_
571
572 Most noble lord, the pillar of my life,
573 And patron of my Muse's pupillage,
574 Through whose large bounty, poured on me rife

rife > unstintingly

575 In the first season of my feeble age,
576 I now do live, bound yours by vassalage:

vassalage > {The allegiance of a vassal: one who, in the feudal
system, held land in return for homage and allegiance to his lord}

577 Sith nothing ever may redeem, nor reave

Sith > Since
reave > forcibly remove, take

578 Out of your endless debt so sure a gage,

gage > pledge

579 Vouchsafe in worth this small gift to receive,

in worth > in good part; at its true value

580 Which in your noble hands for pledge I leave

for pledge > as a token

581 Of all the rest, that I am tied to account:
582 Rude rhymes, which a rustic Muse did weave

Rude > {Unpolished, lacking in literary skill}

583 In savage soil, far from Parnasso Mount,

savage soil > (Cf. I:513)
Parnasso Mount > (Mount Parnassus, chief seat of Apollo, god of song
and music, and leader of the Muses)

584 And roughly wrought in an unlearned loom:

wrought > worked

585 Which vouchsafe, dear lord, your favourable doom.

doom > judgement, opinion

586
587
588 _To the right honourable the Lord of Buckhurst, one
589 of her Maiesties priuie Counsell_.
590
591 IN vain I thinke right honourable Lord,
592 By this rude rime to memorize thy name;
593 Whose learned Muse hath writ her owne record,
594 In golden verse, worthy immortal fame:
595 Thou much more fit (were leasure to the same)
596 Thy gracious Souerain praises to compile.
597 And her imperiall Maiestie to frame,
598 In loftie numbers and heroicke stile.
599 But sith thou maist not so, giue leaue a while
600 To baser wit his power therein to spend,
601 Whose grosse defaults thy daintie pen may file,
602 And vnaduised ouersights amend.
603 But euermore vouchsafe it to maintaine
604 Against vile Zoilus backbitings vaine.
605
588 _To the Right Honourable the Lord of Buckhurst, one

Lord of Buckhurst > (Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset and Baron
Buckhurst, 1536-1608, an accomplished poet)

589 of her Majesty's Privy Council_
590
591 In vain I think, right honourable lord,
592 By this rud