[Some pleasaunt heads, delight in prety toyes]
A Gentleman beeing on a time desyred of
diuers of his friendes, sitting togeather
in company, to make some verses, which
he graunted, and yet not knowing howe
to please them all, and yet willing to
perfourme his promise, wrote as followeth.
Some pleasaunt heads, delight in prety toyes,
And some count toyes, most meete for foolish boyes:
Some greatly loue to heare a merry rime,
Some stately styles, which doo to honour clime:
Some loue no rimes, what euer so they bee,
And some mens mindes with verses best agree.
Thus euery one hath by himselfe a vaine,
Which, all to please, it were to great a paine:
Which since I see t'is farre too much for mee,
To write what may with all mindes best agree:
I thinke it best, since I haue nothing don,
To make an ende of that is scarce begon.
So shall I well my promise past fulfill,
In writing thus, according to my skill:
Which promise made of mine, I trow was this,
To write a rime: and heare a rime there is:
Wherein although but little reason be,
Yet rime there is, and sence ynough for me.