“First hatefull hope with flattering face did faune, With dreade when deepe despaier would me haue drownde,[1216] Then chaunged chaunce did checke me with the paune Of woful want, when good successe did sound A blessed blast: and nowe (to tel the truth) I haue the mate, by raging rooke of ruth:[1217] Lo thus I liue, which dayly wishe to dye, And life (alas) dooth make my misery. 12. “If lothsome life (of this my corps) the king Dooth moue one way, the bishope bids me backe: If to that poynt the queene me backe doth bring, On th’other side, the knight dooth woorke my wracke, The other poyntes with paunes be al possest, And here the rooke of ruth dooth reaue my rest: And being brought into this strange estate, I do confesse my selfe to haue a mate. 13. “Sith sorrowe so hath seasde vpon my bones, That nowe too late I doo lament my losse, And sith no meanes may turne my gastfull grones To ioyfull glye, sith trouble still doth tosse Me to and fro, in walteryng waues of woe: Death is my friend, and life I compt my foe: Which death though once my feeble fleshe did feare, Yet now I fayne would feele his murdring speare. 14. “In gurging gulfe of these such surging seas, My _pouer_ soule who drown’d you wil request,[1218] I wretched wight haue sought mine owne disease, By myne owne meanes my state it was distrest: For whilst I meant to make my lust a lawe, Iustice me from my high estate did drawe: So that I fynde, and feele it nowe with payne, Al worldly pompe, al honour is but vayne. 15. “Which honour I to fiery flames compare, For when they flash and flourishe most of all, Then suddaynely their flamings quenched are: For proofe whereof, to minde nowe let vs cal _Antigonus_, and _Ptollemeus_ great, _Cæsar_ and _Mithridate_, we may repeat, With _Darius_, and great _Antiochus_, _Cambises_ eke, and conquering _Pyrrhus_. 16. “And I the last myght fyrst haue had my place, They al as I with flaming fierie showe, Were quenched quite: dame fortune did deface, Yea hatefull happe, euen then did ouerthrowe Vs most, when most we had our harte’s desire: When most we flourisht like the flames of fyre, Euen then the seas of sorowe did preuayle, And made vs weare a blacke wamenting[1219] sayle. 17.