The valiant actes And victorious Battailes of the English nation from the yeere of our Lord, one thousand three hundred twentie and seuen: being the first yeare of the raigne of the most mightie Prince Edvvard the third, to the yeere 1558. Also, of the peaceable and quiet state of England, vnder the blessed gouernement of the most excellent and vertuous Princesse Elizabeth: A compendious declaration written by C. O. And newly translated out of Latine verse into English meeter. By I. S. [i.e. John Sharrock] |
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To the gentle Reader.
If verses you delight, with stately stile and sounding wordesWhich loftie swell, seeke Poetts bookes, which such high thinges affords,
You will perchance affirme, that of so high, & mighty a Queene
A worke should of more maiestie, and statelinesse be seene,
I worthie her confesse, whome Homer should in sugred verse,
Or with the Notes, of warbling Lute Apollo great rehearse.
I am no Poet, you pardon must me, since I pardon pray,
If that a bourden ouer vast, do downe my shoulders way.
My arte vnto the vertue yeeldes, of her a Prince so great,
Which shuld be sounded by a trompe more shril, with winds repleat
If others lye in silence shrinde, why should my Muse not sing?
But when her laud, in fluent phrase, from one more learnd shal spring
Then will I these my papers voyde the fiery flames to feed,
Meane time the honour of her Grace, let these my verses breede.
| The valiant actes And victorious Battailes of the English nation | |