[from the Edition of 1599]


Sonet 1

The worlds faire Rose, and _Henries_ frosty fire,
Iohns tyrannie; and chast _Matilda's_ wrong,
Th'inraged Queene, and furious _Mortimer_,
The scourge of Fraunce, and his chast loue I song;
Deposed _Richard_, _Isabell_ exil'd,
The gallant _Tudor_, and fayre _Katherine_,
Duke _Humfrey_, and old _Cobhams_ haplesse child,
Couragious _Pole_, and that braue spiritfull Queene;
_Edward_, and that delicious London Dame,
_Brandon_, and that rich dowager of Fraunce,
_Surrey_, with his fayre paragon of fame,
_Dudleys_ mishap, and vertuous _Grays_ mischance;
Their seuerall loues since I before haue showne,
Now giue me leaue at last to sing mine owne.


Sonet 2

_To the Reader of his Poems_

Into these loues who but for passion lookes,
At this first sight, here let him lay them by,
And seeke elsewhere in turning other bookes,
Which better may his labour satisfie.
No far-fetch'd sigh shall euer wound my brest,