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THEY came unto a Citie farre up land, | |
| The which whylome that Ladies owne had bene; | |
| But now by force extort out of her hand | |
| By her strong foe, who had defaced cleene | |
| Her stately towres and buildings sunny sheene, | 5 |
| Shut up her haven, mard her marchants trade, | |
| Robbed her people that full rich had beene, | |
| And in her necke a Castle huge had made, | |
| The which did her commaund without needing perswade. | |
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| That Castle was the strength of all that State, | 10 |
| Untill that State by strength was pulled downe; | |
| And that same Citie, so now ruinate, | |
| Had bene the keye of all that Kingdomes crowne; | |
| Both goodly Castle, and both goodly Towne, | |
| Till that th’ offended heavens list to lowre | 15 |
| Upon their blisse, and balefull fortune frowne. | |
| When those gainst states and kingdomes do coniure, | |
| Who then can thinke their hedlong ruine to recure! | |
| |
| But he had brought it now in servile bond, | |
| And made it beare the yoke of Inquisition, | 20 |
| Stryving long time in vaine it to withstond; | |
| Yet glad at last to make most base submission, | |
| And life enioy for any composition: | |
| So now he hath new lawes and orders new | |
| Imposd on it with many a hard condition, | 25 |
| And forced it, the honour that is dew | |
| To God, to doe unto his Idole most untrew. | |
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| To him he hath before this Castle Greene | |
| Built a faire chappell, and an altar framed | |
| Of costly ivory full rich beseene, | 30 |
| On which that cursed Idole, farre proclamed, | |
| He hath set up, and him his god hath named; | |
| Offring to him in sinfull sacrifice | |
| The flesh of men, to Gods owne likenesse framed, | |
| And powring forth their bloud in brutishe wize, | 35 |
| That any yron eyes, to see, it would agrize. | |
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