[i]
Pardon, _sweete flower of Matchles poetrie,
And fairest bud the red rose euer bare;
Although my Muse, devorst from deeper care,
Presents thee with a wanton Elegie. 4
Ne blame my verse of loose unchastitie
For painting forth the things that hidden are,
Since all men acte what I in speache declare,
Onlie induced with varietie. 8
Complants and praises euery one can write,
And passion out their pangu's in statlie rimes;
But of loues pleasures none did euer write,
That have succeeded in theis latter times. 12
Accept of it, Deare Lord, in gentle gree,
And better lynes, ere long, shall honor thee._
* * * * *
FOOT- AND LINE NOTES:
[i] Henry Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton, and Baron of
Titchfield. The dedication is absent in the Rawlinson text: _cf._
variorum reading in line 13.
1 _Matchles_, machles.
2 _the red rose euer bare_, that euer red rose bare.
3 _devorst from deeper care_, diuert from deepest care.
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