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 Pharao, sometime King of Egipt,
vvoorthily punnished of GOD, for his vvrathfull
dealings tovvard the Children of Israel.
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 | 2. |
 | The Mirrour of Mutabilitie |  |
THE COMPLAINT of King Pharao, sometime King of Egipt, vvoorthily punnished of GOD, for his vvrathfull dealings tovvard the Children of Israel.
Caput. 3.
Am
I that Pharao that did guyde,
The noble Land of Egipt late?
Am I that Pharao that did slyde,
From happy helth, to wayling woe?
And am I he, that sought eche way,
For to subuert the Israels state?
Then iustly is mine owne decay,
Falne downe on me, for dooing so.
I haue dese'ud the trueth to say,
A thousand times as many moe.
For all the Plagues that God me sent:
Could not inforce me to repent.
The noble Land of Egipt late?
Am I that Pharao that did slyde,
From happy helth, to wayling woe?
And am I he, that sought eche way,
For to subuert the Israels state?
Then iustly is mine owne decay,
Falne downe on me, for dooing so.
I haue dese'ud the trueth to say,
A thousand times as many moe.
For all the Plagues that God me sent:
Could not inforce me to repent.
Ten seuerall Plagues God sent to me,
Ere I would let his Children goe:
With Frogs aud Lice moste straunge to see,
To mooue my hardned hart with all:
With diuers Plagues he payd me pat,
For to reclaime my stoutnes so.
But I esteemed not of that,
I thought my state should neuer fall.
I thought to beat all nations flat,
Before that I would gayne the thrall.
But who so fights agaynst the Lord:
He speeds but bad, as I accord.
Ere I would let his Children goe:
With Frogs aud Lice moste straunge to see,
To mooue my hardned hart with all:
With diuers Plagues he payd me pat,
For to reclaime my stoutnes so.
But I esteemed not of that,
I thought my state should neuer fall.
I thought to beat all nations flat,
Before that I would gayne the thrall.
But who so fights agaynst the Lord:
He speeds but bad, as I accord.
I did perseuer in my thought,
I did not force the Lord on hye:
I thought my power should euer speed,
And that his might I could deface:
My hardned hart with VVrath was bent,
I thought to mount vp to the Skye.
But climing, see how I was shent,
For down I fell in lothesome case.
And now my deed I doo repent,
For running such a wretched race.
Beholde how heer I diue in paine:
Yet can not dye though almoste slayne.
I did not force the Lord on hye:
I thought my power should euer speed,
And that his might I could deface:
My hardned hart with VVrath was bent,
I thought to mount vp to the Skye.
But climing, see how I was shent,
For down I fell in lothesome case.
And now my deed I doo repent,
Beholde how heer I diue in paine:
Yet can not dye though almoste slayne.
The furious Fiends torment my ghoste,
For pleasure vsed in my life:
Trounst and turmoyld in freesing frost,
Ye burnes this frost as whot a[illeg.] fire
Thus doo I passe my dollye dayes,
Amid a thousand heaps of strife:
And from them can escape no wayes,
To late it is for to retire.
But iust desart (as all men sayes,
Fell down on me in midst of ire.
O loathed life, fayne would I dye:
Cease Pharao, thou in vaine doost crye.
For pleasure vsed in my life:
Trounst and turmoyld in freesing frost,
Ye burnes this frost as whot a[illeg.] fire
Thus doo I passe my dollye dayes,
Amid a thousand heaps of strife:
And from them can escape no wayes,
To late it is for to retire.
But iust desart (as all men sayes,
Fell down on me in midst of ire.
O loathed life, fayne would I dye:
Cease Pharao, thou in vaine doost crye.
Be warned now you Lordings all,
Let Pharaos fall teach you beware:
Spit foorth that griesly goring gall,
Which makes you Enuyes seruile slaue:
See Pharao, who of late inioyd,
What hart could wish, deuoyd of care.
And see, how now I am annoyd,
Iudge if a guerdon right I haue.
Because my time I aye imployd,
To fancyes fond which I did craue.
And now my pleasure spent before;
With sowry sauce I doo deplore
Let Pharaos fall teach you beware:
Spit foorth that griesly goring gall,
Which makes you Enuyes seruile slaue:
See Pharao, who of late inioyd,
What hart could wish, deuoyd of care.
And see, how now I am annoyd,
Iudge if a guerdon right I haue.
Because my time I aye imployd,
To fancyes fond which I did craue.
And now my pleasure spent before;
With sowry sauce I doo deplore
Say now you see a pattern playne,
That you the like mischaunce may shun:
See heere the lue of deep disdayne,
That fostred was in Enuyes lap:
Respect your state ere you begin,
Now you yaur after steps may run,
So shall you scape the sinck of sin:
Which Pluto proud dooth round bewrap,
When you espy another in:
I think you may escape the trap.
Say not but you haue warning had:
Of one that feeles his state to bad.
That you the like mischaunce may shun:
See heere the lue of deep disdayne,
That fostred was in Enuyes lap:
Respect your state ere you begin,
So shall you scape the sinck of sin:
Which Pluto proud dooth round bewrap,
When you espy another in:
I think you may escape the trap.
Say not but you haue warning had:
Of one that feeles his state to bad.
And thus adiew, I must return,
As Gally slaue vuto my paine:
To place where sily soules doo mourne,
In lothsom lake of Enuy fell:
I must not slack my seruice due.
But with all speed must turne again,
And there be locked fast in mue:
Among a thousand feends of Hell,
Take heed therfore, think on my lue:
And of the place where I doo dwell.
Then neuer wil you fall in this:
But still take heed to doo a misse.
As Gally slaue vuto my paine:
To place where sily soules doo mourne,
In lothsom lake of Enuy fell:
I must not slack my seruice due.
But with all speed must turne again,
And there be locked fast in mue:
Among a thousand feends of Hell,
Take heed therfore, think on my lue:
And of the place where I doo dwell.
Then neuer wil you fall in this:
But still take heed to doo a misse.
FIMIS.
| The Mirrour of Mutabilitie | |