Lenuoye.
THis tragedye sheweth an apparence
And a likenesse of feithfull assuraunce
Excite men to yeue fals credence
Vnto fortunes fals variaunce
Which cast hir baytis and anglys of plesaunce
An hoke hyd vnder of vengeable cruelte
As this chapter put in remembraunce
Of lysymachus and of of Arcynoe
Is there any gretter euidence
Of wordly trouble of wordly constaunce
Then se princes from their magnificence
And from their mighty royall puissaunce
Vnwarly brought by fortune to mischaunce
And ouerwhelmed from their tranquilite
Se here a myrroure full notable in substaunce
Of lysymachus and quene arcynoe
The ringe the ankyr of greate excellence
Youe to Selenchus for marciall suffisaunce
Whan appollo by heuenly influence
Lyst with his moder make his alliaunce
Sende him these reliques of singuler acquentaunce
To set his manhode in more suerte
But in all such quaueringe acquentaunce
Thinke on lysymachus and arcynoe
The vncouth tresours the golde nor the dispence
Of theym that haue this world in gouernaunce
Nor all the subgettys vp rekenyd in sentence
Nor all the regions vnder their obeisaunce
Princys princessys with all their attendaunce
May ageyne fortune yeue theym no liberte
Who nat knoweth hir vnsure gery chaūce
Thinke on Lysymachus and Arcynoe
Hir children and she slayne by violence
Of Ceramius god yeue him sory schaunce
That by fals coloure dyd hir reuerence
And pretendyd a maner obseruaunce
The treson clos of venymous purueaunce
Purposed afore to outray theym all thre
The children slayne which knewe no cheuysaunce
The moder exiled callyd Arcynoe
Noble princis by ware of hye prudence
Amonge youre silf that there be no distaunce
Hyde no rancoure of hatfull violence
Vnder a curteyne of double daliaunce
Lyke your herte shewe out your countenaunce
Vayde of dissimulinge and duplicite
Wysely wey this chaptre in balaunce
Of lysymachus and quene arcynoe