VIRGILS GNAT.
LONG SINCE DEDICATED TO THE MOST NOBLE AND EXCELLENT LORD,
THE EARLE OF LEICESTER.
LATE DECEASED. 1591.
Wrong’d, yet not daring to expresse my paine,
To you (great lord) the causer of my care,
In clowdie teares my case I thus complaine
Unto your selfe, that onely privie are.
But if that any Œdipus unware
Shall chaunce, through power of some divining spright,
To reade the secrete of this riddle rare,
And know the purporte of my evill plight;
Let him rest pleased with his owne insight,
Ne further seeke to glose upon the text:
For griefe enough it is to grieved wight
To feele his fault, and not be further vext.
But what so by my selfe may not be showen,
May by this Gnatt’s complaint be easily knowen.
I.
We now have playde, Augustus wantonly,
Tuning our song unto a tender muse,
And, like a cobweb weaving slenderly,
Have onely playde: let thus much then excuse
This Gnats small poëme, that th’ whole historie
Is but a iest, though envie it abuse:
But who such sports and sweet delights doth blame,
Shall lighter seeme then this Gnats idle name.
II.
Hereafter, when as season more secure
Shall bring forth fruit, this muse shall speak to thee
In bigger notes, that may thy sense allure,
And for thy worth frame some fit poesie:
The golden ofspring of Latona pure,
And ornament of great Loves progenie,
Phœbus, shall be the author of my song,
Playing on ivorie harp with silver strong.
III.
He shall inspire my verse with gentle mood
Of poet’s prince, whether he woon beside
Faire Xanthus sprincled with Chimæras blood;
Or in the woods of Astery abide;
Or whereas mount Parnasse, the muses brood,
Doth his broad forhead like two homes divide,
And the sweete waves of sounding Castaly
With liquid foote doth slide downe easily.
IV.
Wherefore ye sisters, which the glorie bee
Of the Pierian streames, faire naiades,
Go too; and dauncing all in companie,
Adorne that god: and thou holie Pales,
To whome the honest care of husbandrie
Returneth by continuall successe,
Have care for to pursue his footing light
Through the wide woods, and groves, with green leaves dight.
