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 | Parts added to The mirror for magistrates |  |
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.
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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.
| Parts added to The mirror for magistrates | |