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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THE COMPLAINT
of Absalon, for his vayne aspiring to the Imperiall
Crovvn and Diademe of his Father King
DAVID, and for his sudden fall he obtayned
in his pretended purpose.
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 | The Mirrour of Mutabilitie |  |
THE COMPLAINT of Absalon, for his vayne aspiring to the Imperiall Crovvn and Diademe of his Father King DAVID, and for his sudden fall he obtayned in his pretended purpose.
Ca. 1.
On
whom the fates in lowring sorte did frown,
I am the wight and Absalon by name:
Whō hauty hart (at last) perforce threw down
Unto my woe, and thrise eternall shame.
But he that seeks to clime beyond his reach:
In end dooth fall, experience dooth me teach.
I am the wight and Absalon by name:
Whō hauty hart (at last) perforce threw down
Unto my woe, and thrise eternall shame.
But he that seeks to clime beyond his reach:
In end dooth fall, experience dooth me teach.
So I for proof the sonne to Dauid king,
Presumde imhart vnto my Father's place:
A thousand woes I compast for this thing,
And wisht as King his kingdome to imbrace.
For stil desire did prick mee to the same:
But duty said that I deserued blame.
Presumde imhart vnto my Father's place:
A thousand woes I compast for this thing,
And wisht as King his kingdome to imbrace.
For stil desire did prick mee to the same:
But duty said that I deserued blame.
Wel what of that? let duty quake with colde,
Let wanton wil prick foorth his lusty prime:
My Fathers Age stil made mee very bolde,
And stil mee thought hee liude to long a time.
His hoary heares were far vnfit to guyde:
So great a charge, this thought I in my pride.
Let wanton wil prick foorth his lusty prime:
My Fathers Age stil made mee very bolde,
And stil mee thought hee liude to long a time.
His hoary heares were far vnfit to guyde:
So great a charge, this thought I in my pride.
Wel at the last betide mee weale or woe,
I would aduenture for this rare renown:
By puisant force my might I ment to showe,
So that therby I might attayne the crown.
In spight of Sire, or doo what els hee could:
His crown and realms obtain perforce I would.
I would aduenture for this rare renown:
By puisant force my might I ment to showe,
So that therby I might attayne the crown.
In spight of Sire, or doo what els hee could:
His crown and realms obtain perforce I would.
My Fathers force I naught esteeme (quoth I)
I (present) wil erect a martiall hand:
For either hee wil graunt, or els wil flye,
Then Dauids seat comes pat into thy hand.
O Absalon cheer vp thy noble hart.
Proceed in this to play a Uictors part.
I (present) wil erect a martiall hand:
For either hee wil graunt, or els wil flye,
Then Dauids seat comes pat into thy hand.
O Absalon cheer vp thy noble hart.
Proceed in this to play a Uictors part.
Then lusty Lads I present did prepare,
In steeled cotes to bring my pupose right:
A mightie band I leuied for my share,
Not doubting but to foyle my Fathers might.
Both noyse of Drum, and clangering trumpet thril,
Did prick mee foorth for to obtayne my wil.
In steeled cotes to bring my pupose right:
A mightie band I leuied for my share,
Not doubting but to foyle my Fathers might.
Both noyse of Drum, and clangering trumpet thril,
Did prick mee foorth for to obtayne my wil.
For what more fame vnto a hauty hart,
Then to encounter with his mortall foe?
What infamy obtaines hee that will start?
And Cowardly like from out the skirmish goe.
So euery houre I thought a yeer of twain:
Til I by fight my Father crown did gain.
Then to encounter with his mortall foe?
What infamy obtaines hee that will start?
And Cowardly like from out the skirmish goe.
So euery houre I thought a yeer of twain:
Til I by fight my Father crown did gain.
Wel then at last with courage foorth I went,
And all my traine for to perfourme the deed:
At last wee came where conter force was bent,
Gainst mee and mine for to resist with speed.
With Cannon cracks the battail then began:
Eche one to showe him self a martiall man.
And all my traine for to perfourme the deed:
At last wee came where conter force was bent,
Gainst mee and mine for to resist with speed.
With Cannon cracks the battail then began:
Eche one to showe him self a martiall man.
On each side then began the bloody blowes.
Assault, assault the Captaines cry amain:
The Ensignes spred the battels force for showes,
The horsmen they the ranks haue broke in twain.
the hurling shafts and fiery balles doo flye:
With such a force as darkned is the skye.
Assault, assault the Captaines cry amain:
The Ensignes spred the battels force for showes,
The horsmen they the ranks haue broke in twain.
the hurling shafts and fiery balles doo flye:
With such a force as darkned is the skye.
My men although they were the greater part,
A number slaine, the rest began to faint:
The other side are Uictors by desart,
then dark annoy my courage did attaint.
I had the wurst I thought it best to flye:
Without I would before myne enmyes dye.
A number slaine, the rest began to faint:
The other side are Uictors by desart,
then dark annoy my courage did attaint.
I had the wurst I thought it best to flye:
Without I would before myne enmyes dye.
Then fled I thence, and glad my life to saue,
For God was angry with my vnkinde act:
Considering I my Fathers crown did craue,
And entred feeld, which was a bloody fact.
For this my deed reuengement soone hee sent:
to make mee knowe my hart was wicked bent.
For God was angry with my vnkinde act:
Considering I my Fathers crown did craue,
And entred feeld, which was a bloody fact.
For this my deed reuengement soone hee sent:
to make mee knowe my hart was wicked bent.
For in my flight my heare caught on a tree,
Out of my saddle it did take mee quite:
And there I hung most woful for to see,
And could no way redresse my heauy plight.
A guerdon iust thus fel vnto my share:
Because against my Sire I would prepare.
Out of my saddle it did take mee quite:
And there I hung most woful for to see,
And could no way redresse my heauy plight.
A guerdon iust thus fel vnto my share:
Because against my Sire I would prepare.
Then knew I wel my hainous great offence,
Had brought mee to my due deserued hire:
Which from the heauens was sent for recompence,
Because so hye in hart I did aspire.
Then wished I all were to doo again:
Because as now I felt therof the pain.
Had brought mee to my due deserued hire:
Which from the heauens was sent for recompence,
Because so hye in hart I did aspire.
Then wished I all were to doo again:
Because as now I felt therof the pain.
So long I hong in this my doleful pain,
That Ioab did at last retire that way:
When hee mee saw, incenst with ire amain,
At mee hee ran perforce, and did mee slay.
This sharp reuenge from heauen on mee fel:
To teach mee gainst my Father to rebel.
That Ioab did at last retire that way:
When hee mee saw, incenst with ire amain,
At mee hee ran perforce, and did mee slay.
This sharp reuenge from heauen on mee fel:
To teach mee gainst my Father to rebel.
See gallant Brutes by mee a pattern plain,
Of hauty hart aspiring to renown:
Who did attempt my Fathers right to gain,
And would haue robde him of his stately crown.
But loe what guerdon dooth on mee betide:
To pay mee home for my excessiue pride.
Of hauty hart aspiring to renown:
Who did attempt my Fathers right to gain,
And would haue robde him of his stately crown.
But loe what guerdon dooth on mee betide:
To pay mee home for my excessiue pride.
Content your selues therfore with mean estate,
Keep that which Iustice dooth to you allowe:
Take heed by mee remember this my fate,
Perforst the wrath of God on mee to bow.
Wherfore beware this filthy vice preuent:
Least as I am, like case you may be shent.
Keep that which Iustice dooth to you allowe:
Take heed by mee remember this my fate,
Perforst the wrath of God on mee to bow.
Wherfore beware this filthy vice preuent:
Least as I am, like case you may be shent.
FINIS.
| The Mirrour of Mutabilitie | |