University of Virginia Library

Abraham Fleminge vpon T. K. his translated Epigrammes.

A worke with skill beegonne
Deserues to bee commended:
But double praise (no doubt) is won
When skill the same hath ended.
Suche skill in many skante
Doeth proue them moste vnskilfull:
Self-will they wed, whiles wit they want,
Like fondlynges vaine and wilfull:
But as their skill deserues
Meere follie to bee named:
So where from witte will neuer swerues,
There skill her forte hath framed.
And suche a one is he
(His trauell giueth triall:)
Whose skill amidst so many mistes
Hath planted an espiall.
Whose skill hath scattered quite
The cloudes of Poets pen,
And hath by glisteryng leames of light,
To blinde and eylesse men


Their couert skill laid out
in letters darckly showne,
And paird away the barckes of dout,
And knotts of knacks vnknowne.
This labour hath lyen dead
(No meruell) many yeares:
But now reuiu'de, and to be read
In Englishe, as appeares,
From forreigne phrase of speache
Farre fette, and also sought,
By one in yeares (I graunte) but young,
Whose witt the same hath wrought:
But yet with iudgement fraught
and skill on doubtes to skan.
Now let me tell what I haue thought.
The worcke commends the man.
Labôri ancillatur laus.