 | Oedipus |  |
88
Chorus.
See , see, the myserable State, of Prynces carefull lyfe.What raging storms? what bloudy broyles? what toyle? what endlesse stryfe
Doe they endure? (O God) what plagues? what griefe do they sustayne?
A Princely lyfe: No. No. (No doubt) an euer duringe payne.
A state ene fit for men on whom Fortune woulde wreke her will.
A place for Cares to couch them in. A doore wyde open still
For griefes and daungers all that ben to enter when they list.
A king these Mates must euer haue, it bootes not to resist.
Whole fluds of priuy pinching feare, great anguishe of the minde:
Apparant plagues, & dayly griefes. These playfayres Princes finde.
And other none, with whom they spend, and passe theyr wretched dayes.
Thus hee that Princes liues, and base Estate together wayes:
Shall finde the one a very hell, a perfect infelicity:
The other eke a heauen right, exempted quight from mysery.
Let OEdipus example bee of this vnto you all,
A Mirrour meete. A Patern playne, of Princes carefull thrall.
Who late in perfect Ioy as seem'de, and euerlasting blis,
Triumphantly his life out led, a Myser now hee is,
And most of wretched Misers all, euen at this present tyme,
With doubtfull waues of feare Itost, subiect to such a Cryme
Whereat my tongue amased stayes, God graunt that at the last,
It fall not out as Creon tolde. Not yet the worst is past,
(I feare.)
| Oedipus | |