Thence _Pompey_ fled the fielde and into _Ægipt_ came, To _Ptolemy_ the king as then but yong of age, Where of his slaughter foule _Septimius_ hath the blame, Hee was his end that did these warres against mee wage: Euen so by course wee come to play vpon the stage, Our trauayles haue an end when wee doe feele the fall, For sith our[847] life is but a race of misery and thrall, [Death taketh at the length an order for vs all.] 39. But _Pompeye’s_ friendes and sonnes did oft assaye, When hee was deade[848] to take reuenge on mee, And I by dint of sworde repelde theyr force awaye, Gate offices of rule and gouernde eche degree, At _Cæsar’s_ beck and call obeysaunt all they bee, Enacted lawes, derected ech estate, Emperially the first aloft I sate, [That had not then in all the worlde a mate.] 40. But glory won the way to holde and keepe the same, To holde good Fortune fast a worke of skill,[849] Who so with prudent arte can stay that stately dame, Which sets vs vp so high vpon her hauty hill, And constant aye can keepe her loue and fauour still, He winnes immortall fame and high renowne:[850] [But thrise vnhappy hee that weres the stately crowne,] Yf once misfortune kicke and cast his[851] scepter downe. 41. For when in _Rome_ I was[852] _Dictator_ chose, And Emperour or Captayne sole[853] for aye, My glory did procure mee secret[854] foes, Because aboue the rest I bare the sway,[855] By sundry meanes they sought my deepe decaye,[856] For why, there coulde no _Consuls_ chosen bee,[857] [No _Pretor_ take the place, no sentence haue decree,] Vnlesse it likte mee first and were approude by mee. 42. This they enuide that[858] sude aloft to clime, As _Cassius_,[859] which the _Pretorship_ did craue, And _Brutus_ eke his friende which bare the crime[860] Of my dispatch,[861] for they did first depraue My life, mine actes, and[862] sought my bloud to haue, Full secretly amongst them selues conspirde, decreede To bee attemptors of that cruell bloudy deede, [When _Cæsar_ in the _Senate_ house from noble hart should bleede.] 43. But[863] I forewarned was by _Capis_ tombe,[864] His _Epitaph_ my death did long before forshowe, _Cornelius Balbus_ sawe mine horses headlesse ronne Without a guide,[865] forsakeing foode for woe, _Spurina_ warned mee that sooth of thinges did knowe, A wrenne[866] in beake with Laurell greene that flewe [From woods to _Pompey’s_ Court, whom birdes there slew,] Forshowde my dolefull death, as after all men knew. 44.