Our hatred still encreased more and more, For when that captaines newe elected were, Or officers in place we did restore, In these, our mindes to all men playne appeare, We diuersly affected fauour beare: Of right in sentence eke, of diuers mindes, As hatefull oft the eyes of justice blindes. 19. Our owne we sought, and not the publique weale, Yet both the publique wealth alone to haue: We nothing reckt to hap the publique heale, But to enioy the publique wealth we straue. To cookes and butlers giftes of price we gaue, To poyson each: when yet not these proceede, I hired some by force to doe the deede. 20. When this likewise had not successe aright, My selfe, to slay my brother, I addrest: I rusht into his chamber euen or night, While of my force I thinke he feared lest: There with my sworde I strake him through the brest. Eke while our mother’s lap his wonndes embrewe, Her _Geta_ deare betweene her armes I slewe. 21. Which done, I flew the palace straight, and cald the garde, Cryde treason, told I scarce escapte vnslayne, Commaunding souldiers well to watch and warde, And me conuey vnto the campe amayne, Where I might safe from violence remayne: I sayd, I should be made away, perdie,[1141] If in the court I longer time did lye. 22. So they supposing all was trueth I tolde, (Not weeting what was done to _Geta_ than) Made speede to runne with me vnto the holde: The people hearing this, to flocke began, Enquiring why the prince and souldiers ran: In tent I kneeld encampt, the gods to prayse With promist vowes, which had prolong’de my dayes. 23. The souldiers all amazde resorted to the tent,[1142] Where I the gods with honour serued thoe: On which I forth amongste them boldly went, Told them great daungers I had scaped fro, And of mine enmyes fall and ouerthroe. By Fortune’s gifte (quoth I) the enmye’s slayne,[1143] And th’empyre wholy doth to mee remayne. 24. I promist then the souldiers if they would,[1144] My empire stablishe sure, and safty see, Each [fiue and] twenty hundred _Attique_ grotes haue should,[1145] More corne then earst by halfe alow’de shoulde bee, The temples welth and treasures shoulde bee free For them to vse at large, whereby that onely day[1146] _Seuerus_ pile of eighteene yeare I spoylde away.[1147] 25.