The Greek, th' Arabian, Macedons or Medes, Once dare t' assault it, or attempt to lift Their humbled heads in presence of proud Rome. But, by our laws from liberty restrain'd, Like captives liv'd eternally enchain'd. But, Rome (alas) what helps it that thou tied'st The former world to thee in vassalage? What helps thee now t' have tam'd both land and sea? What helps it thee, that under thy control The morn and midday both by east and west, And that the golden sun, where'er he drive His glitt'ring chariot, finds our ensigns spread: Sith it contents not thy posterity; But as a bait for pride (which spoils us all), Embarks us in so perilous a way, As menaceth our death and thy decay? For, Rome, thou now resemblest a ship At random wand'ring in a boist'rous sea, When foaming billows feel the northern blasts! Thou toil'st in peril, and the windy storm Doth topside-turvey toss thee as thou float'st. Thy mast is shiver'd, and thy mainsail torn, Thy sides are beaten, and thy hatches broke. Thou want'st thy tackling, and a ship unrigg'd Can make no shift to combat with the sea. See how the rocks do heave their heads at thee, Which if thou shouldst but touch, thou straight becom'st A spoil to Neptune, and a sportful prey To th' Glaucs and Tritons, pleas'd with thy decay! Thou vaunt'st not of thine ancestors in vain, But vainly count'st thine own victorious deeds. What helpeth us the things that they did then, Now we are hated both of gods and men? "Hatred accompanies prosperity, For one man grieveth at another's good, And so much more we think our misery, The more that fortune hath with others stood: So that we seld[343] are seen, as wisdom would, To bridle time with reason as we should. For we are proud, when Fortune favours us, As if inconstant chance were always one, Or, standing now, we should continue thus. O fools, look back, and see the rolling stone, Whereon she blindly lighting sets her foot, And slightly sows that seldom taketh root." Heaven heretofore (inclin'd to do us good) Did favour us with conquering our foes, When jealous Italy (exasperate With our uprising) sought our city's fall. But we, soon tickled with such flatt'ring hope, Wag'd farther war with an insatiate heart, And tir'd our neighbour countries so with charge, And with their loss we did our bounds enlarge. Carthage and Sicily we have subdued, And almost yoked all the world beside: And, solely through desire of public rule, Rome and the earth are waxen all as one: Yet now we live despoil'd and robb'd by one Of th' ancient freedom, wherein we were born. And e'en that yoke, that wont to tame all others, Is heavily return'd upon ourselves. "A note of chance that may the proud control, And show God's wrath against a cruel soul.