No sure, I thinke the readers will not giue Such captious dome, as Momus erste did vse, Though Zoilus impes as yet do carping liue: And all good willing writers much misuse. Occasion biddes me some such beastes accuse, Yet for their bawling hurtes me not I nill: But with my purpose, on procede I will. Next after that, came one in princely raye A worthy wight but yonge, yet felt the fall: It seemde he had bene at some warlike fraye, His breste was woundid wide and bloudy all: And as to mynde he musde his factes to call, Depe sighes he fet, made all his limmes to shake: At length these wordes, or like to me he spake. [344] Madan had reigned forty years. Fabian says there is “lytell or no memory made (of him) by any wryters.” As a strict conservator of laws and for “great sapience,” he is briefly eulogised by Harding. [345] We. ed. 1575. [346] We neuer could our great, ib. [347] We. ib. [348] Our. ib. [349] We. ib. [350] Our. ib. [351] We. ib. [352] But O we thinke. ib. [353] We. ib. [354] Vppon this earth is all the greatest hap. N. [355] We. ed. 1575. [356] We. ib. [357] We. ed. 1575. [358] We. ib. [359] And by me. ib. [360] We. ib. [361] Manlius, ib. [362] Who thinkes an other of his right beguyle, Himselfe is soonest cleane bereaude of all. ib. [363] My elder brother, ib. The authority for making this variation was probably Harding, to whose work Higgins may refer as “an old chronicle in a kind of English verse.” (See p. 7.) Harding says, “the yonger Memprise slewe his brother Maulyne, elder of age.” The other writers seem uniform in describing Mempricius as the elder. [364] Did euer square, ib. [365] Lou’d me well. ed. 1575. [366] My brother feared I should haue his right. ib. [367] I me bore. ib. [368] I for because I might obtaine the crowne. ib. [369] Fauoure. ib. [370] Our. ib. [371] And I could not from mine. ib. [372] An additional stanza occurs here in the first edition. See here, th’ occasion of my haplesse happe, See here his chaunce that might haue liu’de ful wel: So baited swete is euery deadly trappe; In brauiste bowres doth deepest daunger dwell. I thought mine elder from his right t’expell, Though he both age and custome forth did bring For title right: I sayd, I would be King. [373] Instead of the tenth stanza the following are in the first edition. Wherefore as eache did watch conuenient time, For to commit this haynous bloudy facte; My selfe was taken not accusde of crime, As if I had offendid any acte, But he as one that witte and reason lackte, Sayde traytour vile thou art to me vntrue; And therwithall his bloudy blade he drewe.