Not like a king but like a cut throte fell; Not like a brother, like a butcher brute; Though twere no worse then I deserued well, He gaue no time to reason or dispute: To late it was to make for life my suite, “Take traytoure here (quoth he) thy whole deserte,” And therwithall he thrust me to the harte. [374] Chosen. N. [375] “Lastly by medyacions of frends a day of communycacion in louynge maner attwene these ii bretherne was appoynted, at which day of assemble Mempricius by treason slewe his brother Manlius.” _Fabyan._ [376] Brutishe. [377] Which likewyse went my brother for to kill. ib. [378] Which do inuente anothers bloud to spill. ib. [379] Vsurping wrong incurres the curse of heauen, And blood cries out for vengeance at his hand, Who still in care of humane good is giuen. N. [380] A step aboue their owne degree. ed. 1575. [381] I think she. ib. [382] THE AUTHOURE. When Manlius had thus endid quite his tale, He vanishte out of sight as did the reste; And I perceiued straight a persone pale, Whose throte was torne and blodied all his breste: “Shall I” (quoth he) “for audience make requeste, No sure it nedes not, straunge it semes to thee, What he that beares this rentid corps should bee. “Wherefore I deeme thou canst not chuse but bide, And here my tale as others erste before; Sith by so straunge a meanes thou seest I dyde, With rentid throte and breste, thou musist more; Marke well (quoth he) my ratling voyce therefore:” And therwithall this tale he gan to tell, Which I recite, though nothing nere so well. ed. 1575. [383] In the first edition always called Manlius. [384] But he that myndes for rule. ed. 1575. [385] For empire as I did. N. [386] Must not. ed. 1575. [387] His impious hands. N. [388] Is. ed. 1575. [389] Lookist for to haue. ib. [390] Wherefore to giue example yet to som. ib. [391] But sith I must as others tell their fall. ed. 1575. [392] Eldest. ib. [393] I deemde was nought vnlawfull. ib. [394] For. ib. [395] I was deuoid of doubt. N. [396] After attaining the crown he “became so lyther a man, that he destroyed within a whyle all the men of his londe.” _Chr. of St. Albans._ [397] So ofter that I felle. ed. 1575. [398] Lothsome. ed. 1575. [399] I will declare whence. ib. [400] Alas I fell. ib. [401] Might any ill exceed. ib. [402] Heedes. ed. 1575. [403] Fainted. ib. [404] Tender, ed. 1575. [405] By sudden death, pockes, begging. N. [406] THE AUTHOUR. On this me thought he vanisht quite away, And I was left with Morpheus all alone: Whom I desirde these gryzely ghostes to stay, Till I had space to heare them one by one. And euen with that was Somnus seruaunt gone, Whereby I slept and toke mine ease that night, And in the morning rose their tale to wrighte.