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The Works of Michael Drayton

Edited by J. William Hebel

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18

[To this our World, to Learning, and to Heaven]

To this our World, to Learning, and to Heaven,

To the Celestiall Numbers.


Three Nines there are, to every one a Nine,
One number of the Earth, the other both Divine,
One Woman now, makes three odde Numbers even;
Nine orders first of Angels be in Heaven,
Nine Muses doe with Learning still frequent,
These with the Gods are ever resident;
Nine worthie Women to the World were given:
My worthy, One to these Nine Worthies addeth,
And my faire Muse, one Muse unto the Nine,
And my good Angell (in my Soule divine)
With one more Order, these nine Orders gladdeth:
My Muse, my Worthy, and my Angel then,
Makes every One of these three Nines a Ten.