His wife I was, and hee my true husband, Though for a while hee had the company Of lady _Iaquet_, [the] dutchesse of _Holland_, Being an heyre of ample patrimony, But that fell out to bee no matrimony: For after warre, long sute in lawe, and strife, Shee proued was the duke of _Brabant’s_ wife. 5. Thus of a damsell [a] duchesse I became, My state and place aduaunced next the queene, Whereby mee thought I felt no ground, but swam, For in the court mine equall was not seene, And so possest with pleasure of the spleene, The sparkes of pride so kindled in my brest, As I in court would shine aboue the rest. 6. Such giftes of nature God in mee had graft Of shape and stature,[679] with other graces moe, That by the shot of _Cupid’s_ fiery shaft, Which to the harte of this great prince did goe, This mighty duke with loue was kindled so, As hee abasing the height of his degree, Set his whole hart, to loue and honour mee. 7. Grudge who so would, to him I was most deere, Aboue all ladyes[680] aduaunced in degree, (The queene except) no princesse was my peere, But gaue mee place, and lordes with cap and knee Did all honour and reuerence vnto mee: Thus hoisted high vppon the rolling wheele, I sate so sure, mee thought I could not reele. 8. And weening least that fortune hath a turne, I lookt aloft, and would not looke alowe, The brondes of pride so in my brest did burne As the hot sparkes, burst forth in open showe, And more and more the fire began to glowe Without quenching, and daily did encrease, Till fortune’s blastes with shame did make it cease. 9. For (as tis sayd) pride passeth on afore, And shame followes, for iust rewarde and meede, Would God ladyes, both now and euermore, Of my hard hap, which shall the story reede, Would beare in mind, and trust it as their creede, That pryde of hart is a most hatefull vice, And lowlines, a pearle of passing price. 10. Namely in queenes, and ladyes of estate, Within whose mindes all meekenes should abound, Since high disdayne doth alwayes purchase hate, Being a vice, that most part doth redound To their reproach, in whome the same is found, And seeldome gets good fauour or good fame, But is at last knit vp with worldly shame. 11.