Iuuenilia. A collection of those poemes which were heretofore imprinted, and written by George wither

THus ends the Day, together with my Song; Oh may the Ioyes there of continue long! Let Heauens iust, all-seeing, sacred power, Fauour this happy marriage day of your; And blesse you in your chast embraces so, We Britains may behold before you goe The hopefull Issue we shall count so deare, And whom (vnborne) his foes already feare. Yea, I desire, that all your sorrowes may Neuer be more, then they haue been to day. Which hoping; for acceptance now I sue, And humbly bid your Grace and Court adue. I saw the sight I came for; which I know Was more then all, the world beside could show. But if amongst Apolloes Layes, you can Be pleas'd to lend a gentle eare to Pan; Or thinke your Country Shepheard loues as deare, As if he were a Courtier, or a Peere: Then I, that else must to my Cell of paine, Will ioyfull turne vnto my flocke againe: And there vnto my fellow shepheards tell, Why you are lou'd; wherein you doe excell. And when we driue our flocks a field to graze them, So chaunt your praises, that it shall amaze them. And thinke that Fate hath new recald from death Their still-lamented, sweete Elizabeth. For though they see the Court but now and then, They know desert as well as Greater men:

And honord Fame in them doth liue or die, As well as in the mouth of Maiestie. But taking granted what I here intreat; At heauen for you my deuotions beat: And though I feare, fate will not suffer me To doe you seruice, where your Fortunes be: How ere my skill hath yet despised seem'd, (And my vnripened wit been misesteem'd:) When all this costly Showe away shall flit, And not one liue that doth remember it; If Enuies trouble let not to perseuer; I'le find a meanes to make it knowne for euer.