University of Virginia Library

THE SECOND SCENE.

Nutrix.
Whom so the glistering pompe of royal place,
With soden sight ynumd doth quite disgrace,
Who so at courtly fleeting ebbing blase,
Astonied sore, himselfe doth much amase:
Lo see of late the great and mighty stocke,
By lurking Fortunes sodayne forced knocke,
Of Claudius quite subuert and cleane extinct:
Tofore, who held the world in his precinct:
The Brittayne Ocean coast that long was free,
He ruld at wil, and made it to agree,
Their Romaine Gallies great for to embrace.
Lo, he that Tanais people first did chase,
And Seas vnknowen to any Romayne wight
With lusty sheering shippes did ouerdight,
And safe amid the sauage freakes did fight,
And ruffling surging seas hath nothing dread,
By cruel spouses gilt doth lye all dead.
Her sonne likewyse more fiend then Tigre fierce,
Of naturall mother makes a funerall herse,
Whose brother drenched deepe with poysoned cup.
Pore Britannick, his senseles soule gaue vp
Octauia sister and vnhappy make,
Doth sore lament her case for Britans sake,
Ne can her ruthful piteous sorrow slake,
Though Neros wrath do sore constrayne her grace
She nil esteemes the secrete closet place:
But boyling stil with equal peysd disdayne.
With mutuall hate gaynst him doth burne agayne.
My true and trusty loue that I do beare,
In vayne I see doth striue to comfort her.
Reuenging greedy griefe doth streight repriue,
T'appease her smarte the counsel that I giue.
Nor flame of worthy breast doth once relent
But heaps of greefe, her courage do augment.
Alas, what griesely deedes for to ensue
My feare foreseeth: God graunt it be not true.