Therefore the vulgar did about him flocke, xxxiii And cluster thicke vnto his leasings vaine, Like foolish flies about an hony crocke, In hope by him great benefite to gaine, And vncontrolled freedome to obtaine. All which when _Artegall_ did see, and heare, How he mis-led the simple peoples traine, In sdeignfull wize he drew vnto him neare, And thus vnto him spake, without regard or feare. Thou that presum’st to weigh the world anew, xxxiv And all things to an equall to restore, In stead of right me seemes great wrong dost shew, And far aboue thy forces pitch to sore. For ere thou limit what is lesse or more In euery thing, thou oughtest first to know, What was the poyse of euery part of yore: And looke then how much it doth ouerflow, Or faile thereof, so much is more then iust to trow. For at the first they all created were xxxv In goodly measure, by their Makers might, And weighed out in ballaunces so nere, That not a dram was missing of their right, The earth was in the middle centre pight, In which it doth immoueable abide, Hemd in with waters like a wall in sight; And they with aire, that not a drop can slide: Al which the heauens containe, and in their courses guide. Such heauenly iustice doth among them raine, xxxvi That euery one doe know their certaine bound, In which they doe these many yeares remaine, And mongst them al no change hath yet beene found. But if thou now shouldst weigh them new in pound, We are not sure they would so long remaine: All change is perillous, and all chaunce vnsound. Therefore leaue off to weigh them all againe, Till we may be assur’d they shall their course retaine. Thou foolishe Elfe (said then the Gyant wroth) xxxvii Seest not, how badly all things present bee, And each estate quite out of order goth? The sea it selfe doest thou not plainely see Encroch vppon the land there vnder thee; And th’earth it selfe how daily its increast, By all that dying to it turned be?[263] Were it not good that wrong were then surceast, And from the most, that some were giuen to the least? Therefore I will throw downe these[264] mountaines hie, xxxviii And make them leuell with the lowly plaine: These towring rocks, which reach vnto the skie, I will thrust downe into the deepest maine, And as they were, them equalize againe. Tyrants that make men subiect to their law, I will suppresse, that they no more may raine; And Lordings curbe, that commons ouer-aw; And all the wealth of rich men to the poore will draw.