University of Virginia Library

To the Right Worshipfull Sir William Leighton Knight his endeared friend and kinsman, concerning his diuine Lamentations.

Evē as some curious Image wrought in gold
is a rich obiect, stately to behold:
And we not only doe the wealth desire,
But doe asmuch the workmanship admire.
Yet if it turn'd be, to a vse prophane,
What men did loue, as soone they loath ye same:
For all the cost and curious Art bestow'd,
Is counted base, if worship to't be show'd.
So stately posey oft is put in vse,
To sing laciueously her owne abuse:
And being rich and curious: often times,
Is wrongd with base & foule vnchristian rimes.
Then Poets all, this heauenly verse come view,
Which bringes sweet Art and ripe conceipts to you:
And doth thereby your Poetrie refine:
And teach it how for to become deuine,
A second Dauid here soules health doth sing,
And thereby honor doth to Poets bring.
Here is no forged tale of loue or lust,
To sot the simple, and deceiue the most:
No ticeing baud, or foule abusing scoule,
No Art of loue, but Phisicke for thy soule.
He that the Cardnall vertues late did bring,
For to vse conference with our mightie King:
Now likewise bringes a liuely verse to winne,
Faith vnto all, that all may hate their sinne,
The flintie eye this worthy Knight doth moue
To shed salt teares fore-wronging him aboue.
And as himselfe, so is his verse likewise,
Most Deuine, Noble, Ciuill, good and wise:
Then let no blasting tongue abuse the tree,
That beareth fruite to saue thy soule & thee.