Of which, apparaunt proofe was to be seene, And their disloiall powre defaced clene, E. S. TO THE MOST RENOWMED AND VALIANT LORD, THE LORD GREY OF WILTON, KNIGHT OF The noble order of the GARTER, ETC. MOST Noble Lord, the pillor of my life, your Vouchsafe, in worth, this small guift to receave, Which in your noble hands for pledge I leave Of all the rest that I am tyde t' account: Rude rymes, the which a rustick Muse did weave In savadge soyle, far from Parnasso Mount, And roughly wrought in an unlearned loome : The which vouchsafe, dear Lord, your favourable doome. E. S. TO THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD OF BUCKHURST, ONE OF HER MAJESTIE'S PRIVIE COUNSELL. In vain I thinke, Right Honourable Lord, In loftie numbers and heroicke stile. But evermore vouchsafe, it to maintaine E. S. TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR FRANCIS WALSINGHAM, KNIGHT, PRINCIPALL SECRETARY TO HER MAJESTY, AND ONE OF THAT Mantuane Poets incompared spirit, This lowly Muse, that learns like steps to trace, Flies for like aide unto your patronage, (That are the great Mecenas of this age, As well to all that civil artes professe, As those that are inspir'd with martial rage,) And craves protection of her feeblenesse: Which if ye yield, perhaps ye may her rayse In bigger tunes to sound your living prayse. E. S. TO THE RIGHT NOBLE LORD AND MOST VALIAUNT CAPTAINE, SIR JOHN NORRIS, Knight, LORD PRESIDENT OF MOUNSTER. WHO ever gave more honourable prize To the sweet Muse then did the Martiall crew, That their brave deeds she might immortalize In her shril tromp, and sound their praises dew? Who then ought more to favour her then you, Most Noble Lord, the honor of this age, And Precedent of all that armes ensue? Whose warlike prowesse and manly courage, Tempred with reason and advizement sage, Hath fild sad Belgicke with victorious spoile; In Fraunce and Ireland left a famous gage; And lately shakt the Lusitanian soile. Sith then each where thou hast dispredd thy fame, Love him that hath eternized your Name. E. S. TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND VALOROUS KNIGHT, SIR WALTER RALEIGH, LORD WARDEIN OF THE STANNERYES, AND LIEFTENAUNT To thee, that art the Sommers Nightingale, In whose high thoughts Pleasure hath built her bowre, And dainty Love learnd sweetly to endite. My rimes I know unsavory and sowre, To tast the streames that, like a golden showre, Flow from thy fruitfull head of thy Love's praise; Fitter perhaps to thonder martiall stowre, Whenso thee list thy lofty Muse to raise : Yet, till that Thou thy Poeme wilt make knowne, Let thy faire Cinthias praises be thus rudely showne. E. S. TO THE RIGHT HON. AND MOST VERTUOUS LADY, THE COUNTESSE OF PEMBROKE. REMEMBRAUNCE of that most heroicke Spirit, Who first my Muse did lift out of the flore, Bids me, most Noble Lady, to adore His goodly image living evermore In the divine resemblaunce of your face; Which with embellish more, your vertues ye And native beauty deck with heavenly grace: For His, and for your owne especial sake, Vouchsafe from him this token in good worth to take. E. S. TO THE MOST VERTUOUS AND BEAUTIFULL LADY, THE LADY CAREW. NE may I, without blot of endlesse blame, E. S. |