Lenuoye.
THys tragedie by clere inspection
Openly declareth in substaunce,
Howe slaughter of prices causeth sub∣uercyon
Of realmes, cyties put out of ordynaunce,
Of mortall were longe contynuaunce,
Blode by supplāting shed of kinges twayne,
By exāple shewed false murdre to restrayne.
The fyne declaringe of murdre & false treson,
The dede horryble cryeth aye vengeaunce,
To god aboue to caste hys eyen doune,
To punishe thys sinne throgh his puissaunce:
For i•• is mother of myschefe and mischaunce,
Wherfore ye prynces do some lawe ordayne
Within your boundes thre vyces to restraine.
The vyce of sclaundre, murdre, and poyson,
Where euer these thre haue acquayntaunce,
They bryng in sorowe and desolacyon:
Put at a prefe by newe remembranuce,
Of falshede vsed vnder fayre countenaunce,
Wherfore ye prynces do your busy payne,
Within your boūdes these vyces to restrayne.
God defende thys noble regyon,
With these thre vyces to haue alyaunce,
For slaundre firste deuoureth hygh renoun,
And sleeth good fame thrughe false daliaunce,
Harme done, to late foloweth repentaunce,
Wherfore ye princes do a lawe ordayne,
To punish their malice fals tōges to restray∣ne
God hath of murdre abhominacyon,
And false poyson dothe to hym displesaunce,
There is no payne in comparyson
Condygne to murdre, paysed in balaunce:
Wherfore ye princes make an ordynaunce
Within your boundes of some preuy payne,
By dae punishing false murdre to restrayne.
O noble prynces prouyde of reason
Agayne these vyces to make purueyaunce,
Of rygour shewe due execucion,
With your labour and hertely instaunce,
Let deth be guerdon for their fynall penaūce:
To warne other by cōstraint of their payne,
Frō these .iii. vices their corages to restrayne.