IR, to gratulate your safe return frò Ireland,
I had nothing fo readie, nor thought any thing

fo meete, as thefe fweete conceited Sonets,

the deede of that wel deferuing gentleman, maister Edmond Spenfer: whofe name fufficiently warranting the worthineffe of the work: I do more confidently prefume to publish it in his absence, vnder your name to whom (in my poore opinion) the patronage therof, doth in Some refpectes properly appertaine. For, befides your iudgement and delighte in learned poefie: This gentle Muse for her former perfection long wished for in Englande, nowe at the length croffing the Seas in your happy companye, (though to your felfe vnknowne) Seemeth to make

choyfe of you, as meeteft to give her deferued countenance, after her retourne: entertaine her, then, (Right worshipfull) in forte beft befeeming your gentle minde, and her merite, and take in worth my good will herein, who feeke no more, but to fhew my felfe yours in all dutifull affection.

G. W. fenior, to the Author.

D

ARKE is the day, when Phabus face is fhrowded,

and weaker fights may wander foone aftray; but when they see his glorious raies vnclowded, with fteddy steps they keepe the perfect way, So while this Muse in forraine landes doth stay, inuention weepes, and pens are cast aside, the time like night, depriud of chearefull day, and few do write, but (ah) too soone may slide. Then, hie thee home, that art our perfect guide, and with thy wit illuftrate Englands fame, dawnting thereby our neighboures auncient pride, that do for poefie, challendge cheefeft name.

So we that liue, and ages that succeede,

with great applause thy learned works fhall reede. /

To the Author.

H Colin, whether on the lowly plaine. pyping to fhepherds thy fweete roundelaies: or whether finging in fome lofty vaine, heroick deedes, of paft, or prefent daies. Or whether in thy louely miftris praife,

thou lift to exercife thy learned quill.

thy mufe hath got fuch grace, and power to please, with rare inuention bewtified by skill.

As who therein can euer ioy their fill.

O therefore let that happy mufe proceede

to climb the height of vertues facred hill, Where endles honor fhall be made thy meede. Becaufe no malice of fucceeding daies,

can rafe thofe records of thy lafting praife.

APPY ye leaues when as those lilly hands,

H which hold my life in their dead doing

might

shall handle you and hold in loues foft bands, lyke captiues trembling at the victors fight. And happy lines, on which with starry light, those lamping eyes will deigne fometimes to look

and reade the forrowes of my dying spright,
written with teares in harts clofe bleeding
book.

And happy rymes bath'd in the facred brooke,
of Helicon whence the deriued is,

when ye behold that Angels bleffed looke, my foules long lacked foode, my heauens blis. Leaues, lines, and rymes, feeke her to please alone,

whom if ye please, I care for other none. /