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There thou shalt know, it is an odious thing,
To let thy banner flie against thy king."

With scorne he throwes the standard to the ground,
When Cheney, for his height and strength renown'd,
Steps forth to couer Richmond, now expos’d
To Richard's sword; the king with Cheney clos'd,
And to the earth this mighty giant fell’d.
Then like a stag, whom fences long withheld
From meddowes, where the spring in glory raignes,
Now hauing leuell'd those vnpleasing chaines,
And treading proudly on the vanquisht flowres,
He in his hopes a thousand ioyes deuoures;
For now no pow'r to crosse his end remaines,
But onely Henry, whom he neuer daines

To name his foe, and thinkes he shall not braue
A valiant champion, but a yeelding slaue.
Alas! how much deceiu'd, when he shall find
An able body and couragious minde;

For Richmond boldly doth himselfe oppose
Against the king, and giues him blowes for blowes,
Who now confesseth, with an angry frowne,
His riuall not vnworthy of the crowne.

The younger Stanley then no longer staid,
The earle in danger needs his present aide,
Which he performes as sudden as the light,
His comming turnes the ballance of the fight.
So threatning clouds, whose fall the ploughmen

feare,

Which long vpon the mountaine's top appeare,
Dissolue at last, and vapours then distill

To watry showres that all the valleys fill.
The first that saw this dreadfull storme arise,
Was Catesby, who to Richard loudly cries:

"No way but swift retreate your life to saue,
It is no shame with wings t' auoide the graue.”
This said, he trembling turnes himselfe to flie,
And dares not stay to heare the king's replie,
Who, scorning his aduice as foule and base,
Returnes this answer with a wrathfull face :
"Let cowards trust their horses' nimble feete,
And in their course with new destruction meete;
Gaine thou some houres to draw thy fearefull
breath:

To me ignoble flight is worse than death."
But at th' approach of Stanley's fresh supply,
The king's side droopes: so gen'rous horses lie
Vnapt to stirre, or make their courage knowne,
Which vnder cruell masters sinke and grone.
There at his prince's foote stout Ratcliffe dies;
Not fearing, but despairing, Louell flies,
For he shall after end his weary life

In not so faire, but yet as bold a strife.

The king maintaines the fight, though left alone:
For Henrie's life he faine would change his owne,
And as a lionesse, which compast round
With troopes of men, receiues a smarting wound
By some bold hand, though hinder'd and opprest
With other speares, yet slighting all the rest,
Will follow him alone that wrong'd her first:
So Richard, pressing with reuengefull thirst,
Admits no shape but Richmond's to his eye;
And would in triumph on his carcase die :
But that great God, to whom all creatures yeeld,
Protects his seruant with a heauenly shield;
His pow'r, in which the earle securely trusts,
Rebates the blowes, and falsifies the thrusts.
VOL. V.
H

The king growes weary, and begins to faint, It grieues him that his foes perceiue the taint : Some strike him, that till then durst not come [beare, With weight and number they to ground him Where trampled down, and hew'd with many swords,

neare,

He softly vtter'd these his dying words:

"Now strength no longer fortune can withstand, I perish in the center of my land."

His hand he then with wreathes of grasse infolds,
And bites the earth, which he so strictly holds,
As if he would haue borne it with him hence,
So loth he was to lose his right's pretence.

AN EPIGRAM CONCERNING MAN'S

LIFE.

COMPOSED BY CRATES, OR POSIDIPpus.

WHAT Course of life should wretched mortals take?
In courts, hard questions, large contention make,
Care dwels in houses, labour in the field,
Tumultuous seas affrighting dangers yeeld.
In forraine lands thou neuer canst be blest;
If rich, thou art in feare; if poore, distrest.
In wedlock, frequent discontentments swell:
Vnmarried persons, as in desarts dwell.

How many troubles are with children borne?
Yet he that wants them counts himselfe forlorne.
Young men are wanton, and of wisedome void:
Gray haires are cold, vnfit to be imploid.

Who would not one of these two offers choose: Not to be borne, or breath with speede to loose?

THE ANSWER OF METRODORUS.

In euery way of life true pleasure flowes,
Immortall fame from publike action growes:
Within the doores is found appeasing rest;
In fields, the gifts of Nature are exprest.
The sea brings gaine, the rich abroad prouide
To blaze their names, the poore their wants to hide :
All housholds best are govern'd by a wife;
His cares are light, who leades a single life.

Sweet children are delights, which marriage blesse ;
He that hath none disturbs his thoughts the lesse.
Strong youth can triumph in victorious deeds:
Old age the soule with pious motion feeds.
All states are good, and they are falsly led,
Who wish to be vnborne, or quickly dead.

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