Then marke my tale, beware of rashnes vile, I am _Morindus_ once was _Britayne_ King, On whom did sweetely[663] Lady Fortune smile, Till shee mee to her top of towres did bring:[664] My fame both farre and neare shee made to ring, And eke my praise exalted so to skye, In all my time more famous none then I. 3. Some say I was by birth a bastard bace, Begotten of the Prince his concubine, But what I was declared well my grace, My fortitude and stature Princely mine. My father eke that came of Princely lyne, King _Danius_ gaue not so bace degree, Nor yet the noble _Britaynes_ vnto mee. 4. For feats of armes and warlike poynts I past, In courage stoute there liu’de not then my peere, I made them all that knewe my name agaste, And heard how great my enterprices were, To shrinke, and slinke, and shift aside for feare: All which at length did mee such glory bring, My father dead, the _Britaynes_ made mee King. 5. But see how blinde wee are, when Fortune smiles, How senceles wee when dignities increase, Wee euer vse our selues discretely whiles Wee litle haue, and loue to liue in peace: Smale fauters facts with mercy wee release:[665] Wee vse no rigoure, rancoure, rapine, such As after when wee haue our willes to much. 6. For while that I a subiect was, no King, While I had nothing but my facts alone: I studied still in euery kinde of thing To serue my prince, and vnderfang his fone: To vse his subiects friendly euerychone, And for them all aduentures such to take, As might them all my person fauoure make. 7. But when I once attained had the Crowne, I waxed cruell tyranous and fell, I had no longer minde of my renowne, I vsde my selfe to ill, the trueth to tell: O bace degree in happie case full well! Which art not puft with pride, vaineglory, hate But art beneath content to bide thy fate. 8. For I aloft, when once my heate was in, Not rain’d by reason ruled all by might, Ne prudence reckt, right, strength, or meane a pin, But with my friendes in anger all would fight, I strooke, kilde, slewe who euer were in sight, Without respect, remorce, reproufe, regard, And like a madde man in my fury far’d, 9. I deemde my might and fortitude was such, That I was able thereby conquere all, High kingdome’s seate encreast my pompe so much, My pryde me thought impossible to fall: But God confoundes our proude deuices all, And brings that thing wherein we most doe trust, To our destruction by his iudgement iust. 10.