Classic Poem

Senec[a] Agamem[non] I. Chor[us]

O the deceipt
Of Fortunes bayt
Which oft times brings
Ruine to Kings
Whose very Crown
Alone waighs down
And scepter prest
They take smal rest
One care coms on
As t'others gon
New Tempests wind
Tosses their mind
More than ere lay
On Biskian Bay
Or doth Controwle
Under the Pole
The freer main
Neath Charleses wayne
Thus doth Her wheele
Make monarchs reele
Who feard would be
Yet Thence fear see
Noe night to those
Affords repose
Nor slumbers charme
Once shends from harme
Which else would bear
Sway over care
What Castles strong
May not ere Long
By Trechery
Dismantled Lye?
Though They hould out
Til force Them rout
At Last They yeild
To Conquering sheild
Loves Holy Tye,
With modesty,
And Lawes, Courts fly
But in Their sted
Bellon's sayd
With bloody hand
To bear command
Wher Envious Pride
Loves to abide
Which one howers space
Brings to disgrace
Graunt warr should cease
And subtil Peace
Noe more prevaile
But both strike sayle
Greatnes alone
Is such a one
Whose very wayght
Will sink it strait
What Fortune rears
She feales and bears:
When hoyst up sayles
Meet prosperous Gales
As Those doe fill
They most fear ill
And Turrits high
Seem t'kiss the Skye
To Southwest drops
Submit their Tops
Whilst woods of Shade
Fierce Stormes invade
Til Their owld stocks
Are turnd to Blocks
And torn and rent
Noe more consent
To Perch the higher
Winged Quier
Bright Lightning drills
The Tops of Hills
When the boult flies
From Thundring Skies
Bodies are Thick
Prove oftnest sick
Whilst the lean heard
Is not afeard
The Fatter dies
For Sacrefize
And what we see
Thus raysd to be
As Fortune heavs
She but deceives
And Haightned Fates
Precipitates.
Thinges that presage
A longer age
Are Governd by
Indifferency.
And He is blest
Above the rest
Who quiet grown
Doth hugg his owne
And Courts that Breeze
Which best agrees
To waft him neer
Wher He may steer
Within His bay
And never waygh
To trust to Seas
Are merciles
But by the shore
Contentment more
Doth find wherfore
Ther wetts his ower