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Ad Maecaenatem Prologus.
PLaine is my coate, and humble is my gate,
Thrice noble Earle, behold with gentle eyes
My wits poore worth: euen for your noblesse,
(Renowmed Lord, Northumberlands fayre flower)
The Muses loue, Patrone, and fauoret,
That artizans and schollers doost embrace,
And clothest Mathesis in rich ornaments,
That admirable Mathematique skill,
Familiar with the starres and Zodiack.
(To whom the heauen lyes open as her booke)
By whose directions vndeceiueable,
(Leauing our Schoolemens vulgar troden pathes)
And following the auncient reuerend steps
Of Trismegistus and Pythagords,
Through vncouth waies and vnaccessible,
Doost passe into the spacious pleasant fieldes
Of diuine science and Phylosophie,
From whence beholding the deformities
Of common errors and worlds vanitie,
Doost heere enioy that sacred sweet content
That baser soules not knowing, not affect:
And so by Fates and Fortunes good aspect
Raysed; In thy heigth and these vnhappy times,
Disfurnisht wholy of Heroycall spirites,
That learning should with glorious hands vphold.
(For who should learning vnderbare, but hee
That knowes thereof the precious worthinesse,
And sees true Science from base vanitie)
Hast in regard, the true Philosophie,
That in pure Wisedome seates hir happines.
And you the Muses, and the Graces three,
You I invoke from Heauen and Helicon.
For other Patrons haue poore Poets none,
But Muses and the Graces to implore.
Augustus long agoe hath left the world:
And liberall Sidney, famous for the loue