1    Here have you seen a mighty king
2    His child, I wis, to incest bring;
3    A better prince and benign lord,
4    That will prove awful both in deed and word.
5    Be quiet then as men should be,
6    Till he hath pass'd necessity.
7    I'll show you those in troubles reign,
8    Losing a mite, a mountain gain.
9    The good in conversation,
10   To whom I give my benison,
11   Is still at Tarsus, where each man
12   Thinks all is writ he speken can;
13   And, to remember what he does,
14   Build his statue to make him glorious:
15   But tidings to the contrary
16   Are brought your eyes; what need speak I?
17   Good Helicane, that stay'd at home,
18   Not to eat honey like a drone
19   From others' labours; for though he strive
20   To killen bad, keep good alive;
21   And to fulfil his prince' desire,
22   Sends word of all that haps in Tyre:
23   How Thaliard came full bent with sin
24   And had intent to murder him;
25   And that in Tarsus was not best
26   Longer for him to make his rest.
27   He, doing so, put forth to seas,
28   Where when men been, there's seldom ease;
29   For now the wind begins to blow;
30   Thunder above and deeps below
31   Make such unquiet, that the ship
32   Should house him safe is wreck'd and split;
33   And he, good prince, having all lost,
34   By waves from coast to coast is tost:
35   All perishen of man, of pelf,
36   Ne aught escapen but himself;
37   Till fortune, tired with doing bad,
38   Threw him ashore, to give him glad:
39   And here he comes. What shall be next,
40   Pardon old Gower,--this longs the text.