University of Virginia Library

************ [wc h doe frequente] Pernassus sacrede mounte,
********[h gif]te of eloquence & vercyfyinge skill
***** [your] Nimphes wc h haunte the springes of Aganippey founte
*** [wc h] were wonnte comicall rimes in Poets to distill.
[Yo]w ladyes all & sisters nine I humbly yow requeste
That yow woude now vouchsafe to guide your clients silly style
In this poeticall attempte wt h braverye vnadreste
& so it will seme to all that heares vnlesse yow doe it fyle.
Yow knowe I never clim̄e the toppe of that your hallowed hill
ne slumbred there nor tasted once thos dulsume nectar dropps
that now I mighte my verce indite wt h Poets paintinge quill
or fynde the same by vertue of Sr Phebus lorrell croppes.
Yow that are here moste excellente, & yow moste honeste auditoures
thinke not I haue the lorrell bowes or Ivy berryes gotte
that I shoulde vaunte my selfe to be like to Apollos oratoures
to speake in breif I thinke it best of truth I ment it not.
Yf any ask then why I decke my temples thus wt h bayse
or why this garlande her I ware not beinge Laureat
forsooth I come in Homers hewe, our historye forth to blase
[A]s custome is & ever was—well marke therof the state.
Whilum there in Laurentū dwelte a towne of antike fame
in Italye a countrey earst renounde wt h troiane knightes
a gentleman whome Lott assinde Philogonus to name
of this mannes destinies this tyme our author onely writes.
In lusty youth a wife he tooke, a dame of florishinge grene
who sone after conceaude & brought him forth at once too twinnes
theldest she sente away wherof hir husbande did not wene
forthwith she died, at thother sonne our cōmody begins.
Through wanton educatione he begann to be contempteous
& sticked not wt h tauntinge tearmes his father to miscall
& straightway in lacivious luste he waxed so licentious
thath's father he did often vex & brought him to great thrall.
By lucklye lot yet at the lenghe his eldest sonne he knewe
& yt he might his comforte be sente for him in great hast
then after this the yonger sonne his lif doth leade anewe
**erat together all the ioy & bankett at the last

I am now to request yow all that here be mett in place
that yow would our begininge like in practisse musicall
& speake the best thoughe it be done wt h rude & homely grace
[I]f fautes we make we will them mend when wear herin more vsuall.

Wc h if ye do while Phebus shines aboue in Azure skies
[Or] while Dame Luna wt h hir hornes hir monthly pagins playes
[W]e will not sease the trumpe of fame to blowe in humble wise
*** all yow here but now its tyme I must neds go my wayes.