The vvorkes of a young wyt trust vp with a Fardell of pretie fancies, profitable to young Poetes, preiudicial to no man, and pleasaunt to euery man to passe away idle tyme withall. Whereunto is ioyned an odde kynde of wooing, with a Banquet of Comfettes, to make an ende withall. Done by N. B. Gentleman |
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[My Lord commaundes, that I in hast doo write] |
 | The vvorkes of a young wyt |  |
[My Lord commaundes, that I in hast doo write]
Now gan my Muse sodeinly to leaue me, and I somwhat wery with writing, walked abroad, to take the aire: but being not gon far from my lodging, I mette with a noble man, my right good Lord, who would (no nay) haue me with him to his lodging, where I had not been long, but he commaunded me to wryte him some Verses. I craued of his Lordship a Theame to wryte vppon: none would he graunt, but wild me to write what I would. I not knowing what of a sodayne myght best fit his fansy, and yet desyrous to pen that myght like his Lordshyppe, standyng a while in a studye, at last at all aduentures I wrote that which I dyd assure my selfe myght no way much mislyke hym, which with the helpe of my Muse who mette me there of a sodayne, and vnseene or heard, would whisper me in the eare with what inuention shee thought best: such as by good happe my Lord liked better of, then it was worthy, which was as followeth.
somewhat in Uerse, a charge too great for me,
Whose barreine brayne can no such Uerse endite,
as worthy were my louely Lord should see:
And therefore thus, in halfe despayre I stand,
to write or no, or what to take in hand.
My Lord Commaundes, and I must needes obey:
And therefore though I shame my selfe thereby,
Yet write I must, I see there is no nay:
And therefore thus, not knowing what to write,
this ragged rime, at randon I endite.
at his commaunde, that seekes to doo my best:
And not regard my too too simple skill,
and were it not, on this my hope did rest:
that I should sure no Uerse at all endite.
for rudenes such as in my rime you find:
I know my Lord, your Lordshippe cannot haue
a Uerse of me, that may content your minde:
My yeares are young, experience but small,
my learning lesse, and wisedome least of all.
but yet, in hope your Lordshippes noble minde
Will pardon that which fondly I endite,
and well accept such Uerses as you find,
I thus haue wrote, (God wot) with little skill,
at your commaund, this Aliquid Nihil.
| The vvorkes of a young wyt | |