The .xiii. Chapter.
❧ Howe Eumenydes was twyse outrayed by Antigonus and at the last dyed in pryson.
WHā Alisader in his roial estate
Had all conquered tofore as ye haue herd
He like a god most pompous & elate,
As souerayne prince of all myddleerde,
To take vpon hym was nothyng aferde,
To clayme in countrees a thynge y• was nat fayre,
Of Jupiter to be both sonne & heyre.
One of the principles, who so taketh hede
That first brought in false ydolatry,
Was thylke tyme yt priestes for false drede
Hys name with goddes gan to magnify,
And so to call hym of fayned flattery:
And mydde their tēples in Liby on a stage,
Of hys lykenes they set vp an ymage.
But lytle or nought to hym it myght auayle
Agayne his deth for to do succour,
When the fell poyson hys hert dyd assayle
Whiche made him fade as doth a flour,
Of whose empyre was none enheritour,
Saue in his deth thus stode the woful case,
Twene sixe & thirty hys land deuyded was
And in his story full playnly it is tolde,
This departicion to make it ferme & stable
He was laide forth vpon a couche of golde,
To reherse by tokens full notable
Whome he dempt of very sothe most able
Of all his princes playnly to discerne,
When he was deed, his kingdom to gouerne.
First there was one amonge all that prees
Next Alysander the knightlyest man,
The worthy knyght called Eumenides,
Whose high renoun ful well rehearse can
Prudent Justinus, the great historian,
Ordayned afore to gouerne realmes two,
All Capadoce and Pafflagony also.
His hie nobles as made is mention
In especiall more to magnify,
Hym lacked nought of commendacion
That apparteyned vnto chiualry,
To hie prudence, or noble policy:
Except thre thinges myn auctor sayth y• same
A crowne, a scepter, and a kynges name.
But for that he all other dyd excell
Bothe of prudence and famous chiualry,
It is remembred as some bokes tell,
That there were some had therat enuy:
For when fortune lyst to set vp an hye
Any person aloft vpon her whele,
Some are besyde that like it neuer a dele.
Who holdeth him euer vpon hie mountaynes