The tragedies, gathered by Ihon Bochas, of all such princes as fell from theyr estates throughe the mutability of fortune since the creacion of Adam, vntil his time wherin may be seen what vices bring menne to destruccion, wyth notable warninges howe the like may be auoyded. Translated into Englysh by Iohn Lidgate, monke of Burye.

¶ Lenuoye

IN this tragedy mē may beholde & se The perilous domages of false ambi∣ciō Of thē y^t be nat cōtēt w^t their degre But would vp climbe (lyke theyr opinion) To hye estate, by vsurpation: Which nat consydre the sentence of scripture. In a good meane men longest may endure.

Who that vsurpeth to higher dignite Than appertayneth to hys condition, In royall chares for to make hys se, And hath no tytle of lyne nor of reason, Through frowarde pride full ofte he is putte doun, For lacke he seeth nat euery creature In a good meane lengest may endure.

Whan Dedalus taught his sonne to flee He bad hym first of hye discretion, Fro Phebus hete kepe his wynges fre, And fro Neptunus colde congelacion:

Meanyng hereby, for short conclusion, That who that lyst with ioy his state assure, In a good meane he longest shall endure.

Remembre the manhode and magnanimite Of Marcus Manlyus, which by presūption Wolde haue gouerned Rome the cite, Maugre the senate, ruled that mighty toun, Whiche tourned after to hys confusion: For he saw nat, such was hys auenture, In a good meane men longest maye endure.

Some in theyr greatest hygh prosperite, Of frowarde corage and furious mocion, In theyr great weale by false duplicite Haue a maner straunge condition, Nat to be content with plentie nor foyson: By a false etyke whiche of theyr nature In a good meane can nat longe endure.

But in this earth is greatest felicite In heartes ease, rychest possession With suffisaunce content for to be, Of worldly trouble teschewe thoccasion, Meuyng no quarelles, causyng no discēcion: Nor cleyme nothyng which hard is to recure, Sith in a good meane mē longest do endure.

Princes remembre in your most maieste Enuy of clymbyng causeth deuision, Be of accord, trust in no commonte, Whiche at a poynt is but disception: And specially flee simulation, Ye maye in Marchus se a playne fygure, Which for ambicion might no whyle endure.