Note 533 — How King Porrex[533] which slewe his brother was slayne by his owne mother and hir maydens, about the yeare before Christ, 491.

Genes. 4. From darkesome dennes, where cruel Cayne, And other like do lye: Whose bloudie blades were bathde in bloud, Poore caytiue thence come I. Annius. Where Typhon is, his brother slewe, Osiris in despite: And where their sister Isis is, Did him againe requite. Virgil. in culi. Where Dardanus to rule alone His brother made away: Etheocles, Polinices, At once did others sley. Seruius. 3. Aeneid. Ouid in Ibin. Where Helenus king Priam’s son His brother Theon kilde. Medea eke in bloudy wyse, Hir brother’s bloud that spilde. Statius. Where Tydeus is in hunting shote His brother through the side: Polytes eke his brother’s harte With sworde that opened wyde. Herodotus. Gel. li. 4. cap. 3. And where as that Cambyses is, His sister once that slewe: And Polipontes king that made, His brother treason rewe. And cruell where Odores s, Which mercy did deny To Mithridate his brother deare, That did for pardon crie. Herodotus. Eke where Learchus is, that did His brother sicke destroy: With poyson deadly hoping so, To make him selfe a Roy. Ouid in Ibin. And where that wretche Mamertes lies, His brothers sonnes that spilte: And Sisapho tormenting him, For such an heynous gilte. Plutarch. Laert. Volater. Where Rhesus and Caduidus are, With shaftes their brethren slewe: And Philadelphus Ptolomæ His brother’s death did brewe. Volater. Where Philopater Ptolomæ His father made away And after that his brother with His dearest frendes did slay. Plato. 10. de rep. And where Ardieus, tyraunt vile, His aged father stroyde, And after that his elder brother, Kingdomes to enioyde. Cælius. Where Mithridates, beastly king, Of Pontus feeles anoye: Which mother his, and brother eke, Sixe children did destroye. Volater. Where is Antiochus the great, His brother brought to graue: That he might onely raigne alone, And all the kingdome haue. Liuius. Lucan. Ouid. Wher Romulus, that Remus slew, Of Romaines, first had fall: Though louing brother first he were, Presumde to scale the wall. Flores Histor. And where Mempricius lewde doth lye, A Britayne Prince that slue, His brother Manlius fearing lest He were to him vntrue. Salust. Where Iurgurth eke that basterde is, His brethren brought to graue: That after them Numidia He might for kingdome haue. And where a thousande are beside, Which were to long to tell, Their parentes deare and brethren slue, And now in darkenes dwell. From thence I came a Britayne yore, Namde Porrex once a king: Againe to shewe what vices mee To sodaine death did bring. Now list a while and then do write, What I thee tell, that others may Themselues in such attempts as these, From bloudy acts, as brethren stay. My brother Forrex fiue yeares space, And I this kingdome helde: Betweene vs both the common weale, We scace did wisely welde. At length we fondly fell at strife, So Princes bide no mate, Nor make, nor partners, with to raigne But beare their equals hate. The heire because I yongest was, Thought his by right the crowne: But I esteemde the halfe was mine, And all if he were downe. Whereby, O brothell, butcher eke, Not brother I did slay: My brother for to haue it all, And get his right away. Such are the acts of heedelesse youthes, Such are their studies still: Which care not what offence they make, So they their fancies fill. But as it is vniustice, and An haynous acte to vse: Such murder, slaughter, parricide And iustice all refuse. So Ioue the iust at length requites Our deedes: and makes vs rewe We euer were, to God, or man Or nature’s hestes vntrue. For when I deemde the crowne was mine, Which had my brother slayne, O griefe to tell, my mother, and Hir maydens wrought my payne. Both for my fault, and for she lou’de My brother Forrex still: With all hir maydes she came by night, My sleeping corps to kill. And I that slombring sleeping lay, Though many dreames fortolde My haplesse fall, could neuer wake, The meaning to vnfolde. But last supposing with my selfe, I cruell Tigres sawe, With rauening fearcenes rent their yong, Against dame Nature’s lawe. She came on me to fill my dreame, Before my eyes could wake, And with a dagger reft my life, For Forrex slaughter’s sake. Virgil in Culice. Much like Agaue and his mates, Shee and hir maydens got Them tooles therefore, and hewde my corse, As small as fleshe to pot. Ouid. 6. Metamor. Or Progne Queene hir children slue, and hewde their membres small: In wrathfull ire made Tereus feede, and fil himselfe withall. Virgil. 8. Aegl. Or like Medea monster Queene, hir Iason’s sonnes that kilde: Because she was forsaken when his purpose was fulfilde. Like these was shee, nay worse, for why, This ended Brutus lyne: Brought me to ende and hir to shame, though first the fault were mine. Bid those beware that weene to winne, by bloudy acts the crowne: Lest from the height they feele the fall of topsy turuye downe. For if when they suppose themselues aloft to touch the skie, There chaunce a storme, there is no holde to staye themselues so hie. But faster farre, more swiftly they, and with more swinge descende, Then euer erst they could with all there force to clime contende: Do bid them then in all their deedes marke well the finall ende.