Here begynnethe the boke calledde Iohn bochas descriuinge the falle of princis princessis [and] other nobles tra[n]slated i[n]to englissh by Iohn ludgate mo[n]ke of the monastery of seint edmu[n]des Bury ...

Lenuoye

ALas this tragedye doth myn herte blede My penne quaketh of ruth and of pyte In my wrytynge whan that I take hede To see the straunge feerfull diuersite Of all worldly vnsure felicite Howe from their sees shortly to comprehende Frowarde fortune doth princes doun descende

Alcibiades of corage and of manhede As is reherced in bokes ye may se Of gentylnesse and of goodlihede Of semelynesse of fredom of bountye Of high prudence and magnanymyte Was moost famous as auctours him cōmende Yit from his sete fortune made him descende

All the people bothe of perce and meede Whyle he gouerned Athenys the cite Stode in his daungere and gan his swerde to drede And all that were rebell to his cuntre He chastysed them in their moost cruelte But whan his fame gan highest vp to ascende Doun from her whele fortune made him descende

Murdre and treson with prudens frendlihede Outwarde faire chere couert Iniquite Plesaunce in spech and vnder that falshede Hony shedoute sharpe tayled lyke a bee Songe of Sirenes to drowne men in the see In one combyned their malice can extende To cause princes doun from their sees descende

Noble princes that se so moch and rede Remembringe storyes of antiquite Afore prou••••nge that treson nat procede Be aye moost dredefull in high pros{per}ite Let others fallynge a myrrour to you be The turne of fortune all auctours reprehende Where who syt hyghest is rediest to descende