The Arbor of Amitie wherin is comprised pleasant Pohems and pretie Poesies, set foorth by Thomas Howell |
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To the curteous and gentle Reader,
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 | The Arbor of Amitie |  |
To the curteous and gentle Reader,
Iohn Keeper student.
The tender graffe that growes in groue,that tooke the stock but late:
Frō slender spraies his leaues he shootes
but small and young of rate.
Which length of time will strengthen strong,
his yerely fruites to beare:
Whose braunch then buddes in stronger stem,
least frowarde wight it teare.
So Howelles hart and hardie hande,
hath plight his pen to set
And graft this braunch, the fruites whereof,
are young and tender yet.
Late roote it tooke in seemely soyle,
which now beginnes to spring:
And eke on twigges so trimly growne,
doth now his profites bring.
Small gaines at first, yong trees doe yeelde,
lowe things youth handleth right:
Of matter small the Poets young,
at first began to write.
As Horace first his trifling toyes,
in booke did place and plat:
And Virgils youth occasion tooke,
to praise the sielie gnat.
But length of lyfe, shall Howell holde,
on stronger stem to stay:
to beare the bell away.
Then cease ye not, to helpe the grounde,
where this good graffe doth growe:
Who can but giue deserued praise,
and thanke his Muse I trowe,
Which sweetely springs in sugred sap,
of euery grace full meete:
Which wife Minerue in lap hath nurst,
and gaue him suck so sweete.
Whom I doe iudge, Apolloes Impe,
and eke our Chaucers peare:
What senselesse head of malice mad,
will seeke such branch to teare.
But learned wits will further forth,
and laude his lore thats rare:
For Zoils snarres and doggish snuffes,
no wiseman neede to care.
Then hope I well my Ho to plie,
some greater woorke to see:
O pittie tis this golden Muse,
should vade and die with thee.
A dewe good friends yee Readers right,
maintaine this braunch now shute:
Then will he spring in time full trim,
to yeelde you larger fruite.
Farewell.
| The Arbor of Amitie | |