Lucane the Poete, intreating of mightie and fearce war-
res, againste Pompei and Cesar, maketh Roome to vse this
Prosopopœia againste Cesar.
Quo tenditis vltra quo fertis mea signa viri,
Si iure venitis si aues hucusq[ue] licet.
Prosopopœia is properlie, when all thinges are faigned
bothe the maners, the persone, as of Roome in this place.
¶ What lamentable Oracion Hecuba Quene of
Troie might make, Troie being destroied.
Kyngdomes.
Hat kyngdome can alwaies assure his state, or
glory? What strength can alwaies last? What
Okes.
Cedars. power maie alwaies stande? The mightie O-
kes are somtyme caste from roote, the Ceadars
high by tempestes falle, so bitter stormes dooe
force their strength. Soft waters pearseth Rockes, and ruste
the massie Iron doeth bryng to naught. So nothyng can by
strēgth so stande, but strength maie ones decaie: yea, mightie
kingdoms in time decaie haue felt. Kingdomes weake haue
rose to might, and mightie kyngdomes fallen, no counsaile
can preuaile, no power, no strength, or might in lande. God
disposeth Princes seates, their kyngdome there with stan-
des. I knewe before the brickell state, how kyngdomes ruine
caught, my iye the chaunge of fortune sawe, as Priamus did
aduaunce his throne, by fauour Fortune gat, on other For-
tune then did froune, whose kingdom did decaie. Well, now
Fortune
hath no staie. I knowe the brickle state, that fortune hath no staie, all rashe
her giftes, Fortune blind doeth kepe no state, her stone doth
roule, as floodes now flowe, floodes also ebbe. So glory doth
remaine, sometyme my state on high, was sette in Princelie
throne, my porte and traine ful roiall was, a kyng my father
also was, my housband scepter held. Troie and Phrigia ser-
ued his becke, many kynges his power did dreade, his wille
their power did serue. The fame of Troie and Brute, his
glorie and renoume, what landes knoweth not? But now
his falle, all toungues can speake, so greate as glorie was,
though kyngdomes stronge was sette, loftie Troie in duste
prostrate doeth lye, in blood their glorie, people, kyng are fal-
len, no Quene more dolefull cause hath felte. The sorowes
depe doe passe my ioyes, as Phebus light with stormes caste
Hector. doune. Hectors death did wounde my hart, by Hectors might
Troie stiffe did stande, my comforte Hector was, Priamus
ioye, of Troie all thē life, the strength, and power, his death
did wound me for to die, but alas my dolefull and cruell fate
to greater woe reserueth my life, loftie Troie before me
felle, sworde, and fire hath seate and throne doune caste. The
dedde on heapes doeth lye, the tender babes as Lions praies
Priamus. are caught in bloode, before my sight, Priamus deare mur-
dered was, my children also slain, who roiall were, and prin-
ces mates. No Queene more ioye hath tasted, yet woe my io-
yes hath quite defaced. My state alwaie in bondage thrall, to
serue my enemies wille, as enemie wille, I liue or dye. No
cruell force will ridde my life, onely in graue the yearth shal
close my woes, the wormes shall gnawe my dolefull hart in
graue. My hedde shall ponder nought, when death hath sence
doune caste, in life I sought no ioye, as death I craue, no
glorie was so wished as death I seeke, with death no sence.
In prison depe who dolefull lieth, whom Fetters sore dooeth
greue. Their dolefull state moste wisheth death, in dongion
deepe of care my harte moste pensiue is, vnhappie state that
wisheth death, with ioye long life, eche wight doeth craue, in
life who wanteth smart? Who doeth not féele, or beare som-
time, a bitter storme, to doleful tune, mirth full oft chaunged
is, the meaner state, more quiet rest, on high, who climes more
deper care, more dolefull harte doeth presse, moste tempestes
hie trees, hilles, & moutaines beare, valleis lowe rough stor-
mes doeth passe, the bendyng trees doeth giue place to might
by force of might, Okes mightie fall, and Ceders high ar rēt
from the roote. The state full meane in hauen hath Ancre
caste, in surgyng seas, full ofte in vaine to saue the maste, the
shippe Ancre casteth.
¶ The descripcion.
