Classic Poem

Past 5.

Now witts prooue what yee can doe
I haue worke to set yee to:
That will trie the Quintessence
Of your humor's excellence
Tis no dreadefull Tragaedy
Nor no pleasant Comaedie,
Tis no fiction of a fancy
Nor a furie of a franzie,
But a subject of that worth,
That must bring strange wonders foorth
Yet take heede to flye to high,
Least you lose your winges thereby
Keepe your compasse in that care
That doth onely truth declare.
Where in safety of conceite,
Yee may winne your honor's height
There if ye haue power to finde
Prayses in their purest kinde:
In Aglaias blessed name,
Worke to winne your worthy fame
Seeke not out for Similes,
Least yee doe your labour leese
And for figures neuer take them,
Least shee doe but Ciphers make them
And for substance truely founded,
Loue will in her Grace be grounded
But if in heigh Contemplation
Of your sence's Admiration,
Yee do finde in strange confecture
Reasons wonders Architecture:
In a frame of such a fashion
As doth plundge the hart in passion.
In conceauing cares beholding
How to fall vpon vnfolding,
Then in silence set it downe,
Of the blessed Lawrell crowne:
Let Aglaia take the grace,
Where the graces haue their place.
And in fine let this suffise yee,
That I kindely doe aduise yee
How so ere yee are conceited,
Thus let all your Cares be straited.
Mooue not from her, nor yet mooue her
Loue but doe not say yee loue her:
So that passions sweetly wittie,
May in patience best haue pittie:
So liue happie to attend her,
But if needes yee must commend her
To this counte your prayses call:
In her selfe her selfe is all.