18541698Of all the Court and princes of my blood,

18551699The hope and expectation of thy time

18561700Is ruind, and the soule of euery man

18571701Prophetically do forethinke thy fall:

18581702Had I so lauish of my presence beene,

18591703So common hackneid in the eyes of men,

18601704So stale and cheape to vulgar companie,

18611705Opinion that did helpe me to the crowne,

18621706Had still kept loyall to possession,

18631707And left me in reputelesse banishment,

18641708A fellow of no marke nor likelihoode.

18651709By being seldome seene, I could not stirre

18661710But like a Comet I was wondred at,

18671711That men would tell their children this is he:

18681712Others would say, where, which is Bullingbrooke?

18691713And then I stole all curtesie from heauen,

18701714And drest my selfe in such humilitie

18711715That I did plucke allegiance from mens hearts,

18721716Loud shouts, and salutations from their mouths,

18731717Euen in the presence of the crowned king.

18741718Thus did I keepe my person fresh and new,

18751719My presence like a roabe pontificall,

18761720Nere seene but wondred at, and so my state

18771721Seldome, but sumptuous shewd like a feast,

18781722And wan by rarenesse such solemnitie.

18791723The skipping king, he ambled vp and downe,

18801724With shallow iesters, and rash bauin wits,

18811725Soone kindled, and soone burnt, carded his state,

18821726Mingled his royaltie with capring fooles,

18831727Had his great name prophaned with their scornes,

18841728And gaue his countenance against his name

18851729To laugh at gibing boyes, and stand the push

18861730Of euery beardlesse vaine comparatiue,

18871731Grew a companion to the common streetes,

18881732Enfeoft himselfe to popularitie,

18891733That being dayly swallowed by mens eyes,

18901734They surfetted with honie, and began to loath

18911735The taste of sweetnesse, whereof a little