The king, who swims in streames of court delights, Plaies like the fish so long with pleasure’s bait, That on her deadly bane he often bites, Or like the mariner infortunate, Sayling in seas where syrens lie in wait: To please the sense he lends his eare so long, Till he be charm’d with their inchanting song. 20. Meane time not made to feast an amorous eie, I fox-like lurking lay about the king, Into the actions of the peeres I prie, With cautie obseruation of each thing, While with their wanton sou’raigne reuelling: They vainly spend in Venus vassallage The tedious houres of that peacefull age. 21. But clouds do thicken in this peacefull cleere, _Warwicke’s_ faire daughter forc’d by vnkind fate, Forsakes lord _Clarence_ her beloued feere, Who purposing to take for second mate, The only heire of some hie towring state, Did hope t’espouse with nuptials solemnely, Duke _Charles_ his daughter, heire of Burgundie. 22. Which when the queene and her allies doth heare, At _Clarence_ fortunes daily they repine, And to the king in hast this newes do beare, Who to their words his will doth so incline, That _Clarence_ match is broke by his designe: King _Edward_ iealous of his children’s fate, Gainst _Clarence_ in his heart beares secret hate. 23. This opportunitie I straight do snatch, Striking the steele while yet the fire is in, In the king’s brest such hatred I do hatch Against our brother, that his hand I win To further me in my intended sinne: For that blind riddle of the letter _G_, _George_ lost his life, it tooke effect in me. 24. Thus hauing halfe my purpose in my hand By _Clarence_ death, I cast how to confound The noble queene’s neere kinsmen, who would band Themselues gainst me by law of nature bound, When _Edward’s_ bodie should be laid in ground: But while the king, my brother did suruiue, To worke their woe, nought durst my thoughts contriue. 25. Yet whom in court I did perceiue, that bore A grudging heart against their vpstart state: My brother’s death to him I did deplore, Auouching them with their malignant hate, T’haue been the authors of his wofull fate, Which at such odds the peeres and them did set, That neuer age such discord did beget. 26.