Selfe-louing man what sooner doth abuse, And more then his prosperitie doth wound? Into the deepe but fall how can he chuse That ouer-strides whereon his foot to ground? Who sparingly prosperitie doth vse, And to himselfe doth after-ill propound, Vnto his height who happily doth clime, Sits aboue fortune, and controlleth time. 119. Not chusing that vs most delight doth bring, And most that by the generall breath is freed, Wooing that suffrage, but the vertuous thing, Which in it selfe is excellent indeed, Of which the depth and perfect managing Amongst the most, but few there be that heed, Affecting that agreeing with their blood, Seldome enduring, neuer yet was good.[2097] 120. But whil’st we striue too suddenly to rise By flattring princes with a seruill tong, And being soothers to their tyrannies, Worke out more[2098] woes by what doth many wrong, And vnto others tending iniuries, Vnto our selues it hapneth oft among, In our own snares vnluckily are caught, Whil’st our attempts fall instantly to naught. 121. The counsell chamber place of my arrest, Where chiefe I was, when greatest was the store, And had my speeches noted of the best, That did them as hie oracles adore: “A parliament was lastly my enquest, That was my selfe a parliament before, The Tower-hill scaffold last I did ascend:” Thus the great’st man of England made his end.” Michael Drayton. FINIS. END OF PART III. FOOTNOTES: [1] To the. ed. 1559, 63. [2] Many other of. 1559, 63. [3] Heedy. 1559, 63. [4] That there. 1559, 63. [5] Officers. 1559, 63. Magistrates. 1575. [6] Other places to shift of, and put by those that with flattery. 1559, 63. [7] Offices. 1559, 63. [8] To prank vp themselues. 1559, 63. [9] Duties, and they wil geue more. 1559, 63. [10] To bye them. 1559, 63. [11] Seke only their commodity and ease. 1559, 63. [12] Officers. 1559, 63. [13] Officers. 1559, 63. [14] When noughtye men had the regiment. 1559, 63. [15] Our owne countrey. 1559, 63. [16] ‘Folowing,’ not in editions 1559, 63. [17] Deserued praises. 1559, 63, 75. [18] Offices. 1559, 63. Officers, 1575. [19] Scripture therfore calleth hypocrites, 1559, 63. [20] Words within the parenthesis added 1571. [21] A Mirrour for Magistrates can shewe, which therefore I humbly. 1559, 63, 75. [22] As in a loking glass. 1559. 63. [23] Vice be in you. 1559, 63. [24] Moue to the. 1559, 63. [25] Chiefest ende whye it is. 1559, 63. [26] God graunt it may attaine. 1559, 63, 75.