Classic Poem

The causes first I purpose to unfould
Of these garboiles, whence springs a long discourse,
And what made madding people shake off peace.
The fates are envious, high seats quickly perish,
Under great burdens fals are ever greevous;
Roome was so great it could not beare it selfe:
So when this worlds compounded union breakes,
Time ends and to old Chaos all things turne;
Confused stars shal meete, celestiall fire
Fleete on the flouds, the earth shoulder the sea,
Affording it no shoare, and Phoebe's waine,
Chace Phoebus and inrag'd affect his place,
And strive to shine by day, and ful of strife
Disolve the engins of the broken world.
All great things crush themselves, such end the gods,
Allot the height of honor, men so strong
By land, and sea, no forreine force could ruine:
O Roome thy selfe art cause of all these evils,
Thy selfe thus shivered out to three mens shares,
Dire league of partners in a kingdome last not.
O faintly joyn'd friends with ambition blind,
Why joine you force to share the world betwixt you?
While th'earth the sea, and ayre the earth sustaines;
While Titan strives against the worlds swift course;
Or Cynthia nights Queene waights upon the day;
Shall never faith be found in fellow kings.
Dominion cannot suffer partnership;
This need no forraine proofe, nor far fet story:
Roomes infant walles were steept in brothers bloud;
Nor then was land, or sea, to breed such hate,
A towne with one poore church set them at oddes.