All otherwise (said he) I riches read, xii And deeme them roote of all disquietnesse; First got with guile, and then preseru’d with dread, And after spent with pride and lauishnesse, Leauing behind them griefe and heauinesse. Infinite mischiefes of them do arize, Strife,[660] and debate, bloudshed, and bitternesse, Outrageous wrong, and hellish couetize, That noble heart as[661] great dishonour doth despize. Ne thine be kingdomes, ne the scepters thine; xiii But realmes and rulers thou doest both confound, And loyall truth to treason doest incline; Witnesse the guiltlesse bloud pourd oft on ground, The crowned often slaine, the slayer cround, The sacred Diademe in peeces rent, And purple robe gored with many a wound; Castles surprizd, great cities sackt and brent: So mak’st thou kings, and gaynest wrongfull gouernement. Long were to tell the troublous stormes, that tosse xiv The priuate state, and make the life vnsweet: Who swelling sayles in Caspian sea doth crosse, And in frayle wood on _Adrian_ gulfe doth fleet, Doth not, I weene, so many euils meet. Then _Mammon_ wexing wroth, And why then, said, Are mortall men so fond and vndiscreet, So euill thing to seeke vnto their ayd, And hauing not complaine, and hauing it vpbraid? Indeede (quoth he) through fowle intemperaunce, xv Frayle men are oft captiu’d to couetise: But would they thinke, with how small allowaunce Vntroubled Nature doth her selfe suffise, Such superfluities they would despise, Which with sad cares empeach our natiue ioyes: At the well head the purest streames arise: But mucky filth his braunching armes annoyes, And with vncomely weedes the gentle waue accloyes. The antique world, in his first flowring youth, xvi Found no defect in his Creatours grace, But with glad thankes, and vnreproued truth, The gifts of soueraigne bountie did embrace: Like Angels life was then mens happy cace; But later ages pride, like corn-fed steed, Abusd her plenty, and fat swolne encreace To all licentious lust, and gan exceed The measure of her meane, and naturall first need. Then gan a cursed hand the quiet wombe xvii Of his great Grandmother with steele to wound, And the hid treasures in her sacred tombe, With Sacriledge to dig. Therein he found Fountaines of gold and siluer to abound, Of which the matter of his huge desire And pompous pride eftsoones he did compound; Then auarice gan through his veines inspire His greedy flames, and kindled life-deuouring fire.