Had I but tract the steps of such a sire To perfect that great worke, which he begun, Had princely thoughts but mounted my desire T’assay like glorious deeds, which he had done, O what a prize of honor had I wonne! But discord sent from hell did ruine bring, Euen at that time, that I was crown’d a king. 11. As th’holy priest with sanctified hand The precious vnguent on my head should powre, And as before the altar I did stand, Discord the furie sent from that blacke shore By damned _Dis_ where _Phlegeton_ doth rore, Shapt like th’appointed priest whose hallowed hand Should me annoint, by me vnknowne did stand. 12. Approching nigh, the venome she did shed Of sad _Cocytus_ poole, which she did bring In her blacke viall, on my haplesse head, Whose banefull sauour borne on furie’s wing, Did not alone infect th’anointed king: But round diffus’d, as sent from peere to peere, Did poyson those high bloods that present were. 13. The ranke contagion of this foule disease With rauing looke the mightiest in the state, Whose desperate rage with remedie t’appease, Warre rouz’d himselfe at home, who had of late Slept in the bosome of pernicious hate: And did incite them in pretence of good, With their owne swords to let their bodies blood. 14. O most remorselesse of that impious age, That did not only then deny your aide To your deare countrie, when with barbarous rage The bordering foes her bosome did inuade, And in her wombe such ghastly wounds had made, But as a nation borne of viper’s brood, O shame to tell, did daily sucke her blood. 15. Great queene of sea-siedg’d iles, what canst thou show Of that good hap, when _Edward_ thy late king Did safely bulwarke thee against thy foe? Thy _Edward_ now doth with his minions sing, While thou thy hands in wretchednesse dost wring: And _Brewse_ doth mangle thee with many a scarre, While thy proud peeres prepare for ciuill warre. 16. In our discourse, that we a method haue Of euery action, let vs briefely tell In his due place, which time and order gaue: And that we may first know those causes well, From whence these sad effects produc’d befell, In the respectiue scope of this our storie, Let vs looke backe to _Edward’s_ daies of glorie. 17.