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Hard by the gates of hell her dwelling is, There where as all the plagues and harmes abound▪ Which punish wicked men that walke amis. It is a darkesome delue, far vnder ground, And thornes which barren brookes inuirond roun•• That none the same may easily out win, Yet many waies to enter may be found, But none to issue forth when one is in,
For Discord harder is to end then to begin. Ed. Spencer.
Ate, mother of debate And all dissention which doth daily grow Amongst fraile men, that many a publike state And many a priuate oft it doth ore••unne. Idem.
—He knew her weed of sundry hew, Patched with infinit vnequall lists, Her skin in sundry naked places view, At diuers rents and cuts he may that lists: Her haire was gray, and red, and black and blew, And hard and soft, in laces some she twists: Some hangeth downe, vpright some standeth staring, As if each haire with other had bene squaring. Her lap was full of writs and of citations, Of processes, of actions, and arrests, Of bills, of answeres, and of replications, Greeuing the simple sort with great vexations. She had resorting to her as her guests Attending on her circuits and her iournies, Suters and Clarkes, Lawiers, and Atturnies. S. I. Harr. Transl.
Her face most foule and filthy was to see, With squinted eyes contrariwise intended: And loathly mouth'd, vnmeet a mouth to bee. That nought but gall and venome comprehended, ••nd wicked words that God and man offended. Her lying tongue was in two parts diuided, ••nd both the parts did speak, and both contended: ••nd as her tongue so was her heart descided.
That neuer thought on them, but doubly still was gui∣ded Ed. Spencer.
All like as drops ingender mightie flouds, And little seeds sprout forth great leaues and buds: Euen so small strifes if they be suffered runne, Breed wrath and warre, and death ere they be donne. M. of Magist.
Concord in kingdomes is great assurance, And royall fame lies do neuer fall: But where discord doth lead the doubtfull dance, With busie brawles, and termes of variance, Where malice minstrell is, the pipe ill report, The mask mischiefe, and so doth end the sport., Idem.
Fire-brand of hell first tinde in Phlegeton, By thousand suries, and from thence outthrowne Into this world, to worke confusion, And set it all on fire by force vnknowne, Is wicked discord; whose small sparkes once blowne, None but a God or godlike man can slake: Such as was Orpheus, that when strife was growne Amongst those famous Imps of Greece, did take His siluer harp in hand, & shortly friends them mak•• Ed. Spencer.
O cruell discord, food of deadly hate, O mortall corsiue to a common-weale: Death-lingring consumption to a state, A poysoned sore that neuer salue could heale. O soule contagion, deadly killing feuer, Infecting oft, but ••o be cured neuer. M. Drayton.
A state diuided, cannot firmly stand:
Two Kings within one realm could neuer rest. T. Kyd.