POLYNICES

Would you me have, my self so much to loyal duties yield, As that I should a Pylgrims life Like wandering Beast in field Skud up and down from place to place, without both house & home, And fleeing native soil, be forced in foreign Lands to roam? What other plagues, could you award in justice unto me, If I my faith or sacred Oath had broken caytifly? Shall I bear all the punishment for that vile villains guile? And shall he false deceitful wretch at my misfortunes smile? Shall he in wealth still flaunt it out, and keep this jolly coil? Shall he for sins rewarded be? and I still put to foil? Well, well, go to, be as be may: you bid me wander hence: I am content: your hard decree obey is my pretence. But tell me whither shall I go? Assign me to some place: Bylike, you would that brother mine should still with shameless face Possess my stately Palaces, and revel in his ruff, And I thereat to hold my peace, and not a whit to snuff, But Like a Country Mome to dwell in some poor thatched Cot: Allow me poor Exile such one: I rest content, God wot. You know, such Noddies as I am, are wont to make exchaung Of Kingdoms, for poor thatched Cots, be Like this is not strange. Yea more: I, matched now to a Wife of noble ligne and raze Shall Like a Silly Dottipoll live there in servile case, At beck and check of queenely Wife, and Like a kitchen drudge Shall at Adrastus lordly heals, (my Wives own Father) trudge. From Princely Port to tumble down into poor servile state, Is greatest grief that may betide by doom of frouncing fate. What, shall my Brother for this vile and shameful breach of pacy Go skotfree thus? shall he receive no guerdon for his fact? Marry, that I will, in shame hath he no peer. And unto me it seems a world of bliss to be a king And die with Kings. For that I neither reck ne care what shall to me befall. That Prince that fears disdainful hate, unwilling seems to raynge. The God that sways the Golden Globe, together hath these twain Conjoined and coupled Hate and Rule: and him do I suppose To be a noble King indeed, that can supplant his foes, And Subjects cankered hate suppress. A King is often stayed From doing many things he would, when Subjects love is weighed. But unto them that do repine to see him fit aloft, He may more rigour boldly show, and pare their p tes more oft. He that will love of Subjects win, with Clemency must reign: A King that's hated, cannot long in Kingly seat remain. For Kingdoms Kings can best describe, what precepts needful are. Mell thou in cases of Exile: for Kingdoms take no care. To be a King, I would engage to force of flaming Fire, Both Country, house, land, Wife, and Child, to compass my desire. No Fee, to purchase Princely seat, ne labour Count I lost: A Kingly Crown is never deer, what ever price it cost. Thy case does thee in rank of exiles bring. Reign King, but yet a loathed wight unto thy Subjects all.