esire unto him, though I have
not wanted some hartning thereunto from himselfe. For of loue
and kindnes to me, _he encouraged me long sithens to follow
the reading of the Greeke tongue, and offered me his helpe to
make me vnderstand it_. But now that so good an opportunitie
is offered vnto me, to satisfie in some sort my desire; I
thinke I should commit a great fault, not to myselfe alone,
but to all this company, if I should not enter my request thus
farre, as to moue him to spend this time which we have now
destined to familiar discourse and conuersation, in declaring
unto us the great benefits which men obtaine by the knowledge
of Morall Philosophie, and in making us to know what the same
is, what be the parts thereof, whereby vertues are to be
distinguished from vices; and finally that he will be pleased
to run ouer in such order as he shall thinke good, such and
so many principles and rules thereof, as shall serue not only
for my better instruction, but also for the contentment and
satisfaction of you al. For I nothing doubt, but that euery
one of you will be glad to heare so profitable a discourse and
thinke the time very wel spent wherin so excellent a knowledge
shal be reuealed unto you, from which euery one may be assured
to gather some fruit as wel as myselfe.

Therefore (said I), turning myselfe to _M. Spenser_, It is you
sir, to whom it pertaineth to shew yourselfe courteous now
unto vs all and to make vs all beholding unto you for the
pleasure and profit which we shall gather from your speeches,
if you shall vouchsafe to open unto vs the goodly cabinet, in
which this excellent treasure of vertues lieth locked up from
the vulgar sort. And thereof in the behalfe of all as for
myselfe, I do most earnestly intreate you not to say vs nay.
Vnto which wordes of mine euery man applauding most with like
words of request and the rest with gesture and countenances
expressing as much, _M. Spenser_ answered in this maner:

Though it may seeme hard for me, to refuse the request made by
you all, whom euery one alone, I should for many respects be
willing to gratifie; yet as the case standeth, I doubt not but
with the consent of the most part of you, I shall be excused
at this time of this taske which would be laid vpon me; for
sure