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THE DAUGHTER OF DEBATE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The doubt of future foes / exiles my present joy
Last Line: Such change, and gape for joy.
Alternate Author Name(s): Tudor, Elizabeth
Variant Title(s): The Doubt;the Doubt Of Future Foes
Subject(s): Mary, Queen Of Scots (1542-1587); Mary Stuart


The doubt of future foes
Exiles my present joy,
And wit me warns to shun such snares
As threaten mine annoy.
For falsehood now doth flow,
And subject faith doth ebb;
Which would not be if reason ruled,
Or wisdom weav'd the web.
But clouds of toys untried
Do cloak aspiring minds;
Which turn to rain of late repent,
By course of changed winds;
The top of hope suppos'd
The root of ruth will be;
And fruitless all their graffed guiles,
As shortly ye shall see.
Then dazzled eyes with pride,
Which great ambition blinds,
Shall be unseal'd by worthy wights,
Whose foresight falsehood finds.
The Daughter of Debate,
That eke discord doth sow,
Shall reap no gain where former rule
Hath taught still peace to grow.
No foreign banish'd wight
Shall anchor in this port;
Our realm it brooks no strangers' force,,
Let them elsewhere resort.
Our rusty sword with rest
Shall first his edge employ,
Shall poll their tops that seek
Such change, and gape for joy.





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