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Minerva Britanna

Or A Garden of Heroical Deuises, furnished, and adorned with Emblemes and Impresa's of sundry natures, Newly devised, moralized, and published, By Henry Peacham

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53

Regia liberalitas.

Of all the vertues, that doe best beseeme;
Heroique valor, and high Maiestie,
Which sooner loue, and Honor winne, I deeme,
None may compare, with Liberalitie:
Which well the mightie ALEXANDER knew,
As by this Impre'se following heere I shew.
Ere to the charge, he did himselfe advance,
His purse by giving he would emptie quite;
And cause the same be borne vpon a launce,
Throughout the campe, in all the armies sight:
And heerewithall proclaime, see, all is gone,
“We liue in hope, to purchase more anon.