At length we fondly fell at strife, So Princes bide no mate, Nor make, nor partners, with to raigne But beare their equals hate. The heire because I yongest was, Thought his by right the crowne: But I esteemde the halfe was mine, And all if he were downe. Whereby, O brothell, butcher eke, Not brother I did slay: My brother for to haue it all, And get his right away. Such are the acts of heedelesse youthes, Such are their studies still: Which care not what offence they make, So they their fancies fill. But as it is vniustice, and An haynous acte to vse: Such murder, slaughter, parricide And iustice all refuse. So Ioue the iust at length requites Our deedes: and makes vs rewe We euer were, to God, or man Or nature’s hestes vntrue. For when I deemde the crowne was mine, Which had my brother slayne, O griefe to tell, my mother, and Hir maydens wrought my payne. Both for my fault, and for she lou’de My brother Forrex still: With all hir maydes she came by night, My sleeping corps to kill. And I that slombring sleeping lay, Though many dreames fortolde My haplesse fall, could neuer wake, The meaning to vnfolde. But last supposing with my selfe, I cruell Tigres sawe, With rauening fearcenes rent their yong, Against dame Nature’s lawe. She came on me to fill my dreame, Before my eyes could wake, And with a dagger reft my life, For Forrex slaughter’s sake. [Sidenote: Virgil in Culice.] Much like Agaue and his mates, Shee and hir maydens got Them tooles therefore, and hewde my corse, As small as fleshe to pot. [Sidenote: Ouid. 6. Metamor.] Or Progne Queene hir children slue, and hewde their membres small: In wrathfull ire made Tereus feede, and fil himselfe withall. [Sidenote: Virgil. 8. Aegl.] Or like Medea monster Queene, hir Iason’s sonnes that kilde: Because she was forsaken when his purpose was fulfilde. Like these was shee, nay worse, for why, This ended Brutus lyne: Brought me to ende and hir to shame, though first the fault were mine. Bid those beware that weene to winne, by bloudy acts the crowne: Lest from the height they feele the fall of topsy turuye downe. For if when they suppose themselues aloft to touch the skie, There chaunce a storme, there is no holde to staye themselues so hie. But faster farre, more swiftly they, and with more swinge descende, Then euer erst they could with all there force to clime contende: Do bid them then in all their deedes marke well the finall ende. [534] Or Typhon who for state and worldly pelfe, His deare Osiris. N. [535] Then to do the like may trie. N. [536] Orodes slew his brother. N.