Now here _Mempricius_ which his brother slew Was after King, as plainely stories tell: Whose filthy facts all princes ought eschew, And subiects eke, that hope to prosper well. Hee next appear’d declaring how hee fell, Eke how his brother deare hee made away, And how the Wolues in hunting did him slay. How King Mempricius geuen to all lust was deuoured by wolues, the yeare before Christ, 989. 1. Tis often sayd, a man should doe likewise To other, as hee would to him they did. Do as thou would’st bee done to, sayth the wise, And doe as conscience and as iustice bid. Ther’s no man ought for rule[384] an other rid,[385] Nor yet[386] his hands[387] with cruell bloud distayne: For bloud doth alwayes cry for bloud againe. 2. Eke lustfull life, that sleepes in sinkes of sinne, Procures a plague: fie, fie, on _Venus_ vile: Wee little wot the mischiefes are[388] therein, When wee with poysons sweete our selues beguyle. The pleasures passe, the ioyes indure but while, And nought thereby at all wee get or gayne, But dreadfull death, and euerlasting payne. 3. Mee thinkes thou harkenest for to heare[389] my name, And musest what I am that thus doe come. I would or this haue told it, but for shame: And yet to giue example here to some,[390] I will no longer fayne my selfe so dome, But euen as others I will tell my fall:[391] Take here my name, my life, my death and all. 4. I am _Mempricius_, _Madan’s_ yonger[392] sonne, Once King of _Britayne_, that my brother slewe: Whereby the crowne, and Kingdome all I won, And after norisht vices moe that grewe, Not nature’s lawes, nor God’s, nor man’s I knewe, But liu’d in lust, not recking any thing, I deemed all thinges lawfull[393] for a King. 5. Fyrst[394] when I had my brother brought on beire, I thought in rest to keepe the Kingdome long: And I was voyde of doubte,[395] I had no feare, Was none durst checke mee did I right or wrong. I liu’d at large, and thought my powre so strong, There could no man preuaile against my will, In steede of lawe that vsed rigour still.[396] 6. Then wickedly I fell[397] to slouthfull ease, A vice that breades a number moe beside. I was so testy none durst mee displease, And eke so puft with glory, vaine, and pride. My sencelesse sence, as ship without a guide, Was tost with euery fancy of my braine, Like _Phœbus_ chariote vnder _Phaëton’s_ raigne. 7.