¶ Lenuoy.
REade & considered, this sayd tragedy
Sheweth to Prynces a myrroure full notable,
How they their rygour shall tēper & modefy,
Or they procede for to be vengeable:
For in a prynce it is right commendable,
Rancour of hart, of chere, and of courage,
For to deferre tyll that their yre asswage.
Their hasty yre, their sodayne melancholy,
Their colorike fumes, yr fury vnrestraynable
Their vnqueint fyres wt flame of tyranny,
Their fretyng etyke of hate incomparable,
Like beastial Tygres, lyke lyons vntretable
Ne will not suffer that infernall rage,
Defer their domes tyll their yre asswage.
The royall Lyon of morall gentry
Among beastes of force incomperable,
Preueth not his power nor his regaly
Gayn beasts prostrate, which be not defēsable
And mighty prynces should in case semblable
For innocentes take mercy in morgage,
Respityng rygour tyll that yre asswage,
The sparkle of vēgeaūce is quycked in party
By wyndes foure, fell and abhominable,
Blast of detraction, and blast of flattery,
Blast of false rowners yt forge many fable,
And blast of brybours vycious and culpable:
wt smoky slaunders, and felons false vysage,
Causeth yre of prīces yt it may neuer asswage
For whiche let prynces of noble policy
Beware of tonges double and disceyuable,
Whiche wt their venym infect eche company,
Their poynaunt poyson is so penetrable:
To folke absent it is mischeuable,
So depe freteth their serpentyne langage,
Causig in princes their yre may not asswage
Noble prynces let vertue magnify
Your hygh estate, to make you merciable,
For morall Seneke doth clerely specify,
The trone of prīces by clemēce is made stable
Vengeaunce delayed to God is agreable,
And hasty rygour doth outragious damage,
Whē hūble requests your yre may not aswage