FAYRE cruell, why are ye so fierce and cruell?

Is it because your eyes have powre to kill?

Then know, that mercy is the mighties jewell,

And greater glory thinke to save then spill1.

But if it be your pleasure and proud will,

To shew the powre of your imperious eyes:

Then not on him that never thought you ill,

But bend your force against your enemyes.

Let them feele th’utmost of your crueltyes,

And kill with looks, as cockatrices2 doo:

But him that at your footstoole humbled lies,

With mercifull regard, give mercy too.

Such mercy shal you make admyred to be3,

So shall you live by giving life to me.

注释：1.spill：想想，你可以通过保护，而不是毁灭，得到的更大的荣耀。

2.cockatrices：传说中一种头如鸡，身体如双足飞龙，尾如蛇的怪物，没有羽，却有鳞。据说是从鸡卵中孵化出的。鸡身蛇尾怪的凝视可以使对手致命。它们的卵必须生于有天狼星的日子，受精于七岁的公鸡。这种卵很容易辨认，并非普通的卵形，而是球形，没有壳，覆盖着一层厚厚的皮，而这枚卵必须由蟾蜍孵化。