The wilely Foxe that seekes to sley the sheepe,[957] Doth fayne himselfe to beare[958] a simple eye; The rauening Wolfe would[959] take of Lambes the keepe, If he condemne the Mastiues might to dye;[960] The Crocadile will fayne[961] to weepe and crye; But if the sheepe, her young, or wandring man be caught, The Foxe, the Wolfe, and Crocadile,[962] haue euen the pray they sought. 6. So I could fayne,[963] as though I did refuse To take the Empire’s sway, a charge too greate,[964] But well I wiste,[965] if th’armie did me chuse, The _Senate_ could not thereof me defeate;[966] They could not stay me[967] from the hautie seate: Thus though I seem’d at first so simple, meeke and plaine; Yet was I subtile, slye, and glad of glory vaine. 7. But after this, I gaue[968] my selfe to ease, To wyne, to woemen eke, and belly chere,[969] And fearefull[970] was my wife for to displease, _Messalina_,[971] whose maners homely were; She made not onely me the horne[972] to beare, But also did allure good matrones vnto vice, And virgines chaste to sinne, or made them pay the price. 8. For if that eyther they abhor’d the facte,[973] Or men detested present for to bee,[974] Some crime[975] was fayn’de or else some haynous acte, Not they[976] nor theirs from slaughter could be free; My seruants were preferde in place of mee,[977] Their wealth was more then mine: the prouerbe went as then, I neede no treasure want, if I would please my men. 9. On this I caused her be[978] made away, And made a vowe no more for aye to wedde,[979] Because my wiues[980] sought eyther me to slay, Or else with whoredome to defile my bedde,[981] But at the length, s’enraged was my head,[982] _Agrippina_ my[983] brother’s daughter braue, Incestuously I chose, for spoused wife to haue. 10. So leading then my life in slouth and sinne,[984] I gaue my selfe to ryote, cardes[985] and dice: And I so skilfull was at length therein,[986] I wrote of dicing arte a worke[987] of price: This may declare[988] if I were graue and wise; [Suspicious, doubtfull, fearefull so was I, To euery corner sent some secret spie.][989] 11. So cruell, credulous, eache light offence[990] Was cause[991] to take away th’offender’s life: And so forgetfull, such[992] my negligence, I would eftsoones enquire for those full rife,[993] As for _Messalina_ of late[994] my wanton wife: Eke for such others I enquir’de agayne,[995] As I before commaunded shoulde be slayne.[996] 12.