University of Virginia Library

A Preface to the Queenes Maidens Of Honor.

Flowers of prime, pearles couched all in gold,
Light of our daies that glads the fainting hearts
Of them that shall your shining gleams behold,
Salue of each sore, recure of inward smarts,
In whom Vertue and Beautie striueth so,
As neither yeelds, behold here for your gaine
Gismonds vnluckie loue, her fault, her wo
And death, at last her cruell Father slaine
Through his mishap, and though you do not see,
Yet reade and rew their wofull Tragedie.
So Ioue, as your high vertues done deserue,
Grant you such pheeres, as may your vertues serue
With like vertues, and blisfull Venus send
Vnto your happie loues an happie end.