The nights began, to growe to lengthe apace, Sir _Phœbus_ to th’ Antarctique gan to fare: From Libraes lance, to th’ Crab hee tooke his race Beneth the lyne, to lende of light a share. For then with vs the dayes more darkishe are, More shorte, colde, moyste, and stormy cloudy clit, For sadnes more then mirths or pleasures fit. 3. Deuising then, what bookes were best to reade, Both for that time, and sentence graue also, For conference of frende to stande in steade, When I my faithfull frende was parted fro; I gate mee strayght the Printers shops vnto, To seeke some worke of price I suerly ment, That might alone my carefull mynde content.[83] 4. Amongst the rest,[84] I found a booke so sad, As tyme of yeare or sadnesse[85] coulde requier: The Mirour namde, for Magistrates hee had, So finely pende, as harte could well desire. Which when I read, so set my heart on fire, Eftsoones it mee constraynde to take the payne, Not lefte with once,[86] to reade it once agayne. 5. And as agayne I vewde this worke with heede, And marked playne each party paynt[87] his fall: Mee thought in mynde, I sawe those men indeede, Eke howe they came in order Princely[88] all; Declaring well, this life is but a thrall, Sith those on whom, for Fortunes giftes wee stare, Ofte sooneste sinke, in greatest seas of care. 6. For some, perdy, were Kinges of highe estate, And som were Dukes, and came of regall race: Som Princes, Lordes, and Iudges greate that sate In councell still, decreeing euery case. Som other Knightes, that vices did imbrace, Som Gentlemen, som poore exalted hye: Yet euery one, had playde his tragedye. 7. A Mirour well it might[89] bee calde, a glasse As cleare as any[90] cristall vnder Sun: In each respecte, the Tragedies so passe, Theyr names shall liue, that such a worke begun. For why, with such _Decorum_ is it don, That _Momus_ spight with[91] more then _Argus_ eyes, Can neuer watche, to keepe it from the wise. 8. Examples there, for all estates you finde, For iudge (I say) what iustice hee shoulde vse: The noble man, to beare a noble mynde, And not him selfe ambitiously abuse. The gentleman vngentlenes refuse, The rich and poore, and eu’ry one may see, Which way to loue, and liue in due[92] degree. 9.[93]