings I opprest.
And through my Realme none could haue any rest.
But what reuenge did light on me therfore:
Is to well knowen, I need to speak no more.
For suddenly I caught a bloody knife,
Incenst with ire, to woorke mine owne decay:
My Seruaunt would not let me spill my life,
But he perforce constraynd my hand to stay.
Els desperatly I meant my self to slay.
But now at last, beholde a greater chaunge:
Woe to reporte the matter is so straunge.
Incenst with ire, to woorke mine owne decay:
My Seruaunt would not let me spill my life,
But he perforce constraynd my hand to stay.
Els desperatly I meant my self to slay.
But now at last, beholde a greater chaunge:
Woe to reporte the matter is so straunge.
A loathsome creature then I was to see,
Upon my carckasse Uermin vile did eat:
Such odious sauours did proceed from me,
None could abide for to approche my Seat.
For to beholde my body vermins meat.
My freends and all, now suffered me to lye:
My stinck was such, that none could come me nye.
Upon my carckasse Uermin vile did eat:
Such odious sauours did proceed from me,
None could abide for to approche my Seat.
For to beholde my body vermins meat.
My freends and all, now suffered me to lye:
My stinck was such, that none could come me nye.
A iust reward for Enuye that I vsde,
A mirrour playne for all that come behinde:
To think how much my self I haue abusde,
And altred cleane from out of natures kinde.
A man, a beast, such doome was me assignde.
And as I was, euen so I doo remayne:
Til iudgement come, to quit me for my payne.
A mirrour playne for all that come behinde:
To think how much my self I haue abusde,
And altred cleane from out of natures kinde.
A man, a beast, such doome was me assignde.
And as I was, euen so I doo remayne:
Til iudgement come, to quit me for my payne.
Sufficient warning heere I haue you tolde,
For to beware how like you doo offend:
Now hence I must to troubles treble folde,
Which will abide continuall without end.
If therfore thou wilt to thy self be freend.
Shun Enuyes snare, take heed of lofty minde:
So neuer shalt thou wauer out of kinde.
For to beware how like you doo offend:
Now hence I must to troubles treble folde,
If therfore thou wilt to thy self be freend.
Shun Enuyes snare, take heed of lofty minde:
So neuer shalt thou wauer out of kinde.
FINIS.
| The Mirrour of Mutabilitie | |