University of Virginia Library

I heard when Fame

A praise of maistresse Ryce.

I Heard when Fame with thundryng voice did sommon to appere
The chiefe of natures children all that kinde had placed here.
To view what brute by vertue got their liues could iustly craue,
And bade the[m] shew what praise by truth they worthy were to haue
Wherwith I saw how Venus came and put her selfe in place,
And gaue her ladies leue at large to stand and pleade their case.
Eche one was calde by name arowe, in that assemble there,
That hence are gone or here remaines in court or otherwhere.
A solemne silence was proclaimde, the iudges sate and heard,
What truth could tell or craft could faine, & who should be preferd.
Then beauty stept before the barre, whose brest and neck was bare
With heare trust vp and on her head a caule of gold she ware.
Thus Cupides thralles began to flock whose hongry eyes did say
That she had stayned all the dames that present were that day.
For er she spake w[ith] whispring words, the prease was filde through-out

[_]

1 syllable from following line

And fansy forced common voyce therat to geue a shoute.
Which cried to fame take forth thy trump, & sound her praise on hie
That glads the hart of euery wight that her beholdes with eye.
What stirre and rule (quod order than) do these rude people make,
We holde her best that shall deserue a praise for vertues sake.
This sentence was no soner said but beauty therewith blusht,
The audience ceased with the same, and euery thing was whusht.
Then finenesse thought by trainyng talke to win that beauty lost,
And whet her tonges with ioly wordes, and spared for no cost.
Yet wantonnesse could not abide, but brake her tale in haste,
And peuishe pride for pecockes plumes wold nedes be hiest plast.
And therwithall came curiousnesse and carped out of frame.

---

Bb1r

The audience laught to here the strife as they beheld the same.
Yet reason sone appesde the brute, her reuerence made and don,
She purchased fauour for to speake and thus her tale begoon,
Sins bountye shall the garland were and crowned be by fame,
O happy iudges call for her for she deserues the same.
Where te[m]perance gouernes bewtyes flowers & glory is not sought
And shamefast mekenes mastreth pride & vertue dwels in thought
Byd her come forth and shew her face or els assent eche one,
That true report shall graue her name in gold or marble stone.
For all the world to rede at will what worthines doth rest,
In perfect pure vnspotted life which she hath here possest.
Then skill rose vp and sought the preace to find if [that] he might
A person of such honest name that men should praise of right.
This one I saw full sadly sit and shrinke her self a side,
Whose sober lokes did shew what gifts her wiefly grace did hide
Lo here (quod skill, good people all) is Lucrece left aliue,
And she shall most excepted be that lest for praise did striue.
No lenger fame could hold her peace, but blew a blast so hye,
That made an eckow in the ayer and sowning through the sky.
The voice was loude & thus it sayd come Rise with happy daies,
Thy honest life hath wonne the fame & crowned thee with praies.
And when I heard my maistres name I thrust amids the throng.
And clapt my handes and wisht of god [that] she might prosper long.