2. In _Britayne_ while my father waeged fight By North agaynst the _Pictes_, I rulde the South: _Seuerus_ so apoynted mee to iudge them right,[1102] And _Britayne_ justice well receaude from[1103] _Getae’s_ mouth: I gaue not then my selfe to [giftes, nor] idle slouth, But mildly made an end in causes[1104] great of strife, With dome so [right and] iust, that men reioyste my life. 3. The _Senate_ honourde mee [at home] for vertue’s sake, Abroade the _Britaynes_ blest mee for their blisse, The souldiers stout [in armes] of mee account did make. Let stories truely tell where I doe halte in this:[1105] Lest some suspect, that I reporte amisse. For what is hee, which is not counted [partiall] vayne, When for himselfe hee speakes, though [plea bee] nere so playne. 4. In peace I [wise and] prudent was, and graue of grace, In warres of courage good, but[1106] not so fearce withall: Not forste with feare to turne from foes my face, Nor bought with bribes to let Dame Justice fall, I lou’de not, I, to throng the weaker sort[1107] with thrall, But sought to pleasure eache at neede, both[1108] neare and farre: More proane to sacred peace I was, then bent to [broyles of] warre. 5. What hearte [is then] so harde but will for pity bleede, To heare a [giltlesse] Prince which meant to each so well. Should haue such cause to liue in feare and dreede Of sworde, of bane, of force, or poyson fell, Not daring Emprour nere his brother dwell, Whom [both the] _Romaynes_ lou’d, and straungers honourde still, In peace moe bruntes abydes at home, then erste abroade of ill.[1109] 6. But _Antonine_[1110] I hate his [hatefull] name and factes, Sith hee my bucher was, my brother though hee were:[1111] The worlde detestes his vile and viprous actes, And subtile shiftes to bane[1112] his father deare: So voyde of grace, so voyde of honeste [dreede or] feare, Hee durst attempte the [nerest] gardes to bribe and fee, By them theyr Lord his father might the Emprour poysoned bee.[1113] 7. This when _Seuerus_ wiste our aged syre, and saw[1114] How _Antonine_ that beaste was tiranously bent,[1115] Agaynst the order quite of nature’s [noble] law, Eke, how to take the empire whole hee ment; For both of vs at _Yorke_ hee often sent, Perswading vs to peace, to loue, and concorde bolde,[1116] And of the fruites of discorde [foule, and ciuill warres][1117] hee tolde. 8.