ANDRUGIO

This savage life, were hard to brook, if hope no continued ̄ fort gave: But I (whose life, from ̄ Tyrants wrath, Gods provide ̄ ce did save, Do take in worth this misery, as penance for my mys: Still fed with hope to chau ̄ ge this state, when Gods good pleasure is. A hollow Cave for house, and bed, in worth Andrugio takes, Such sorry food, as fortune sends, he syldome now forsakes. I am my self forsooth, now Butcher, Cook, Cater and all: Yea, often times I fallen to sleep, with none, or supper small. Then in my Den, I call to mind, the life I lyu'de in bliss: And by the want I freedom's judge, the greatest joy that is. The freeman is in view of friends, to have release in need: The exile, though he have no lack, yet lives he Still in dréede That his mysdéedes, will hardly escape, the punishment of law: And living, he were better dead, that liveth in this awe, Beside this fear, which never fails, the banished man in want, As oft he is, is sure to find his succour's very scant. Then who is he so mad, that friends, and freedom's does enjoy? That will adventure breach of law, to live in this annoy? And not annoy to him alone, but to his friends and kin: Great be the cares, Cassandra, and Polina liveth in. Through thought, of me, whom long ago, beheaded they suppose, For my offence, thus are they scorgde, yet dare I not disclose My safety, for their help: but hark, who comes here? This chance seems strange: God grant good news, I hope, and yet I fear. These two days, I have be in Court disguised: Where I have learned, the scourge that is devised, For Promos fault, he my Sister spouse hath, To salve his Fame, cracked by his breach of faith. And shortly he, must loose his subtle head: For murdering me, whom no man thinks but dead. His will, was good: and therefore beshrew me, If (moved with ruth) I seek, to set him free. But softly, with some news, these fellows come: I will stand close, and hear both all and some. This clown can hardly Me bewray, and yet such dunghyll churls, Such news, as is in market towns, about the country whorles. What seeks thou good fellow? No. What sport? What? What means this Ass? His words seemeth strange, somewhat is a wry. Whose shoulders friend? Whom? Yes: my most accursed foe: But what of him? No. Yes: But friend thou tookest my words amys, I know nothing, in what state Promos is. Soft. Tush be brief. Some news, of lewd Lord Promos tell Me, And with life and money, isle set thee free. Very well. Nay isle see if thou dost lie. If thou dost isle whip thee, when thou hast done. Dispatch then. What more? Is this true? Well, so or no, for thy news have this connie. I peradventure. Strange are the news, the Clown hath shown to me: Not strange a whyt, if they well scanned be. For God we see, Still throws the Tyrant down: Even in the height, and pride of his renown, Lord Promos rule, nay, tyranny in deed, For Judges is a mirror, worthy heed. The wretched man, with show of Justice zeal, Thoroughly did, with poor offenders deal. The wicked man, both, knew, and judged, abuse: And none so much, as he her faults did use. He felons hanged, yet by extortion, stoale: He wantons plagued, himself a doting fool. He others checked, for suing for their right: And he himself, maintained wrongs by might. But see the rule of mischief, in his pride: He headlong falls, when least, he thought to slide. Well, by his fallen, I may perhaps arise: Andrugio yet, in climbing be thou wise. What? Still unknown, shall I live in this wood? Not so. Go wray these news, no doubt, unto my good. Yet ere I go, I will my self disguise, As in the Town, in spite of Linxes eyes. I will unknown, learn how the game does go, But ere I go, sith eased is my woe: My thanks to God, I first in song will shoe. TO thee Oh Lord, with heart, and voice I sing, Whose mercy great, from moan to sweet delight From grief to joy, my troubled soul dost bring, Yea, more thy wrath, hath foylde my foe in sight. Who sought my life (which thou Oh God didst save) Thy scourge hath brought, untimely to his graven. Whose grief will gawle, a thousand Judges more, And will them see, them selves, and sentence joust: When black reproach, this thundering shame shall shoe, A Judge condemde for murder, theft, and Lust. This scourge, Oh God, the lewd in fear will bring, The joust for joy, thy praises loud will sing. Lord God, how am I tormented in thought? My sisters woe, such rues in me does graven: As fain I would (if ought save death I caught) Bewray my self, Lord Promos life to save. But life is sweet, and nought but death I eye, If that I should, my safety now disclose: So that I choose, of both the evils, he die: Time will appease, no dought, Cassandra's woes, And shall, I thus acquit Cassandra's love? To work her joy? and shall I fear to die? Whilst, that she live, no comfort may remove Care from her heart, if that his husband die? Then shall I stick, to hazard lyam? nay life? To salve his grief, since in my cure it rests. Nay First, I will be spoiled, with bloody knife, Before, I fail, her, plunged in distres. Death, is but death, and all in fine shall die Thus (being dead) my fame, shall live always: Well, to the king, Andrugio now will hie, Hap life, hap death, his safety, to bewray. My sweet Polina: Cassandra? How fare, my deer Sister? My faull, through love, and judgement for my fault. Lord Promos wrongs, unto my Sister done. My death supposed, dread King, were vain to tell. Cassandra hear, those dealings all hath shown. The rest are these. When I should die, the Gayler moved to ruth, Declared to Me, what Promos pleasure was: Amazed whereat, I told him all the truth, What, between Cassandra, and him did pass. He much aggrieved, Lord Promos guilt to hear, Was very loath, Me (woeful man) to harm: At length, joust God, to set me (wretched) clear, With this defence, his Willing mind did arm. Two days afore, to death, were diverse done, For several faults, by them committed: So that of them, he took the head from one, And to Cassandra, the same presented: Affirming it, to be bir brother's head. Which done, by night, he sent me post away, None but supposed, that I in déde was dead: When as in truth, in uncouth haunts I say. In fine, a Clown, came peaking through the wood, Wherein I live, your Graces being here: And Promos death, by whom I understood, Glad of which news, how so I lyud in fear. I ventured to see his wretched fallen: To free suspect, yet stranger like arayde, I hither came: but lo, the inward thrall Of Cassandra, the hate, so soar dismayed. Which I conceived against my brother Promos, That lo, I chews'd, to yield my self to death, To set him free: for otherwise I knew, His death ere long, would sure have stopped her breath. Lo gracious king, in brief I here have shown, Such adventures, as wretched I have passed: Beseeching you with grace to think upon, The wight that wails, his folly's at the last. Most gracious Prince, thereto I gladly agree: