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246
[PORREX]
How King Porrex which slewe his brother was slayne by his owne mother and hir maydens, about the yeare before Christ, 491.
Can cursed Cayne that caytiue scuse him selfe,
That slew his brother Abel innocent:
Or Typhon tell a reason for himselfe,
Why hee Osiris downe to Lymbo pent?
King Dardan then may doe the lyke perdy,
They slewe their brethren each: and so did I.
That slew his brother Abel innocent:
Or Typhon tell a reason for himselfe,
Why hee Osiris downe to Lymbo pent?
King Dardan then may doe the lyke perdy,
They slewe their brethren each: and so did I.
The wicked witch Medaea rent in peeces smalle
Absirtus limmes her brother, did not shee?
Shee threw him in the way dismembred all,
That so hir fathers iourney stayde might bee.
Orodes eke did sley his brother Mithridate:
And so did I my brother Forrex in debate.
Absirtus limmes her brother, did not shee?
Shee threw him in the way dismembred all,
That so hir fathers iourney stayde might bee.
Orodes eke did sley his brother Mithridate:
And so did I my brother Forrex in debate.
Learchus slewe his brother for the Crowne,
So dyd Cambyses fearing much the dreame:
Antiochus the great of infamous renowne
His brother slewe, to rule alone the realme.
Ardieus dyd the lyke for kingdomes sake:
So dyd my selfe like wise away my brother rake.
So dyd Cambyses fearing much the dreame:
Antiochus the great of infamous renowne
His brother slewe, to rule alone the realme.
Ardieus dyd the lyke for kingdomes sake:
So dyd my selfe like wise away my brother rake.
Mempricius lewde of lyfe likewise did kill
His brother Manlius, for the same intent:
These Princes vile were brother sleyers ill,
For kingdomes sake vnnaturally bent.
But reade the storyes, thou shalt finde it playne
The bloudy wretches all were after slayne.
His brother Manlius, for the same intent:
These Princes vile were brother sleyers ill,
For kingdomes sake vnnaturally bent.
But reade the storyes, thou shalt finde it playne
The bloudy wretches all were after slayne.
247
Euen so I Porrex eke, which slewe my brother,
And ruled once the Britayne land with him,
Vnkindly kilde was by my cruell mother,
Which with hir maydens chopt mee euery limme.
As I lay sleeping on my bed at rest,
Into my chamber full and whole they prest.
And ruled once the Britayne land with him,
Vnkindly kilde was by my cruell mother,
Which with hir maydens chopt mee euery limme.
As I lay sleeping on my bed at rest,
Into my chamber full and whole they prest.
Apoynted well they were with weapons sharpe,
And boldly layde on me with all their might:
Oft quite and cleane they thrust me through the heart,
And on my corps each where theyr weapons light.
They chopt me small (I say) as flesh to pot,
And threwe mee out my limes yet trembling hot.
And boldly layde on me with all their might:
Oft quite and cleane they thrust me through the heart,
And on my corps each where theyr weapons light.
They chopt me small (I say) as flesh to pot,
And threwe mee out my limes yet trembling hot.
Can I complayne of this reuenge shee raught,
Sith I procurde hir wrath by slaughter of hir sonne?
Can I excuse my selfe deuoyde of faut,
Which my deare Prince and brother had fordonne?
No; tis to true that who so slayes a King
Incurrs reproch, and slaughter bloud doth bring.
Sith I procurde hir wrath by slaughter of hir sonne?
Can I excuse my selfe deuoyde of faut,
Which my deare Prince and brother had fordonne?
No; tis to true that who so slayes a King
Incurrs reproch, and slaughter bloud doth bring.
The traytours to their Prince haue alwayes binne
As sleyers of their parents, vipers broode:
The killers of their brothers, frends, and kinne,
In like degree well nigh of treason stoode.
But what by this winne they, saue death, defame,
Distayne theyr bloud, and shroude themselues with shame.
As sleyers of their parents, vipers broode:
The killers of their brothers, frends, and kinne,
In like degree well nigh of treason stoode.
But what by this winne they, saue death, defame,
Distayne theyr bloud, and shroude themselues with shame.
Example take you Princes of the land,
Beware of discord, shun ambitious pride:
By right take yee the scepter in your hand,
Let not your sword with soueraignes bloud be dide.
The mighty Joue, that raignes eternall ay,
Cuts of the Kings that enter in that waye.
Beware of discord, shun ambitious pride:
By right take yee the scepter in your hand,
Let not your sword with soueraignes bloud be dide.
The mighty Joue, that raignes eternall ay,
Cuts of the Kings that enter in that waye.
248
Vsurpers may perswade themselues a while
There is no God, no lawes of sacred crowne:
No wrong they doe, no murther seemeth vile,
Nor no respect of princely high renowne.
But if they could consider well the case,
They nild exalt themselues to Princes place.
There is no God, no lawes of sacred crowne:
No wrong they doe, no murther seemeth vile,
Nor no respect of princely high renowne.
But if they could consider well the case,
They nild exalt themselues to Princes place.
They would example take by Lucifer,
That was cast downe, the father first of pride:
And al his impes how high so ere they were,
Vsurping Realmes and Kingdomes farre and wide.
From light to darke, from throne to thrall they fell:
From hap to hate, from life to death, from heauen to hell.
That was cast downe, the father first of pride:
And al his impes how high so ere they were,
Vsurping Realmes and Kingdomes farre and wide.
From light to darke, from throne to thrall they fell:
From hap to hate, from life to death, from heauen to hell.
Sufficient here is sayd to warne the wise,
For he by prudence oft forecasts the doubt:
The foole is bent all warnings to despise,
He runneth headlong with the rascall rout.
Then if thou cast to liue at rest a subiect good,
Touch not the Princes fame, crowne, scepter, nor his blood.
For he by prudence oft forecasts the doubt:
The foole is bent all warnings to despise,
He runneth headlong with the rascall rout.
Then if thou cast to liue at rest a subiect good,
Touch not the Princes fame, crowne, scepter, nor his blood.
249
Lenuoy.[_]
[For the original version of Lenvoy 13, see p. 180. As rewritten for the 1587
edition, it serves to introduce the tragedy of Pinnar, the first of four tragedies (19–22)
introduced between the rewritten tragedy of Porrex and the tragedy of Kimarus (14).
The four are those of Pinnar, Stater, Rudacke, and Brennus.]
[_]
[For the original version of Lenvoy 13, see p. 180. As rewritten for the 1587 edition, it serves to introduce the tragedy of Pinnar, the first of four tragedies (19–22) introduced between the rewritten tragedy of Porrex and the tragedy of Kimarus (14). The four are those of Pinnar, Stater, Rudacke, and Brennus.]
It lothed me a L'enuoy here to write
Of such a cruell, proude, ambitious beast:
But yet sith now his faultes he doth recite,
And warnes for murthers venge aliue the rest,
Which had therefore againe his death addrest,
I will (though he deseru'd no tale to tell)
Set downe his fall, for sample seruing well.
Of such a cruell, proude, ambitious beast:
But yet sith now his faultes he doth recite,
And warnes for murthers venge aliue the rest,
Which had therefore againe his death addrest,
I will (though he deseru'd no tale to tell)
Set downe his fall, for sample seruing well.
The good deserue to haue their praises wrote
To spread their fames, t'incourage those aliue:
Of wicked Princes wee the falls doe note
A Caueat, for kingdomes where they striue:
To show that who so slaughters doth contriue,
(Though hee deserue agayne no tale to tell)
His tragique fall may serue ensample well.
To spread their fames, t'incourage those aliue:
Of wicked Princes wee the falls doe note
A Caueat, for kingdomes where they striue:
To show that who so slaughters doth contriue,
(Though hee deserue agayne no tale to tell)
His tragique fall may serue ensample well.
These brethren quellers Brutus bloud bereft,
Which were last Kings that sate of all his line.
Six hundreth yeares and sixteene or they lefte
They raygnde, and thus they spoilde themselues in fine.
The ciuill warres insued hereof long time.
About the crowne I list not here define,
But of intrudrs three that after fell,
As came to fight in order next I tell.
Which were last Kings that sate of all his line.
Six hundreth yeares and sixteene or they lefte
They raygnde, and thus they spoilde themselues in fine.
The ciuill warres insued hereof long time.
About the crowne I list not here define,
But of intrudrs three that after fell,
As came to fight in order next I tell.
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