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The Great Dvke of Florence

A Comicall Historie
  
  
  
  
On his great Duke of Florence; To Mr. Philip Massinger, my much esteemed friend.
  

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On his great Duke of Florence; To Mr. Philip Massinger, my much esteemed friend.

Enjoy the Lawrell! 'tis a noble choice,
Not by the suffrages of voice
Procur'd; but by a conquest so atchiev'd
As that thou hast at full reliev'd
Almost neglected Poetrie; whose Bayes
(Sullid by childish thirst of praise)
Wither'd into a dulnesse of Despaire,
Had not thy later labour (heire
Vnto a former industrie) made knowne
This Work, which thou may'st call thine owne,
So rich in worth, that th'ignorant may grudge
To finde true vertue is become their Iudge.
George Donne.