author:Homer

“ To the vertuous, courteous, and worshipfull Gentleman,
Master Robert Greenwood of Westerton,
health, with the happinesse of both worlds.
Svch loving favours from your sonne I found,
So kinde affection at your Worships hand,
Though undeserved, that I still am bound,
And unto you and yours obliged stand:
And though that green branch, which ay-springing stood,
As chiefest crowne or garland to your wood,
Be by the stroke of Fate quite cut away,
Ne're shall a thanklesse nature in me sway. ”

“ And play the Wolfe so fitly in the end,
As a dead man asunder for to teare,
Whom in their life they never durst offend,
Proving a savage Vulture to their friend.
Yet thus, we see, somes Cookes are wont to use
The silly sheep, which whilst be breathes the ayre,
They never dare adventure to abuse,
Or seeke the harmelesse creature to impayre:
But when the bloudy Butcher doth not spare
Within his throte to sheath the murdring blade,
They streight disioynt his members without care,
And cut and mangle him before them layd,
More cruell then the Butcher by their trade. ”

“ I meane not to be a prejudice to any that can doe finer; onely I would desire them to be are with this my simple labour, and to accept it as a thing roughly begun, rather then polished. And if any with this will not be contented, let him take in hand, and doe it anew himselfe, and I doubt not, but he shall finde it an easier thing to controll a line or two, then to amend the whole of this interpretation. ”

“ Ponder with iudgement what thou read'st at leysure,
So may thy profit equalize thy pleasure.
↑ A hill consecrate to the Muses. ↑ Semper Virgilium excipio. ↑ A fountaine of the Muses. ↑ The eyes of thy minde. ”