The arte of English poesie Contriued into three bookes: the first of poets and poesie, the second of proportion, the third of ornament.

The Conclusion.

ANd with this (my most gratious soueraigne Lady) I make an end, humbly beseeching your pardon, in that I haue presu∣med to hold your eares so long annoyed with a tedious trifle, so as vnlesse it proceede more of your owne Princely and naturall man∣suetude then of my merite, I feare greatly least you may thinck of me as the Philosopher Plato did of Amceris an inhabitant of the Citie Cirene, who being in troth a very actiue and artificiall man in driuing of a Princes Charriot or Coche (as your Maiestie might be) and knowing it himselfe well enough, comming one day into Platos schoole, and hauing heard him largely dispute in matters

Philosophicall, I pray you (quoth he) geue me leaue also to say somewhat of myne arte, and in deede shewed so many trickes of his cunning how to lanche forth and stay, and chaunge pace, and turne and winde his Coche, this way and that way, vphill downe hill, and also in euen or rough ground, that he made the whole assemblie wonder at him. Quoth Plato being a graue per∣sonage, verely in myne opinion this man should be vtterly vn∣fit for any seruice of greater importance then to driue a Coche. It is great pitie that so prettie a fellow, had not occupied his braynes in studies of more consequence. Now I pray God it be not thought so of me in describing the toyes of this our vulgar art. But when I consider how euery thing hath his estimation by o∣portunitie, and that it was but the studie of my yonger yeares in which vanitie raigned. Also that I write to the pleasure of a La∣dy and a most gratious Queene, and neither to Priestes nor to Prophetes or Philosophers. Besides finding by experience, that many times idlenesse is lesse harmefull then vnprofitable occupa∣tion, dayly seeing how these great aspiring mynds and ambitious heads of the world seriously searching to deale in matters of state, be often times so busie and earnest that they were better be vnoc∣cupied, and peraduenture altogether idle, I presume so much vp∣on your Maiesties most milde and gracious iudgement howsoe∣uer you conceiue of myne abilitie to any better or greater seruice, that yet in this attempt ye wil allow of my loyall and good intent alwayes endeuouring to do your Maiestie the best and greatest of those seruices I can.