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MUIOPOTMOS :

OR THE

FATE OF THE BUTTERFLIE.

By ED. SP.

DEDICATED TO THE MOST FAIRE AND VERTUOUS LADIE, THE LADIE CAREY.

1590.

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RIGHT WORTHY AND VERTUOUS LADIE;

THE LA: CAREY.

MOST brave and bountifull La: for fo excellent favours as I have received at your sweet handes, to offer these fewe leaves as in recompence, fhould be as to offer flowers to the gods for their divine benefites. Therefore I have determined to give my felfe wholy to you, as quite abandoned from my felfe, and abfolutely vowed to your fervices: which in all right is ever held for full recompence of debt or damage, to have the perfon yeelded. My perfon I wot wel how little worth it is. But the faithfull minde & humble zeale which I bear unto your La: may perhaps be more of price, as may please you to account and use the poore fervice therof; which taketh glory to advance your excellent partes and noble vertues, and to fpend it felfe in honouring you; not fo much for your great bounty to my felf, which yet may not be unminded; nor for name or kindreds fake by you vouchfafed; being alfo regardable; as for that honorable name, which yee have by your brave deferts purchaft to your felfe, and fpred in the

a See the Life of the Poet. TODD.

1

mouths of all men: with which I have al fumed to grace my verfes; and, under your to commend to the world this fmall Poëme. which befeeching your La: to take in worth all things therin according to your wonte cioufnes to make a milde conftruction, I h pray for your happines.

Your La ever humbly;

E.

MUIOPOTMOS:

OR THE

FATE OF THE BUTTERFLIE.

I SING of deadly dolorous debate,
Stir'd up through wrathfull Nemefis defpight,
Betwixt two mightie ones of great estate,
Drawne into armes, and proofe of mortall fight,
Through prowd ambition and hart-swelling hate,
Whilft neither could the others greater might 6
And fdeignfull scorne endure; that from small
iarre

Their wraths at length broke into open warre,

The roote whereof and tragicall effect, Vouchfafe, O thou the mournfulft Muse of

nyne,

10

That wont'ft the tragick ftage for to direct,
In funerall complaints and wailefull tyne,
Reveale to me, and all the meanes detect,
Through which fad Clarion did at last decline
To loweft wretchednes: And is there then 15
Such rancour in the harts of mightie men?

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