TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE

THE LADIE STRANGE.

MOST brave and noble Ladie; the things, that make ye fo much honored of the world as ye bee, are fuch, as (without my fimple lines teftimonie) are throughlie knowen to all men; namely, your excellent beautie, your vertuous behavior, and your noble match with that most honourable Lord, the very Paterne of right Nobilitie: But the causes, for which ye have thus deferved of me to be honoured, (if honour it be at all,) are, both your particular bounties, and alfo fome private bands of affinitie, which it hath pleafed your Ladiship to acknowledge. Of which whenas I found my felfe in no part woorthie, I devised this laft flender meanes, both to intimate my humble affection to your Ladifhip, and alfo to make the fame univerfallie knowen to the world; that by honouring you they might know me, and by knowing me they might honor you. Vouchsafe, noble Lady, to accept this fimple remembrance, though not worthy of your felf, yet fuch, as perhaps by good acceptance thereof ye may hereafter cull out a more meet and memorable evidence of your owne excellent deferts. So recommending the fame to your Ladifhips good liking, I humbly take leave. Your La humbly ever.

* See the Life of the poet. TODD.

VOL. VII.

Y

ED. SP.

THE

TEARES OF THE MUSES*.

REHEARSE to me, ye facred Sifters nine,
The golden brood of great Apolloes wit,
Those piteous plaints and forowfull fad tine,
Which late ye powred forth as ye did fit
Befide the filver fprings of Helicone,
Making your musick of hart-breaking mone!

5

For fince the time that Phoebus foolish fonne
Ythundered, through Ioves avengefull wrath,
For traverfing the charret of the Sunne
Beyond the compaffe of his pointed path,
Of you his mournfull Sifters was lamented,
Such mournfull tunes were never fince invented.

10

* The Teares of the Mufes.] This title had been before adopted by Spenfer's friend, Gabriel Harvey, as appears by the Gloffe of E. K. on September in the Shepheards Calender; which fee. The old commentator, I fuppofe, means "Gabrielis Harveii Valdinatis SMITHUS; vel MUSARUM LACHRYME; pro obitu honoratiffimi viri, atque hominis multis nominibus clariffimi, Thoma Smithi, Equitis Aurati, &c. 4to. Lond. 1578." TODD.

Ver. 1. Rehearse to me, ye facred Sifters nine: &c.] This poem puts me in mind of thefe lines in Shakspeare's Midfummer Night's Dream:

"The thrice three Mufes mourning for the death

"Of learning, late deceas'd in beggary.

"This is fome fatire, &c." JORTIN.