When bruite had brought this to theyr gylty eares, Whose right surnames were[1699] noted in the ryme, They all conspired, like most greedy beares, To charge me straight with this most greeuous cryme:[1700] And damned mee the gallow tree to clyme, And then strangled, in[1701] quarters to bee cut, Which should on high ouer[1702] _London_ gates be put. 17. This iudgement giuen so vehement and sore,[1703] Made me exclame agaynst[1704] theyr tyranny: Wherewith encenst, to make my payne the more, They practised a shamefull vilany: They cut mee downe aliue, and cruelly Ript vp my paunch and bulke, to make me smart, And lingred long ere they tooke out my hart. 18. Here tyraunt _Richard_ playde the eager hog, His grashing tuskes my tender gristles shore: His bloodhound _Louell_ playde the hungry dog,[1705] His woluish teeth my giltles carkasse tore: His rat, and cat, did what they might, and more Cat _Catesby_ clawed my guts to make me smart, The rat _Ratcliffe_[1706] gnawed mee to the hart. 19. If Iewes had kilde the iustest king aliue, If Turkes had burnt vp churches, gods, and all, What greater payne could cruell hearts contriue, Than that I suffred for this trespasse small? I was no prince, nor peere, but yet my fall Is worthy to be thought vpon for this, To see how cankard tyrant’s malice is. 20. To teach also all subiects to take heede They medle not with magistrates affayres, But pray to God to mend them if it neede: To warne also all poets that be strayers, To keepe them close in compasse of theyr chayers, And when they touch that they would wish[1707] amended, To sauce them so, that fewe neede bee offended. 21. And so to mixe theyr sharpe rebukes with mirth, That they may pearce, not causing any payne, Saue such as followeth euery kindely byrth, Requited strayt, with gladnes of the gayne: A poet must be pleasaunt, not too playne, Faults to controll, ne yet to flatter vice,[1708] But sound and sweete, in all things ware and wise. 22. The Greekes do paynt a poet’s office whole In _Pegasus_, theyr fayned horse with wings, Whome shaped so _Medusae’s_ bloud did foale, Who with his feete strake out the muses’ springs, Fro[1709] flinty rockes to _Hellicon_ that clings: And then flewe vp into[1710] the starry skie, And[1711] there abides among the gods on hye.[1712] 23.