You, fairest lady, leave out of this place,
694 But, with remembrance of your gracious name,
695 Wherewith that courtly garland most you grace,
696 And deck the world, adorn these verses base:
697 Not that these few lines can in them comprise
698 Those glorious ornaments of heavenly grace
699 Wherewith you triumph over feeble eyes,
Wherewith > With which
700 And in subdued hearts do tyrannize:
701 For thereto does need a golden quill,
702 And silver leaves, them rightly to devise,
devise > tell, recount
703 But to make humble present of goodwill:
704 Which when timely means it purchase may,
timely > opportune, seasonable
705 In ampler wise itself will forth display.
In ampler wise > (A reference to _Muiopotmos_)
706 _E. S._
707
708
709 To all the gratious and beautifull Ladies in the Court.
710
711 _THe Chian Peincter, when he was requirde
712 To pourtraict _Venus_ in her perfect hew,
713 To make his worke more absolute, desird
714 Of all the fairest Maides to haue the vew.
715 Much more me needs to draw the semblant trew
716 Of beauties Queene, the worlds sole wonderment,
717 To sharp my sence with sundry beauties vew,
718 And steale from each some part of ornament.
719 If all the world to seeke I ouerwent,
720 A fairer crew yet no where could I see
721 Then that braue court doth to mine eie present,
722 That the worlds pride seemes gathered there to bee.
723 Of each a part I stole by cunning thefte:
724 Forgiue it me faire Dames, sith lesse ye haue not lefte_.
725 E. S.
726
727
728
708
709 To All the Gracious and Beautiful Ladies in the Court
710
711 The Chian Painter, when he was required
Chian Painter > (The artist from Chios (Scio), in the Aegean, who
built a composite image of beauty from various sitters)
712 To portray Venus in her perfect hue,
Venus > (Goddess of love and beauty)
hue > colours, appearance
713 To make his work more absolute, desired
714 Of all the fairest maids to have the view.
715 Much more me needs to draw the semblance true
me needs > [do I need]
716 Of beauty's Queen, the world's sole wonderment,
717 To sharpen my sense with sundry beauties' view,
718 And steal from each some part of ornament.
719 If all the wor
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