The Forrest of Fancy Wherein is conteined very prety Apothegmes, and pleasaunt histories, both in meeter and prose, Songes, Sonets, Epigrams and Epistles, of diuerse matter and in diuerse manner. With sundry other deuices, no lesse pithye then pleasaunt and profytable [by H. C.] |
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[Thy cruell dealing hath procurde] |
 | The Forrest of Fancy |  |
[Thy cruell dealing hath procurde]
After the death of Oedipus King of Theabes, his two sonnes Ethiocles and Polinices striuing whether of them should succeede him, in the ende it was agreede, that they should raigne by course one yeare the one, the next yeare the other, But Ethiocles raigning fyrst, whē his yeare was expired, woulde not giue place to his brother Polinices, which caused him to write vnto him in effect as followeth.
thy Brothers trembling hand,
O Etheocles for to write,
and let thee vnderstand
What iniury thou doest offer me,
in going thus about
To breake the promise made to me,
wherein thou doest no doubt,
Both God and nature much offend,
for when we were at strife,
When deadly discord twixt vs twaine,
and enuye was so rife,
That each of vs the Kingdome craude,
our father then decest,
It was by counsayle graue decreede,
to cause our countreyes rest,
That each should yearely raigne by course,
whereto thou didst agree,
Then drawing Lots who should be fyrst,
the lot did light on thee.
I gaue thee place, as right requyrde,
thou hast a yeare and more,
Enioyde the same most peaceably
without anoy, therefore
Thou shouldst permit thy brother now,
thee therein to supply,
but thou doest it deny,
So much ambition doth thee blind,
and fylthy lukers lure,
That to resigne to me my right,
thou mayst not now indure,
For when I did the same demaund,
thou proudly didst refuse,
To render it, wherein thou doest
thy brother much abuse,
But doest thou thinke I will receiue,
such aunswere at thy hande
And suffer thee against my will,
to rule the Realme and land.
Which I should doe, that will I no
for all thy power and strength,
But in despight of thee I hope,
to haue the same at length.
And make thee feele the small thy selfe,
of this thy offred wrong,
If that to yield to my request
thou doest the time prolong.
Adrastus is a mighty King,
whose Daughter is my wife,
And for that cause with all his power,
will aide me during life,
Whose force conioyned with mine owne.
doth farre surpasse thy might,
Therefore let reason rule the raine,
doe yeeld to me my right,
Let vs like brethren liue and loue,
each other as we ought:
Let vs not stray from natures boundes,
and stirre vp strife for naught.
Least that Reporte reprochfully,
on vs doe rumour raise,
be wicked deemde alwayes.
What though our father did offend,
in taking to his fere
Jocasta fayre vnwittingly,
that was his mother deare,
Shall that to vs a patterne be?
to teach vs to offend,
Nay rather let it be a meane,
to make vs to amend.
Shall it be sayd that we haue wrought,
the ruine of our land,
And of our selues so wilfully?
let all thinges well be scand.
Consider well what daungers great
we may incurre thereby,
And what great mischiefe may insue
if thou this thing deny,
Thou knowest that from the mighty Ioue,
decendes our royall race,
Let vs not therefore doe the thing,
that may our byrth deface,
Let not the Thebans iustly he
compeld to curse vs both,
For thy ambitious greedy mind,
whereof I would be loth,
For what if in this cursed strife,
we both should chaunce to dye,
What great contention should there be,
who should our place supply?
What great disdaine? what priuy grudge?
what tumultes then would grow?
What hurly burly would there be?
what treason then would flowe?
Through ciuill warre the countrey would,
be topsy turuy turnde
whole Townes and Citties burnde,
What clamours then what dolefull cryes,
would be throughout the land?
How many Orphans would be made?
who should in safety stand?
Chast Uirgins would be then deflourde,
yong infantes would be slaine,
The rich men should be spoylde and robde,
the porer put to paine,
Oh what disorder then would grow?
what murder made of men?
What sacraledge, what raunsack rude,
what bloodshead would be then?
Waye well these thinges, my brother deare,
which if thou doe proceede,
Is lykely for to come to passe,
therefore I say take heede,
For if thou be the cause thereof,
then truely shalt thou trye,
Their blood on thee for thy desertes,
from heauen will vengeaunce crye.
And I not to be blamde at all.
sith that I nothing craue,
But that which doth to me partaine
and I of right should haue,
Take heede in time, aduise thee well,
hereafter comes not yet,
The house can not stand long, that is
on ill foundation set,
The ship that at sure maker lyes,
is safe in euery place:
Twixt backe and free, thrust not thy hande
beware in any case
Thou put not fyre vnto the tow,
sharpe not thy knife I say,
but take this by the way.
That if thou tread vpon a worme.
she will turne back againe:
Care Stede be stolne, shut stable dore,
else is it all in vaine.
For be that takes not heede before,
shall afterwardes repent it:
Wherefore I say looke to it well.
whilst that thou maist preuent it.
A man when he doth see the stroke,
may soone auoyde the same,
So thou if that to reasons lore,
thou wilt thy fancy frame.
Thou maist this mischiefee easly shun,
that hangeth ouer thee:
But who so blind the prouerb sayth,
as hee that will not see.
Thou knowest all this as well as I,
I neede not make relation
Thereof to thee, wordes are but wind,
where will hath domination.
Raine nothing profite can the corne,
which on drie stones is sowne:
Nor councell, him which doth mislike,
all counsell saue his owne,
I can and doe bide wrong ynough,
but cannot to much beare:
Looke eare you leape, for feare you catch,
a wrong sow by the eare.
As by his Trumpe, the trumpiter
doth show his meaning plaine,
So by my letters in likewise,
my purpose I explaine.
Doe therefore as you shall see cause,
the blame shall byde in you:
and so I say adue,
Finis.
| The Forrest of Fancy | |