There she perceiuing him with [naked] sworde approache, In armes mee caught to saue my life and bloud, But hee deseruing all the worlde’s reproache, No whit in doubte to end my slaughter stoode. My mother him besought[1128] (as seemde an empresse good) While he [in rage] without remorce [or ruth] of her request, Betwene her armes [that bare vs both] did run me through the breste. 15. These were the [cruell] actes of that vile monster then For Empire sake, to raigne alone aloft: Despisde that was, [contemnde,] abhord of gods and men, And curst to hell by all good men so oft, You see the fall of _Geta_, [gentle,] milde, and soft, Whose line of life no longer _Lachesis_[1129] could stretch, Cut off by sworde of _Antonine_, th’unkindely captiue wretch.[1130] 16. Let now the world both deeme[1131] of my desertes and his, For to his father he was most, of sonnes, vnkinde:[1132] His mother’s ioyes he reaude away her blisse, That [noble] dame which bare to both so mylde a minde: And let my dealings aye due [doome and] fauour finde, Whose murder may giue playne prospect and show What monster gaue his faythfull frends such ouerthrow.[1133] How Aurelius Antonius Bassianus Caracalla, Emperour of Rome, was slayne by one of his owne seruauntes, about the yeere of Christ, 209. 1. Who thirstes to thring[1134] vnto the highest throne, Ne wisely windes Dame Fortune’s subtile snare: Or who in courte would rule the rost alone, And sees not what he heapes himselfe of care, Let him well wey my case, and then beware: Whome foorth the stately seate did first allure, Which after did my hastie death procure. 2. And, _Higins_, here in purpose sith thou hast The haplesse hauen where Fortune’s impes ariue, A mirour make likewise of me thou mayst, If thou my life and dealings wilt discriue. It may perhaps much profit some aliue: Which when themselues playne paynted forth they see, They may presage their fatall falles in mee. 3. I am that _Antonine_, _Seuerus_ sonne, That once of mighty _Rome_ did beare the swaye, Which in my father’s life a stryfe begone With _Geta_, thyrsting often him to slay: I sought to haue my father made away, To raigne alone so great desire I had, Naught but theyr deathes indueste my hart to glad.[1135] 4.