THE EPISTLE
Which neuer darknesse most Cimmerian
Can giue Eclipse; since (blinde) He all things sawe
And to all, euer since, liu'd Lord, and Lawe.
And though our mere-learn'd mē; & Modern wise
Taste not poore Poesies Ingenuities,
Being crusted with their couetous Leprosies;
But hold her paines, worse then the spiders worke,
And lighter then the shadowe of a Corke;
Yet th'ancient learn'd; heat with celestiall fire,
Affirmes her flames so sacred and entire;
[1]That, not without Gods greatest grace she can
Fall in the wid'st Capacitie of Man.
If yet, the vile Soule of this Verminous time;
Loue more the Sale-Muse; and the Squirrels chime,
Then this full sphere of Poesies sweetest Prime;
Giue them vnenuied, their vaine veine, and vent;
And rest your wings, in his approu'd ascent
That yet was neuer reacht; nor euer fell
Into affections bought with things that sell
Being the Sunns Flowre; and wrapt so in his skie,
He cannot yeeld to euery Candles eye.
Can giue Eclipse; since (blinde) He all things sawe
And to all, euer since, liu'd Lord, and Lawe.
And though our mere-learn'd mē; & Modern wise
Taste not poore Poesies Ingenuities,
Being crusted with their couetous Leprosies;
But hold her paines, worse then the spiders worke,
And lighter then the shadowe of a Corke;
Yet th'ancient learn'd; heat with celestiall fire,
Affirmes her flames so sacred and entire;
[1]That, not without Gods greatest grace she can
Fall in the wid'st Capacitie of Man.
If yet, the vile Soule of this Verminous time;
Loue more the Sale-Muse; and the Squirrels chime,
Then this full sphere of Poesies sweetest Prime;
Giue them vnenuied, their vaine veine, and vent;
And rest your wings, in his approu'd ascent
That yet was neuer reacht; nor euer fell
Into affections bought with things that sell
Being the Sunns Flowre; and wrapt so in his skie,
He cannot yeeld to euery Candles eye.
Whose most worthy Discoueries, to your
Lordships Iudiciall Perspectiue in most
subdude Humilitie submitteth,
George Chapman.
- ↑ Ut non sine maximo favore Dei comparari niqueat. Pla in Ione.