The Choise of Valentines/Post-script

by Thomas Nashe

Thus^[1] hath my penne presum'd to please my friend—

Oh mightst thou lykewise please Apollo's eye.

No, Honor brooke's no such impietie,

Yett Ouids wanton Muse did not offend.

He is the fountaine whence my streames doe flowe—

Forgive me if I speake as I was taught,

A lyke to women, utter all I knowe,

As longing to unlade so bad a fraught.

My mynde once purg'd of such lasciuious witt,

With purifide words and hallowed verse,

Thy praises in large volumes shall rehearce,

That better maie thy grauer view befitt.

Meanewhile yett rests, you smile at what I write;

Or, for attempting, banish me your sight.

Thomas Nash.

Footnotes

1. Quite detached, on page 94 of the Rawl. MS. (the text commences on page 96), are a few lines entitled "The Epilogue," which are obviously part of the above, albeit more than usually imperfectly copied. Why so placed does not appear, especially as several blank pages immediately follow the conclusion of the Bodleian copy.