 | Commendatory verse to Hvloets dictionarie |  |
[Giue learninge laude, that burnes like lampe, in dimme and darkest soyles]
Thomas Churchyarde
Giue
learninge laude, that burnes like lampe, in dimme and darkest soyles,
Which precious Pearle shal shewe it selfe, and craues no forged foyles.
And where doth knowledge fauour finde, but where some vertues budde.
Hir fountaine runnes with gushing streames, and flowes like Nilus floudde.
Hir foes are frowarde minded men, whose blindnes cannot see,
The blasinge beames and skilfull artes, of those that learned bee.
Wee reade that Kinges gaue place and fame, to Poetes graue and sage,
And such as could set forth good bookes, were likte in euerye age.
A tyrante honorde Plato sure, and with a triumphe great,
Did fetche him in, and made the man, to sitte neare Princes seate.
An other king whose greedye minde, like glutton gapte for goulde,
To make good scholes and scholers both, great treasure giue hee woulde.
To euerye maister that did teache, lo howe a sparinge hande
Did flinge forth fruite, in hope thereby, to frame a learned lande.
A kinge whose conquest claymde renowne, for one bare worke did yeilde,
More crownes of goulde then in one Campe, are men to fight a fielde.
The selfe same Prince layde Homers workes, as pillowe for his hedde,
And for companion did he holde, this booke about his bedde.
The fame that mightye Cæsar gaue, to learned men is knowne,
Who in his life at leysure wrote, a volume of his owne.
Of Kinges and Captaynes could I shewe, a swarme which knowledge sought.
Whose workes recorde what vertues rare, maye reste in noble thought.
Then thincke the beste you lookers on, of those that taketh paynes,
Or prease in place and playe a part, to shewe your cunninge vaynes.
An idle heade maye soone finde faulte, but that no glorye is
Till better skill, with iudgement deepe, attempt to mende the misse.
The labrer doth deserue his hyer, a writers chiefe rewarde
Is that with comlye quiet woords, his woorkes ye do regarde.
Thus booke passe on, thorowe euerye hande that can thee gentlye vse,
The wrangling heade, and hatefull house, thou freelye mayst refuse.
Since he ment well that set thee forth, where calmye windes do blowe,
Repayre and bid thy maister seeke, in place where he shall goe
A patrone that doth learninge loue, and hates no gifte of grace,
To keepe this booke from busy braynes, that would this worke deface.
Which worke well wayed the wyse will like, and such as learninge craue,
From Scholers penne and Printers shoppe, a schole of rules may haue.
For Frenche and Latin as it faules, and as men list to looke,
I saye no more the worke it selfe, shal serue to prayse the booke.
FINIS.
| Commendatory verse to Hvloets dictionarie | |