Lenuoye.
AL ye that shall this tragedye see
Of ruth and mercy haue compassion
To se a princesse from hir Imperiall see
So vnwarly by fortune throwe doun
Of whose myscheef this was thoccasion
That in thre thinges was set moost hir plesaunce
In vicious life in murdre and vengeaunce
Alas that euer the mortall cruelte
Of blody swerde by execusion
Shulde be appropryd to feminite
Ageyne the nature of their condicion
Causinge the fynall sclaundrous confusion
Of olimpidiades here put in remembraunce
For vicious lif murdre and fals vengeaunce
Vnder fressh floures sote and fayre to se
The serpent dareth with his couert poyson
In cristall waters that calme and sote be
Are perilous pittes full of decepcion
Men se al day by clere inspection
In feynynge facys aungelike suffisaunce
Hir vnderneth rancoure and greate vengeaunce
Though she excelled of hir natyf beutye
All other princys of that region
Was neuer none feller seen than she
To execute like hir opinion
The perilous treynes contreuyd of treson
And specially in hir pompous greuaunce
Where she hated for to do vengeaunce
Noble princes set hye in dignite
Do aduertise of discrecion
In youre moost power and largest liberte
Be merciable and do remission
Sugre with pyte your indignacion
Late grace and mercy tempre your hye puissaunce
Of olimpiades eschuynge the vengeaunce
Exile ricoure ferre oute of cuntre
Yeue him with you no Iurisdiction
To womanhede laugh nat parde
Of cancred rancoure newe execucion
Where mercy regneth of grace there is foison
Haue this in mynde by longe contynuaunce
Of olimpiades forgetinge the vengeaunce
Late pacience by vertuous plente
Within your hertys purchace a mancion
Late youre compassion attempre equite
That right excede nat the boundes of reson
So that youre femynyn humble entencion
Be alweye brydled by prouident suffraunce
Voidinge all excessys of ricour and of vengeaunce
For it is sayde of olde auctoryte
To woman longeth by disposicion
Mekenesse in langage in port humilite
In all vertue humble subiection
Voide of manacis strif and contencion
So that no man in your attendaunce
Espye no tokyn of rancour nor vengeaunce
The speciall mene the parcialite
Shulde of all mercy be descripcion
Rebounde to wymen for of antiquyte
The lambe nat vsed to pley the lyon
Nor no meke downe enuyed the faucon
Nor to youre degre by naturall accordaunce
Sit nouther ricoure nor hasty fell vengeaunce
Thys simple lenuoye receyue it at gre
And haue therof none indignacion
Lowly directe to youre benignite
Only of mekenesse and no presumpcion
Knowynge of kinde youre inclinacion
Disposed is by naturall purueaunce
Vnto al mercy and no thinge vnto vengeaunce