ABSTRACT
The Tragedy of Antonie 387 Trouble our reason, fram our hearts out chase All holie vertues lodging in their place: Like as the cunning fisher takes the fishe By traitor baite whereby the hooke is hid: So Pleasure serves to vice in steede of foode To baite our soules thereon too liquorishe. This poison deadly is alike to all, 1180 But on great kings doth greatest outrage worke, Taking the roiall scepters from their hands, Thence forward to be by some stranger borne: While that their people charg'd with heavie loades Their flatt'rers pill, and suck their maryl drie, Not rul'd but left to great men as a pray, While this fonde Prince himselfe in pleasures drowns Who hears nought, sees nought, doth nought of a king Seming himselfe against himselfe conspirde. Then equall Justice wandreth banished, 1190 And in her seat sitts greedie Tyrannie. Confus'd disorder troubleth all estates, Crimes without feare and outrages are done. Then mutinous Rebellion shewes her face, Now hid with this, and now with that pretence, Provoking enimies, which on each side Enter at ease, and make them Lords of all. The hurtfull workes of pleasure here behold.
