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488

To the high and mighty Prince, James, King of Scots. Sonnet. 62.

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[From Idea, appended to Englands Heroicall Epistles, 1600]

Not thy grave Counsells, nor thy Subjects love,
Nor all that famous Scottish royaltie,
Or what thy soveraigne greatnes may approve,
Others in vaine doe but historifie,
When thine owne glory from thy selfe doth spring,
As though thou did'st, all meaner prayses scorne:
Of Kings a Poet, and the Poets King,
They Princes, but thou Prophets do'st adorne;
Whilst others by their Empires are renown'd,
Thou do'st enrich thy Scotland with renowne,
And Kings can but with Diadems be crown'd,
But with thy Laurell, thou doo'st crowne thy Crowne;
That they whose pens, (even) life to Kings doe give,
In thee a King, shall seeke them selves to live.
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