t know that) I,
Was still inclin'd to noble Poesie,
And when that once _Pueriles_ I had read,
And newly had my _Cato_ construed, 20
In my small selfe I greatly marueil'd then,
Amonst all other, what strange kinde of men
These Poets were; And pleased with the name,
To my milde Tutor merrily I came,
(For I was then a proper goodly page,
Much like a Pigmy, scarse ten yeares of age)
Clasping my slender armes about his thigh.
O my deare master! cannot you (quoth I)
Make me a Poet, doe it if you can,
And you shall see, Ile quickly bee a man, 30
Who me thus answered smiling, boy quoth he,
If you'le not play the wag, but I may see
You ply your learning, I will shortly read
Some Poets to you; _Phoebus_ be my speed,
Too't hard went I, when shortly he began,
And first read to me honest _Mantuan_,
Then _Virgils Eglogues_, being entred thus,
Me thought I straight had mounted _Pegasus_,
And in his full Careere could make him stop,
And bound vpon _Parnassus'_ by-clift top. 40
I scornd your ballet then though it were done
And had for Finis, _William Elderton_.
But soft, in sporting with this childish iest,
I from my subiect haue too long digrest,
Then to the matter that we tooke in hand,
_Ioue_ and _Apollo_ for the _Muses_ stand.
Then noble _Chaucer_, in those former times,
The first inrich'd our _English_ with his rimes,
And was the first of ours, that euer brake,
Into the _Muses_ treasure, and first spake 50
In weighty numbers, deluing in the Mine
Of perfect knowledge, which he could refine,
And coyne for currant, and as much as then
The _English_ language could expresse to men,
He made it doe; and by his wondrous skill,
Gaue vs much light from his abundant quill.
And honest _Gower_, who in respect of him,
Had only sipt at _Aganippas_ brimme,
And though in yeares this last was him before,
Yet fell he far short of the others store. 60
When after those, foure ages very neare,
They with the _Muses_ which conuersed, were
That Princely _Surrey_, early in the time
Of the Eight _Henry_, who was then the prime
Of _Englands_ noble youth; with him there came
_Wyat_; with reuerence whom we still doe name
Am