But when can Princes best assure themselues? What state without the stormes of strife doth stand? What barke beares sayle in tempeste on the shelues? What blisse abides and lasts, by sea or land? Who takes to raygne the scepter in his hand, Is like to him in sterne to stirre that sits, Commaunding all the rest, theyr race hee fits, [Mishandling there the helme with losse of all on rockes hee hits.] 9. For while that I abroade for glory hunt, My sonnes at home in pleasures spent the time: And as their father erst before was wont, Endeuourde howe aloft they both might clime. The elder fearce and cruell _Antonine_, The yonger _Geta_ gentle more and milde[1065] then hee, Could not at any time in peace agree, [Desiring both t’inioy the empire after mee.] 10. So I endeuourde to appeaze the strife, But nought at all I could therein preuaile: This made mee woe and wery of my life, Which erst so many kingdomes did assaile. I had the hap mine enmyes force to quaile, To rule the _Romaynes_ well, and all the rest: But for to rule my sonnes, which should bee best,[1066] [I could no counsayle finde, nor haue the hurte redrest.] 11. Perceiuing then some persons lewde there were, Which counsailde ofte my sonnes embracing vice, (As still is seene in court enueaglers are, Procurers of despite, contemners of the wise,[1067] That flatery hold for gayne a gift of price) I causde them[1068] put to death those _Thrasoes_ vile, And some were sent or banishte to exile: [But yet the griefe encreased all this while.] 12. Mine[1069] elder sonne did thinke my life to long, The yonger lou’d the elder’s life as ill: They studied both to make their parties strong, Which griefe my griped harte well nere did kill. Such are the mischieues of the stately still. In _Britayne_ eke the _Pictes_ rebelling rose, Some _Britaynes_ there became our secret foes, [Wherfore in age my selfe againe to warres I did despose.] 13.[1070] First to bee absent from the force at home, And partly greater glory to attayne, My children sought, perdy, my death[1071] in _Rome_, [Without of lawes or _Senate_ house the dome.] But chiefly _Antonine_ tooke herein payne, I should by gard or Phisicke drugges bee slayne, That so the Empire might to hym remayne.[1072] 14.