Of Saul we heare no evil whilst he stood
Endow'd with nothing but a private fortune:
And afterward we heare as little good
Of Saul a King: His honours did importune
His bad nature to produce
Such fruits as were too unfit
For a King, and to commit
Sinnes that were beyond excuse.
As long as man is limited within
The bounds of humble, base and mean estate,
He seems to make some conscience of a sinne,
And one that would be good at any rate:
But no wickednesse he spares
When (by chance) the man is mounted
And 'mongst great ones is accounted;
Then the man himself declares.
Then his depraved nature with loose rains
Runnes uncontrolledly into the mire
Of all impietie; no sinne remains
Unacted by him: doth he but desire
To be wicked, vain or idle,
Any lust to satisfie,
That lust he will gratifie:
His affections wear no bridle.