nd also for the loue, which thou doest beare
445 To th'_Heliconian_ ymps, and they to thee,
446 They vnto thee, and thou to them most deare:
447 Deare as thou art vnto thy selfe, so loue
448 That loues and honours thee, as doth behoue.
449
431
432 _To the Right Honourable the Earl of Oxford,

Oxford > (Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, 1550-1604, Burghley's
son-in-law; poet and literary patron)

433 Lord High Chamberlain of England, etc._
434
435 Receive, most noble lord, in gentle gree,

gentle > noble; courteous; gentle
gree > favour, goodwill

436 The unripe fruit of an unready wit:

wit > mind, intelligence

437 Which by your countenance does crave to be
438 Defended from foul Envy's poisonous bit.

bit > {Bite, the action of biting}

439 Which so to do may you right well besit,

right > very
besit > become, befit

440 Sith the antique glory of your ancestry

Sith > Since
antique > ancient

441 Under a shady veil is therein written,
442 And eke your own long living memory,

eke > also

443 Succeeding them in true nobility:
444 And also for the love which you do bear
445 To the Heliconian imps, and they to you,

Heliconian imps > (Mount Helicon is the abode of the Muses; imps =
offspring; hence: poets)

446 They to you, and you to them most dear:
447 Dear as you are to yourself, so love
448 That loves and honours you, as does behove.

That > [He who]

449
450
451 _To the right honourable the Earle of_
452 Northumberland.
453
454 _THe sacred Muses haue made alwaies clame
455 To be the Nourses of nobility,
456 And Registres of euerlasting fame,
457 To all that armes professe and cheualry.
458 Then by like right the noble Progeny,
459 Which them succeed in fame and worth, are tyde
460 T'embrace the seruice of sweete Poetry,
461 By whose endeuours they are glorifide,
462 And eke from all, of whom it is enuide,
463 To patronize the authour of their praise,
464 Which giues them life, that els would soone haue dide,
465 And crownes their ashes with immortall baies.
466 To thee therefore right noble Lord I send
467 This present of my paines, it to defend._
468
450
451 _To the Right Honourable the Earl of
452