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 Mirrour of Mutabilitie |  |
THE COMPLAINT of King Salomon King of Israel, for his inordinate looue borne to Outlandish VVomen, vvho brought him from the vvisest and richest King that euer vvas, to be cast out of Gods fauour, and to be euen in maner, like a stark foole.
Caput. 6.
Beholde
(my freends) the wight whose fickle safe
Through wanton wil procurde his wofull fall:
See heer the man that thought his stedfast state
Unlikely was to come in such a thrall.
But wel ye see that Sinne deceiues the Wise:
When fond conceits hath power to blinde his eyes.
Through wanton wil procurde his wofull fall:
See heer the man that thought his stedfast state
Unlikely was to come in such a thrall.
But wel ye see that Sinne deceiues the Wise:
When fond conceits hath power to blinde his eyes.
I Salomon whom God with Wisdome deckt,
And worldly Welth wherof I had great store:
Did think that sinne could neuer me infect,
Because Dame Folly stil did stand before.
And through the world blew foorth a golden blaze:
That thousands came on Salomon to gaze.
And worldly Welth wherof I had great store:
Did think that sinne could neuer me infect,
Because Dame Folly stil did stand before.
And through the world blew foorth a golden blaze:
That thousands came on Salomon to gaze.
For when I had giuen sentence on the Childe,
For whom two women stroue before my face:
Such rare reporte went of my Iustice milde,
That Salomon was knowen in euery place.
Loe thus my God adornd mee frank and free:
That all the World amazed stood at mee.
For whom two women stroue before my face:
Such rare reporte went of my Iustice milde,
That Salomon was knowen in euery place.
Loe thus my God adornd mee frank and free:
That all the World amazed stood at mee.
Beside of welth I had the World at wil,
To straunge it is to hear my large expence:
Of golden gifts I aye enioyd my fil,
My princely port, my Garders and defence.
Were to to long to you for to recite:
For all this welth did naught but blinde my sight.
To straunge it is to hear my large expence:
Of golden gifts I aye enioyd my fil,
My princely port, my Garders and defence.
Were to to long to you for to recite:
For all this welth did naught but blinde my sight.
So that alas I cruelly transgrest,
For fond delight intangled had my minde,
Outlandish Dames did like my pleasure best,
I clean forgot the wrath to mee assignde.
Seuen hundred Queenes I Salomon did make:
Of Concubines three hundred I did take.
For fond delight intangled had my minde,
Outlandish Dames did like my pleasure best,
I clean forgot the wrath to mee assignde.
Seuen hundred Queenes I Salomon did make:
Of Concubines three hundred I did take.
O wicked wretch, where was the feare of God,
where was the wise foresights ye thou didst vse:
what didst thou think there was no scorging rod
That would correct thy hainous vile abuse.
If so thou thought'st? why then yu didst but well:
To liue so lewd, gainst duty to rebell.
where was the wise foresights ye thou didst vse:
what didst thou think there was no scorging rod
That would correct thy hainous vile abuse.
If so thou thought'st? why then yu didst but well:
To liue so lewd, gainst duty to rebell.
Why? did not God in dreame appeere to thee,
And bad thee aske what best thy hart could craue?
Did God not graunt thy wish perfourmd to be,
And did permit that thou shouldst Wisdom haue?
How thinkest thou? this canst thou not denay:
How happens then thou wentest so astray.
And bad thee aske what best thy hart could craue?
Did God not graunt thy wish perfourmd to be,
And did permit that thou shouldst Wisdom haue?
How thinkest thou? this canst thou not denay:
How happens then thou wentest so astray.
Alas, because thou didst not God regard,
But in thy welth didst set thy whole delight:
Eche wanton Dame with welth yu didst reward,
This made thee fall in such a wofull plight.
And where before thou wast esteemed wise:
Now as a foole eche man dooth thee surmise.
But in thy welth didst set thy whole delight:
Eche wanton Dame with welth yu didst reward,
This made thee fall in such a wofull plight.
And where before thou wast esteemed wise:
Now as a foole eche man dooth thee surmise.
What wilt thou doo? thou sinned hast so sore,
By kneeling down to Gods of stocks & stones:
That God will now respect thy case no more,
Down on thy knees, sound foorth thy heauy grōes
Lament, lament (O wretch) thy wicked crime:
Desire thy Lord to saue thy soule in time.
By kneeling down to Gods of stocks & stones:
That God will now respect thy case no more,
Down on thy knees, sound foorth thy heauy grōes
Lament, lament (O wretch) thy wicked crime:
Desire thy Lord to saue thy soule in time.
You Potentates beholde my wofull fall,
How wanton will hath throwen me in the dust:
That now to sinne I rest a seruile thrall,
Loe what reward obtaines vnlawfull Lust.
My hainous faults recount before your eyes.
And learne in time such vices to despise.
How wanton will hath throwen me in the dust:
That now to sinne I rest a seruile thrall,
Loe what reward obtaines vnlawfull Lust.
My hainous faults recount before your eyes.
And learne in time such vices to despise.
Remember me that thought my self so wise,
That I no way could gayne so great a fall:
But when I did the feare of God despise,
Ah wofull man, my comfort then was small.
My trickling teares found fauour in Gods sight:
And for my greef did yeeld me harts delight.
That I no way could gayne so great a fall:
But when I did the feare of God despise,
Ah wofull man, my comfort then was small.
My trickling teares found fauour in Gods sight:
And for my greef did yeeld me harts delight.
So shall your liues be free from spotted blame,
Your whole delight shalbe in feare of God:
Then after death you gayne immortall fame,
If so your liues be swayd with Wisdomes rod.
Then shall you liue, and euermore be blest:
Among the Saints in the eternall rest.
Your whole delight shalbe in feare of God:
Then after death you gayne immortall fame,
If so your liues be swayd with Wisdomes rod.
Then shall you liue, and euermore be blest:
Among the Saints in the eternall rest.
FINIS.
| The Mirrour of Mutabilitie | |