If pompe were payne, and pride were not in price, Or hauty seate had not the highest place: If they[347] could learne by others to bee wise, Or else eschewe the daungers of their[348] face: If once they[349] could the golden meane imbrace, Or banish quite ambition from their[350] breast, They[351] neuer neede to recke or reape vnrest. 3. But they doe thinke[352] such sweetenes in renowne, They[353] deeme on earth is all the greatest hap:[354] They[355] nothing feare the hurt of falling downe, Or little rome in Lady Fortune’s lap. They[3] geue no heede before they[356] get the clap: And then to late they[4] wish they[357] had bin wise, When from the fall they[358] would, and cannot, rise. 4. As if two twinnes, or children at the teate Of nurce, or mother, both at once might bee, And both did striue the better dugge to geat, Till one were downe, and slipt beside her knee: Even so it fares, by others as by mee,[359] In Fortune’s lap they[360] haue so little hold, She cannot stay both striuing if shee would. 5. I am that _Malin_,[361] one of _Madan’s_ sonnes. Which thought to raygne and rule this noble Ile, And would so done, but see what chaunce there comes Where brethren loue and frendship quite exile: Who thinkes in trust no treason neither guile, Is soonest cleane bereau’d of life and all,[362] In steade of rule hee reapes the crop of thrall. 6. My yongest[363] brother then _Mempricius_ hight, Whose hauty minde, and mine, were still at square:[364] Wee euermore as foes hight other spite, And deadly ire in hatefull heartes wee bare. Hee sought all wayes hee might to worke mee care, And ech regarded others enuy, so, As after turned both to paynfull woe. 7. Because my father lou’d him well,[365] therefore I fear’d my brother should obtayne my right:[366] Likewise on fauoure boldned hee him bore,[367] And neither had in vertue’s wayes delight. What neede I here our inward griefes recite? Wee, not as brethren, liu’d in hatred still, And sought occasion other each to kill. 8. I hauing hope for to preserue the crowne,[368] And hee for that hee feard my title[369] bred Such frendship as might alwayes keepe him downe And both depriue him of his crowne and head. But when it chaunst our father once was dead, Then strayght appeared all his[370] enuy playne: For hee could not from his[371] attempt refrayne.[372] 9.