Such was my fate to venture on so bolde, My rashnesse was the cause of all my woe: Such is of all our glory vaine the holde, So soone wee pompe and pleasures all forgoe, So quickly are wee reft our kingdomes froe, And such is all the cast of Fortune’s play, When least wee thinke to cut vs quite away. 83. I deem’d my selfe an heauenly happy wight, When once I had my part to raigne within: But see the chaunce what hap did after light, Or I could scarce t’inioy my glee begin. This _Hunne_ did seeke from mee my realme to win, And had his will: O flattering fortune, fye, What meanest thou to make thy selfe so slye:[229] 84. You worthy warriours learne by mee, beware,[230] Let wisedome worke, lay rashnesse all aparte, When as with enmies you encountred are, You must endeuoure all your skilfull arte, By witty wiles with force to make your marte. Wit nought auayles late bought with care and cost, To late it comes when life and all is lost.[231] L’ENVOY[232]. 1. Mvsing on these thinges I cal’d to my minde, In historyes what I of _Troia_ read, And what of _Brutus_ I in bookes did finde Likewise I cast, and counted in my head. I found that _Albanact_ stoode mee in stead. For why, _Sicilians_ right this noble man Calles _Lestrygons_, as they were named than. 2. _Lestrygo_ was, perdy, _Neptunus’_ sonne, To whom his father gaue that noble Ile: And of his name the people there did wonne. The writers false abus’d vs then long while, Which set vs downe of _Leogece_ an Ile, So neere _Italia_ strandes was placed than, To which Lord _Brutus_ came, that noble man. 3. Of _Lestrygon_ that Ilande first tooke name, As _Albanact_ hath well recited heere. But of king _Humber_ see what nowe became, Which after him next haplesse did appeare With Armoure wet, as drencht hee lately were: So downe his greaues the water tricklinges ran, While he this wise his woefull tale began. How Hvmber the king of _Hunnes_ minding to conquer _Britaine_, was drowned in the arme of sea now called _Humber_, about the yeere before Christ, 1085. 1. Though yet no foraine Princes in this place Haue come to tell their haplesse great mishap, Yet give mee leaue a while to pleade my case, And shewe how I slipt out of Fortunes lap. Perchaunce some other will eschewe the trap Wherein I fell, and both themselues beware, And also seeke the lesse their[233] countreyes care. 2.