Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile :: :: University of Virginia Library

VVho works against his soueraigne Princes word,
And standes not of the penaltie in awe,
Well worthy is to feele the wrathfull sword,
And dye the death appointed by the law:
No fauour is to such offendours due,
That, eare they did amisse, the mischiefe knew.

For Princes willes are euer to be wayde,
The statutes are the strength and stay of all,
When lawes are made, they ought to be obayde,
What royall Peeres, by pledge, or promise shall
At any time confirme to friend or foe,
Must stable stand, the law of armes is so.

For they are second Gods in earth belowe,
Assignde to rule and strike the onely stroke,
Their crownes and scepters, be of perfect shew,
That all estates are vnderneath the yoke:
What they shall say, or doe in any case,
By dutie ought to take effect and place,

Wherefore who dares aduenture vp so hie
And proudly presse to alter kings decres,
Not fearing what may light on them thereby,
Nor forcing what they shall by folly leese:
Of law deserue the hardest point to byde,
For scorning those whom God appoyntes to gyde.

When royal Rome dyd flourish in estate,
In auncient age, the Senate bearing sway,
The lawes were so seuere, as who forgate
To liue vpright, and doe as they did say:
Was presently committed to the blocke.
Without respect to blood, or noble stocke,

Some in exile were sent to foreine landes,
Leauing their wyues, and little babes behinde,
Some sonnes were slayne euen by the fathers handes,
Who fauouring right, forgot the lawe of kinde:
Iustice in Rome bore then so great a sway,
As no man durst good orders disobay.

We reade of one, a ruler graue and wyse,
Who made a law, and that to this effect,
That he should be bereft of both his eyes,
Whom any of adultery might detect:
And bring good profe that it was so in deede,
Upon which acte, the sages all agreed,

It so befell, his sonne against the law
Did first offend, that first deuisde the same,
Which fortune when the wofull father sawe,
And that his sonne could not auoyde the blame:
For iustice sake did thus deuise to deale,
To giue example in the common weale.

Where as the law expressely willde, that he
Who did offend, should be bereft his sight,
The father with his sonne did so agree

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As each did loose an eye the faulte to quite.
Wherein the father shewde himselfe seuere.
And yet as ruthfull as the law could beare.

O worthy wight, O ruler fit to raigne,
That rather chose his childe to punish so,
And eake himselfe to byde some part of payne.
Than parcially to let offences goe:
A double tumbe was due vnto his bones,
For being iust and ruthfull both at once.

King Romulus who let the citie builde,
And founder was of all that royall race,
That none should ouerleape his rampire wild,
Which Remus did the fortresse to disgrace:
Which when his brother saw in mockage ment,
With wrathfull sworde he flue him ere he went.

So here this aged Prince of Cicilie,
When he had plegd and pawnd his honor downe,
Though lesse offence to slay by crueltie,
His nephew, than to stane his kingly crowne:
For iustice is the chiefe and only thing
That is requirde and lookte for in a king.

Wherefore what Peeres and Princes and once haue wild,
No subiect should endeuour to vndoe:
For kings will looke to haue their hestes fulfild,
And reason good that it should aye be so.
As beastes obey the loftie Lyons looke,
So meane estates must puysant Princes brooke.

Ill fares the barke amid the broyling seas,
Where euery swayne controlles the maisters skill,
And each one stires at helme him selfe to please,
And folowes not the cunning Pylots will:
So realmes are rulde but badly, where the base
Will checke the chiefe, that sit in highest place.