Of the thred Scipion Nasica that euer wrought moch for the comonte.
myn auctour here maketh a digression
And reherceth for a memoryall
Of the thred worthy scipion
Called nasica which in especiall
By disposicion very naturall
Holde amonge romayns by reporte of langage
Passynge all other in wysdom and corage
Olde of discrecion and nat but yonge of yerys
For a myracle myn auctour doth expresse
Whan senatour•• sent messangerys
In to frigia by great auysnesse
For Berosynthya moost famous goddesse
Whan she was brought by them that dyd hir guyde
In hous nor temple she wolde nat abyde
Saue in the paleys of this scipion
To put his name more in remembraunce
The which also thorugh his hye renoun
Gallobois he brought to vttraunce
A peple of grece ferre out of gouernaunce
But Scipion gan them so werrey
Maugre their malyce the romayns for tobeye
Wherby his name was put in memorye
And full grete thanke he hath in rome deserued
Bycause only of his greate victorye
For which the triumph was to him reseruyd
But atte laste full falsly he was serued
Of the romayns after their olde manere
In this tragedye anone as ye shall here
After he had augmented their tresours
Conqueryd in asie many regions
Caused of their fone that they were victours
Appesed of Graccus the fals accasions
Compassed of malyce by newe discencion
Atwene the peple and also the senat
He of hye wysdome hath stint all that debate
Trustynge the romayns scipion was begyled
Loste their fauour and offendyd nought
By theym vnwarly banysshed and exyled
Clene forgotyn put oute of their thought
For comon profyte all that he hath wrought
The guyrdon loste though princys can nat se
Of all that done for any comonte