Du Bartas His Divine Weekes And Workes with A Compleate Collectio[n] of all the other most delight-full Workes: Translated and written by yt famous Philomusus: Iosvah Sylvester |
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Flexanimo Salustij du Bartus interpreti, Ios. Sylvesteri, carmen Encomiasticon.
Oft haue I seen sweet fancie-pleasing facesConsort themselves with swart mishapen features,
To grace the more their soule-subduing graces,
By the defect of such deformed creatures;
As Painters garnish with their shadowes sable
The brighter colours in a curious Table:
So, English Bartas, though thy beauties, heer
Excell so farre the glory of the rest,
That France and England both must hold thee deer;
Sith both their glories thou hast heer exprest
(Shewing the French tongues plenty to be such.
And yet that ours can vtter full as much)
Let not thy fairest Heav'n-aspiring Muse
Disdaine these humble notes of my affection:
My faulty lines let faithfull love excuse,
Sith my defects shall adde to thy perfection:
For, these rude rimes, thus ragged, base, and poore,
Shall (by their want) exalt thy worth the more.
E. G.
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