Classic Poem

When Aristotimus did strike the stroke,
In Elyesus, and did weld the Mace
As King alone, so heauie was his yoke,
That subiects thought themselues in wofull cace:
For greedie gulles that gapt for giltles blood,
Were best esteemde, and most in fauour stood.
Ech villaino vile that vaunted of his vice,
Ech loathsome leacher longing for his lust,
Was mounted vp, and held in hiest price,
Sinne sate at bench, extortion counted iust,
The best might bear no palme whilst he did rain,
He banisht some, and some with sword were slain.
Till Gods at last detesting murthers done
Incenst the hearts of sundrie noble wights,
For due reuenge, vnto his realm to ron,
Where matchte with suche as were his housholde knights,
With one consent this blooddy beast they slew,
Amid the Church for Gods themselues to view.
The woful Queen, the murthring monster wife,
By fame assurde of dolefull husbands death,
To flee the force, bereft her selfe of life,
Enuying that her foes should stop her breath:
Two Ladies eke, the daughters of the king,
Had leaue to die, who hung themselues in string.