e which
effectively governed England on the Queen's behalf)

608 Principal Secretary to her Majesty, and of her
609 honourable Privy Council_.
610
611 That Mantuan poet's incompared spirit,

Mantuan poet > (Virgil, 70-19 BC, who was born near Maro, in Mantua,
northern Italy)
incompared > unmatched (SUS)

612 Whose garland now is set in highest place,
613 Had not Maecenas for his worthy merit

Maecenas > (Gaius Cilnius Maecenas, 73?-8 BC, a Roman statesman,
patron of Virgil and Horace. He brought Virgil to the attention of
Augustus Caesar)

614 It first advanced to great Augustus' grace,
615 Might long perhaps have lain in silence base,
616 Nor been so much admired of later age.

of > by [a]

617 This lowly Muse, that learns like steps to trace,

like > similar

618 Flies for like aid to your patronage;
619 (That are the great Maecenas of this age,

That are > [You who are]

620 As well to all that civil arts profess

As well > Both

621 As those that are inspired with martial rage),

As > [And to]

622 And craves protection of her feebleness:
623 Which if you yield, perhaps you may her raise
624 In bigger tunes to sound your living praise.
625 _E. S._
626
627
628 _To the right noble Lord and most valiaunt Captaine_,
629 Sir Iohn Norris knight, Lord president of Mounster.
630
631 WHo euer gaue more honourable prize
632 To the sweet Muse, then did the Martiall crew;
633 That their braue deeds she might immortalize
634 In her shril tromp, and sound their praises dew?
635 Who then ought more to fauour her, then you
636 Moste noble Lord, the honor of this age,
637 And Precedent of all that armes ensue?
638 Whose warlike prowesse and manly courage,
639 Tempred with reason and aduizement sage
640 Hath fild sad Belgicke with victorious spoile,
641 In _Fraunce_ and _Ireland_ left a famous gage,
642 And lately shakt the Lusitanian soile.
643 Sith then each where thou hast dispredd thy fame,
644 Loue him, that hath eternized your name.
645 E. S.
646
627
628 _To the Right Noble Lord and Most Valiant Captain,
629 Sir John Norris, Knight, Lord President of Munster_

John Norris > (1547?-1597, a commander of the land