Those learned _Oratours_, Roomes auncient sages, Persuasions Pith, directours of affection, The mindes chief counsail, rhetoriques perfection, The pleasaunt baulms of peace, warres fierce outrages: Sweet Grecian _Prophets_, whose smooth Muse assuages The Furies powerfull wrath, poisons infection: _Philosophers_ (by Causes due connexion, Match't with th' Effects of Nature) future ages Embrauing with rich documents of Art: / The wisest _States-men_ of calme Commonweales: The learned _Generall Councels_, which impart Diuinest laws, whose wholesome Physique Heales Both Church, and Layety: All in _one_ beholde Ennobled Arts, as Precious stones in golde.
From my lodging in Holborne: this of June. 1593. Your most affectionate,
Hauing perused my former Sonet, if it may please you, Sir, to do asmuch for your deare frends _Parthenophill_, and _Parthenophe_, they shall haue the desired fruite of their short exercise, and will rest beholding to your curteous acceptance: which they would be glad to reacquite in the loouingest manner they may. And so most affectionatly recommend themselues vnto your good self: whose vnblemished fame they will euermore maintaine with the best bloud of their hartes, tongues, and Pennes. We will not say, how much we long to see the whole Prayses of your two notorious enemyes, the _Asse_ and the _Foxe_.
The Muses scorne; the Courtiers laughing-stock; The Countreys Coxecombe; Printers proper new; The Citties Leprosie; the Pandars stew; Vertues disdayne; honesties aduerse rock; Enuies vile champion; slaunders stumblingblock. Graund / Oratour of Cunny-catchers crew; Base broaching tapster of reports vntrue; Our moderne Viper, and our Countryes mock; True Valors Cancer-worme, sweet Learnings rust. Where shall I finde meete colours, and fit wordes, For such a counterfaict, and worthlesse matter? Him, whom thou raylest on at thine owne lust, Sith _Bodine_ and sweet _Sidney_ did not flatter, His Inuectiue thee too much grace affordes.
_Sidney_, sweet Cignet, pride of Thamesis; Apollos laurell; Mars-his proud prowesse: _Bodine_, register of Realmes happinesse, Which Italyes, and Fraunces wonder is: _Hatcher_, with silence whom I may not misse: Nor _Lewen_, Rhetoriques richest noblesse: Nor _Wilson_, whose discretion did redresse Our English Barbarisme: adioyne to this Diuinest morall _Spencer_: let these speake By their sweet Letters, which do best vnfould _Harueys_ deserued praise: since my Muse weake Cannot relate somuch as hath bene tould By these _Fornam'd_: then, vaine as it were to bring New feather to his Fames swift-feathered wing.