At which I could not but with hate repine: It vexed mee, his mate that should haue beene, To liue in hate a Prince his concubine, That euer had such hope to bee his Queene. The steppes of state are full of woe and teene,[281] For when wee thinke wee haue obtayn’d[282] the throne, Then strayght our pompe and pryde is quite orethrowne. 23. Lo twise I fell from hope of Princely crowne: First, when vnhappy _Humber_ lost his life: And next I layd my peacockes pride adowne, When I could not be King _Locrinus’_ wife.[283] But oft they say the third doth end the strife, Which I haue prou’d, therefore the sequel vewe, The third payes home, this prouerbe is to true. 24. The King could not refraine his former minde, But vs’d me still, and I my doubtfull yeares Did linger on, I knew no shift to finde, But past the time full oft with mourning teares. A concubine is neuer voyde of feares, For if the wife her at aduantage take, In rage[284] reuenge with death she seekes to make. 25. Likewise I wist if once I sought to flye, Or to entreat the King depart I might, Then would he strayght be discontent with me. Yea if I were pursued vppon the flight, Or came deflourd into my father’s[285] sight, I should be taken, kept perforce, or slayne, Or in my countrey liue in great disdayne. 26. In such a plight what might a Lady[286] doe, Was euer Princesse poore,[287] in such a case? O wretched wight bewrapt in webbs of woe, That still in dread wast tost from place to place, And neuer foundest meane to end thy race, But still in doubt of death in carking care Didst liue a life deuoide of all welfare. 27. The King perceiuing well my chaunged cheare, To ease my heart with all deuis’d deceates, By secrete wayes I came deuoyde of feare, In Vaultes, by cunning Masons’ crafty feates. Whereas we safely from the Queene her threats, Perdy the King and I so vs’d our arte, As after turn’d vs both to payne and smart. 28. By him I had my _Sabrine_ small, my childe, And after that his wife her father lost: I meane he died and shee was strayght exilde, And I made Queene vnto my care and cost. For shee went downe to _Cornwall_ strayght in post, And caused all her fathers men to rise With all the force and strength they might deuise. 29.