Classic Poem

The men amazed at this vncouth sight,
One to another cast a steadfast eye,
Their hard remorcelesse hearts full fraught with spight
Were herewithall appalled sodenly,
And though their extreame hunger was full great,
Like sencelesse men they sat and would not eate.

O why (quoth she) doe you refraine this food,
I brought it forth vnto you for good will,
Then scorne it not (deere friends) for it is good:
And I euen now did thereof eate my fill:
Tast it therefore and I dare sweare you'l say,
You eate no meate, more sweete this many a day.

Hard hearted woman, cruell and vnkind
Canst thou (quoth they) so frankly feed of this?
A thing more hatefull did wee neuer finde,
Then keepe it for thy tooth, loe there it is.
Most vild and odious is it in our eye,
Then feed on mans flesh, rather would wee dye.

Alack (quoth she) doth foolish pitty mooue ye,
Weaker then womans, is your hearts become,
I pray fall too, and if that you doe loue me,
Eate where you will, and ile with you eat some:
What greater shame to Captaines can befall,
Then I in courage should surpasse you all,

Why, wast not you, that did with many a threat,
Charge me with eager lookes to lay the cloth:
And as I lou'd my life to bring you meate,
And now to eate it doe you seeme so loath?
More fit I should, then you, heerewith be moued,
Since twas his flesh whom I so deerly loued.

It was my sonne and not yours that is slaine.
Whose roasted limbes lies here within the platter,
Then more then you I ought his flesh refraine,
And ten times more be greeued at this matter,
How chance you are more mercifull then I,
To spare his flesh, while you for hunger dye.

Yet blame not me for this outragious deed,
For wast not you that first did spoyle my house?
And rob me of my food in my great need,
Leauing not behind a ratt or silly mouse:
Then you alone are authors of this feast,
What need you then this action so detest?

The starued Iewes hearing this dolefull tale,
Were at the matter smitten in such sadnesse,
That man by man with visage wan and pale,
Dropt out of dores, accusing her of madnesse,
And noting well, their famine, warre and strife,
Wisht rather death, than length of mortall life.

And hereupon, much people of the Citty
Fled to the Romaines secret in the night,
Vpon their knees desiring them for pitty
To saue their liues, that were in wofull plight,
And finding mercie, tolde when that was done,
How famine forc't a Lady eate her Sonne.