Great Britain -- History -- Poetry; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Sources
“I heare thou hast in _Fraunce_ a Dukedoome good,
Of subiects good thou hast an armie here,
Thou hast a wife that came of noble blood,
Thou need’st at home no foes at all to feare:
What mean’st thou then such mortall hate to beare
Against my sonne, thy brother here, which gaue to thee
His kingdome halfe, the noble land of _Albany_?
36.
“Sith thine ambition first procur’d the strife,
Which didst in armour rise against thy King,
Against thy brother lou’d thee more then life
Thou didst thy subiects his against him bring,
Think’st thou it was a wise or worthie thing?
If not, thou hast good cause thy treason all confesse,
And though he draue thee out therefore, to loue him ne’re
the lesse.
37.
“Thou shalt therefore submitte thy selfe to mee,
And take a truce a peace I will conclude,
Thy brother eke shall so contented bee,
No quarels olde shall be againe renewde,
These broiles haue oft my cheeks with teares bedewde,
My heart is rent, my hope bereau’d, my ioyes are gone,
My life is lost if you conioyne not [frendships] both in
one.”
38.
Then turning vnto _Belinus_ she spake:
“My noble sonne (quoth shee) thou twice hast quaylde
Thy brother’s power, and mad’st him twice forsake
His natiue land, which I haue oft bewaylde:
What though thou haue so oft before preuaylde,
Think’st thou againe the thirde time eke to winne the feelde?
Or art thou sure to slay my sonne, or force thy foes to
yeelde.[594]
39.
“What glory canst thou get thereby in th’end?
Will not the worlde of your foule slaughters tell?
Will not they all that liue, still discommend
The man that did his owne deare brother quell?
_Mempricius_ shamefull actes are knowne too well,
And _Porrex_, _Britayns_ both their noble brethren slew,
Confounded [shortly] after both examples good for you.
40.
“Nowe further this againe to both I say,
Doe not you rue these noble souldiers good?
Doe not you see how many you shall slay?
Haue you no care to shed their guiltlesse blood?
The state of tyraunts neuer stable stoode,
By bloudshed they doe founde, bace, builde, and prop their
state,
Raigne, liue and dye despisde, and heape themselues eternall
hate.[595]
41.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account