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124
[MEMPRICIUS]
Mempricius giuen all to luste, pleasure and the sinne of Sodomye: telles how he was deuoured of wolues. The yeares before Christ. 989.
Tis often sayd a man should do likewyse
To other, as he would to him they did:
Do as thou wouldste be don to saith the wyse,
And do as conscience, and as iustice byd.
But he that myndes for rule another ryd,
Must not his handes with cruell bloud distayne:
For bloud doth alwayes cry for bloud agayne.
To other, as he would to him they did:
Do as thou wouldste be don to saith the wyse,
And do as conscience, and as iustice byd.
But he that myndes for rule another ryd,
Must not his handes with cruell bloud distayne:
For bloud doth alwayes cry for bloud agayne.
Eke lustfull life that sleepes in sinkes of sinne
Procures a plague, fy fy on Venus vyle.
We litle wot the mischiefe is therein,
When we with poisons sweete our selues beguile:
The pleasures passe, the ioyes indure but while,
And nought thereby at all we get or gaine:
But dreadfull death, and euerlasting paine.
Procures a plague, fy fy on Venus vyle.
We litle wot the mischiefe is therein,
When we with poisons sweete our selues beguile:
The pleasures passe, the ioyes indure but while,
And nought thereby at all we get or gaine:
But dreadfull death, and euerlasting paine.
125
Mee thincks thou lookist for to haue my name,
And musist what I am that thus do com:
I would or this haue tolde it but for shame,
Wherefore to giue example yet to som:
I will no longer faine my selfe so dom,
But sith I must as others tell their fall:
Take here my name, my life, my death and all.
And musist what I am that thus do com:
I would or this haue tolde it but for shame,
Wherefore to giue example yet to som:
I will no longer faine my selfe so dom,
But sith I must as others tell their fall:
Take here my name, my life, my death and all.
I am Mempricius, Madans eldest sonne,
Once king of Britaine that my brother slewe:
Whereby the crowne, and kingdome all I won,
And after norisht vices moe that grewe.
Not natures lawes, nor Gods, nor mans I knew,
But liude in lust not recking any thing:
I demde was nought vnlawfull for a king.
Once king of Britaine that my brother slewe:
Whereby the crowne, and kingdome all I won,
And after norisht vices moe that grewe.
Not natures lawes, nor Gods, nor mans I knew,
But liude in lust not recking any thing:
I demde was nought vnlawfull for a king.
For when I had my brother brought on beare,
I thought in rest to keepe this kingdome longe
And I was voyde of doubt, I had no feare:
Was none durst checke me, did I right or wrong:
I liude at large, and thought my powre so stronge:
There could no man preuaile against my will,
In steede of lawe that vsed rigor still.
I thought in rest to keepe this kingdome longe
And I was voyde of doubt, I had no feare:
Was none durst checke me, did I right or wrong:
I liude at large, and thought my powre so stronge:
There could no man preuaile against my will,
In steede of lawe that vsed rigor still.
So after that I fell to slouthfull ease,
A vice that breedes a nomber more besyde:
I waxt so testie none durst me displease
And eke so puft with glory vaine and pride.
My sencelesse sence as ship without a guide,
Was tost with euery fancye of my braine:
Like Phoebus chariote, vnder Phaetons raine.
A vice that breedes a nomber more besyde:
I waxt so testie none durst me displease
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My sencelesse sence as ship without a guide,
Was tost with euery fancye of my braine:
Like Phoebus chariote, vnder Phaetons raine.
I deemde them foes that me good counsaile gaue,
And those my chiefest frends could glose and lye:
I hated them that were so sage and graue,
And those I loude were lustye, lewde and slye:
I did the wisest wittes as fooles defye:
Such sots, knaues, ruffians, roisters I embrast:
As were vnwise, vnhonest, rude, vnchast.
And those my chiefest frends could glose and lye:
I hated them that were so sage and graue,
And those I loude were lustye, lewde and slye:
I did the wisest wittes as fooles defye:
Such sots, knaues, ruffians, roisters I embrast:
As were vnwise, vnhonest, rude, vnchast.
I lusted eke as lothsome lechers vse,
My subiects wiues and daughters at my will
I did so often as me pleasde abuse,
Perforce I kept them at my pleasure still.
Thus gat I queanes, and concubines at fill:
And for their sakes I put away my wyfe:
Such was my lewdnes, lust, and lawlesse lyfe
My subiects wiues and daughters at my will
I did so often as me pleasde abuse,
Perforce I kept them at my pleasure still.
Thus gat I queanes, and concubines at fill:
And for their sakes I put away my wyfe:
Such was my lewdnes, lust, and lawlesse lyfe
But shame forbids mee for to tell the rest,
It mee abhorres to shew what did insue:
And yet because it moueth in my brest,
Compunction still and was God wot to true:
I will declare whence my destruction grue:
To Sodomes sinne alas I fell and than,
I was despised, both of God and man.
It mee abhorres to shew what did insue:
And yet because it moueth in my brest,
Compunction still and was God wot to true:
I will declare whence my destruction grue:
To Sodomes sinne alas I fell and than,
I was despised, both of God and man.
Could I long prosper thus, do you suppose?
Might ought of euill exceede these vices told?
Thincke you thers any wight on ground that goes,
Might scape reuenge, of vice so manifolde?
No sure, who is in sinnefulnes so bolde,
His vices fare like weedes, they sproute so fast:
They kill the corps, as weedes the corne at last.
Might ought of euill exceede these vices told?
Thincke you thers any wight on ground that goes,
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No sure, who is in sinnefulnes so bolde,
His vices fare like weedes, they sproute so fast:
They kill the corps, as weedes the corne at last.
My great outrage, my heedelesse heade, the life
I beastly led, could not continue soe,
My brothers bloud, my leauing of my wife:
And working of my frendes and subiects woe,
Cride still to God for my fowle ouerthroe:
Which heares the wrongd, he heedes their careful case,
And at the length doth all their foes deface.
I beastly led, could not continue soe,
My brothers bloud, my leauing of my wife:
And working of my frendes and subiects woe,
Cride still to God for my fowle ouerthroe:
Which heares the wrongd, he heedes their careful case,
And at the length doth all their foes deface.
Yet I mistrusting no mishaps at hande,
(Though I were worthy twenty times to dye)
I lewdly liude, and did my wealth withstande:
I neuer thought my ende was halfe so nye.
For my disport I rode on hunting I,
In woodes the fearefull hart I chased fast:
Till quite I lost my company at last.
(Though I were worthy twenty times to dye)
I lewdly liude, and did my wealth withstande:
I neuer thought my ende was halfe so nye.
For my disport I rode on hunting I,
In woodes the fearefull hart I chased fast:
Till quite I lost my company at last.
And or I wist, to cost I found my foes,
By chaunce I came, wher as the wolues they bred.
Which in a moment did me rounde inclose:
And mounted at my horse his throte, and head.
Some on his hinder parts their paunches fed,
Yet fought I still to scape, if it might bee:
Till they my fainted horse, pulde downe with mee.
By chaunce I came, wher as the wolues they bred.
Which in a moment did me rounde inclose:
And mounted at my horse his throte, and head.
Some on his hinder parts their paunches fed,
Yet fought I still to scape, if it might bee:
Till they my fainted horse, pulde downe with mee.
Then was I hopelesse to escape their iawes,
They fastned all their holders fast on mee:
And on my royall robes they set their clawes,
My Princely presence, nor my highe degree,
Moude them no more obeysaunt for to bee,
Nor of my corps, to take no more remorce:
Then did the greeuous groning of my horse.
They fastned all their holders fast on mee:
And on my royall robes they set their clawes,
My Princely presence, nor my highe degree,
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Nor of my corps, to take no more remorce:
Then did the greeuous groning of my horse.
But rauenously they rent, my breast and throte,
Forsoke my steede, came all at once and tare
My tender corps, from which they fleyde my coate.
And of my fleshe they made at all no spare:
They neuer left mee till my bones were bare.
Lo thus I slewe my brother, left my wife,
Liude vilely, and as vilely ended life.
Forsoke my steede, came all at once and tare
My tender corps, from which they fleyde my coate.
And of my fleshe they made at all no spare:
They neuer left mee till my bones were bare.
Lo thus I slewe my brother, left my wife,
Liude vilely, and as vilely ended life.
Beware of bloudy broyles, beware of wronge:
Embrace the counsaile of the wise and sage.
Trust not to powre, though it be nere so stronge:
Beware of rashnes rude and roisters rage.
Eschew vile Venus toyes, she cuttes of age,
And learne this lesson of (and teach) thy frende:
By pocks, death sodaine, begging, harlots ende.
Embrace the counsaile of the wise and sage.
Trust not to powre, though it be nere so stronge:
Beware of rashnes rude and roisters rage.
Eschew vile Venus toyes, she cuttes of age,
And learne this lesson of (and teach) thy frende:
By pocks, death sodaine, begging, harlots ende.
FINIS.
129
The Authour.
On this mee thought he vanishte quite away,
And I was left with Morpheus all alone:
Whom I desyrde these gryzely ghostes to stay,
Till I had space to heare them one by one.
And euen with that was Somnus seruaunt gone,
Whereby I slept and toke mine ease that night,
And in the morninge rose their tales to write.
And I was left with Morpheus all alone:
Whom I desyrde these gryzely ghostes to stay,
Till I had space to heare them one by one.
And euen with that was Somnus seruaunt gone,
Whereby I slept and toke mine ease that night,
And in the morninge rose their tales to write.
Nowe (Reader) if you thincke I miste my marke,
In any thinge whilere but stories tolde:
You must consider that a simple clarke,
Hath not such skill theffect of things t'unfolde,
But may with ease of wiser be controlde:
Eke who so writes as much the like as this,
May hap be demde likewise as much to misse.
In any thinge whilere but stories tolde:
You must consider that a simple clarke,
Hath not such skill theffect of things t'unfolde,
But may with ease of wiser be controlde:
Eke who so writes as much the like as this,
May hap be demde likewise as much to misse.
Wherefore if these may not content your minde,
As eche man cannot fauour all mens vaines:
I pray you yet let me this frendship finde,
Giue your good will, I craue nought els for paines,
Which if you grutch mee, as to great a gaines:
Then is my loue to you, and labour lost,
And you may learne take heede, with greater cost.
As eche man cannot fauour all mens vaines:
I pray you yet let me this frendship finde,
Giue your good will, I craue nought els for paines,
Which if you grutch mee, as to great a gaines:
Then is my loue to you, and labour lost,
And you may learne take heede, with greater cost.
But now me thinckes I heare the carpers tell,
Saith one, the writer wanted wordes to fill:
The next reproued the verse not couched well:
The thirde declares, where lackte a point of skill:
Some others say they like the myter ill.
But what of this? shall these dismay mee quite?
No sure, I will not cease for such to write.
Saith one, the writer wanted wordes to fill:
The next reproued the verse not couched well:
The thirde declares, where lackte a point of skill:
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But what of this? shall these dismay mee quite?
No sure, I will not cease for such to write.
For with more ease, in other workes they finde
A fault, then take vpon themselues to pen
So much, and eke content eche readers minde:
How should my verse craue all their likings then?
Sith sondry are the sects of diuers men,
I must endeuoure only those to please:
Which like that comes, so it be for their ease.
A fault, then take vpon themselues to pen
So much, and eke content eche readers minde:
How should my verse craue all their likings then?
Sith sondry are the sects of diuers men,
I must endeuoure only those to please:
Which like that comes, so it be for their ease.
The rest I recke as they blame worthy bee,
For if the words I wrote for good intent:
Take other sence then they receiude of mee,
Be turnde to worse, torne, reached, rackt or rent
Or hackt and hewde, not constred as I ment:
The blame is theirs, which with my workes so mell:
Lesse faulty he that wisht his country well.
For if the words I wrote for good intent:
Take other sence then they receiude of mee,
Be turnde to worse, torne, reached, rackt or rent
Or hackt and hewde, not constred as I ment:
The blame is theirs, which with my workes so mell:
Lesse faulty he that wisht his country well.
If some be pleasde and easde, I lease no toyle,
At carpers gyrdle hanges not all the keyes:
What price gaines he, that giues him fall or foyle,
Which neuer wan by wrastling any prayse,
I haue not spent in poetrye my dayes,
Some other workes in proase I printed haue:
And more I write for which I leysure saue.
At carpers gyrdle hanges not all the keyes:
What price gaines he, that giues him fall or foyle,
Which neuer wan by wrastling any prayse,
I haue not spent in poetrye my dayes,
Some other workes in proase I printed haue:
And more I write for which I leysure saue.
And for mine age not thirty yeares hath past,
No style so rype can yonger yeares ataine.
For of them all, but onlye ten the last,
To learne the tongues, and write I toke the paine,
If I thereby receyued any gaine,
By Frenche or Latine chiefely which I chose,
These fiue yeares past by writing I disclose.
No style so rype can yonger yeares ataine.
For of them all, but onlye ten the last,
To learne the tongues, and write I toke the paine,
If I thereby receyued any gaine,
By Frenche or Latine chiefely which I chose,
These fiue yeares past by writing I disclose.
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Of which, the first two yeares I Grammer taught:
The other twaine, I Huloets worke enlargde:
The last translated Aldus phrases fraught
With eloquence, and toke of Terence charge
At Printers hand, to adde the flowers at large
Which wanted there, in Vdalles worke before:
And wrote this booke with other diuers more.
The other twaine, I Huloets worke enlargde:
The last translated Aldus phrases fraught
With eloquence, and toke of Terence charge
At Printers hand, to adde the flowers at large
Which wanted there, in Vdalles worke before:
And wrote this booke with other diuers more.
Then pardon whats amisse, a while giue eare,
So shall you heare the rest that I recite,
Describing next what Princes did apeare:
When I had ended these are past to write.
In slomber as I chaunst to lye one night,
Was Somnus prest, whom I desyrde to sende
His Morpheus ayde, these Tragedies to ende.
So shall you heare the rest that I recite,
Describing next what Princes did apeare:
When I had ended these are past to write.
In slomber as I chaunst to lye one night,
Was Somnus prest, whom I desyrde to sende
His Morpheus ayde, these Tragedies to ende.
Wherewith he graunted my request and calde
For Morpheus straight: which knew wherto he came.
“I will (quoth he) the rest, whom Fortune thralde.
“Of Britaynes shewe: thy selfe to heare them frame.
And therewithall he fet forth one like Fame,
In fethers all with winges so finely dight:
As twere a birde, in humane shape of flight.
For Morpheus straight: which knew wherto he came.
“I will (quoth he) the rest, whom Fortune thralde.
“Of Britaynes shewe: thy selfe to heare them frame.
And therewithall he fet forth one like Fame,
In fethers all with winges so finely dight:
As twere a birde, in humane shape of flight.
Yet twas not Fame that femme of painted plume,
He rather seemed Icarus deceaude,
With winges to flye nighe Phoebus did presume.
At length in deede I plainly well perceaude,
It was some kinge of vitall breath bereaude,
From flight he fell presuming farre to hye:
Giue eare, take heede and learne not so to flye.
He rather seemed Icarus deceaude,
With winges to flye nighe Phoebus did presume.
At length in deede I plainly well perceaude,
It was some kinge of vitall breath bereaude,
From flight he fell presuming farre to hye:
Giue eare, take heede and learne not so to flye.
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