I pray thee _Higgins_ take in hand thy pen And write my life and fall, among’st the rest A warning set mee downe for curious men, Whose wittes the worke of nature seeke to wrest: I was Prince _Bladud_, pregnant as the best Of wisedome, and of wealth, and learning I had store, Of regall race I came what neede I craued more? 2. But this in all the sortes of men wee see, An vncontented minde when much they haue; The learned yet would more profounder bee, The richest most t’encrease their wealth do craue; The finest Dames doe slike[409] their faces braue; The noblest yet would higher clime, and all to skies Immortall they to make their names on earth deuise.[410] 3. In _Britayne_ though I learned had full well The artes, and could among’st the wise conferre, Yet when of _Athens_ I the fame heard tell, (Though it in _Greece_ so far hence distant were) I trauayl’d thither, writers witnesse are I studied there, and thence of learned men I brought That learning might from _Britayne_ land no more so far bee sought.[411] 4. But after hee was dead that was my stay, My father graue, I meane the worthy King Then all the _Britaynes_ shortly by a day To royall seat elected mee did bring. Where I to place in order euery thing, Did both receiue the crowne[412] and scepter in my hand, With glory and renowned fame to gouerne all the land.[413] 5. Then, for because the sway of all the Ile Depended on my gouernement to rest I did consult with all the peeres a while, And of my father’s counsaylers the best, I order tooke for matters vnredrest, Appoynting vnto each such place of iustice fit, As serued to their birth, their persons, wealth and wit.[414] 6. The learned _Greekes_, whom I from _Athens_ brought, Conferring with the _British_ learned men: A place, as I commaunded them, had sought Amid’st the Realme, and brought mee word agen. At _Staneford_ there I built a colledge then, And made prouision for the same perdy, To maynetayne them a famous Vniuersity.[415] 7. By this, of skilfull men the land had store, And all the arts were read in _Britayne_ well: No countrey was for learning praysed more. Abroad, the world began of vs tell.[416] From other nations hither came to dwell The wisest wits, commending vs, extolling vs to skies: They sayd wee were a people stout, and learned, graue, and wise.[417] 8.