Ad Rithmum

COme prettie pleasing symphonie of words,
Yee wel-match'd twins (whose like-tun'd tongs affords
Such musical delight,) come willingly
And daunce Leuoltoes in my poesie.
Come all as easie, as spruce Curio will,
In some court hall to showe his capring skill.
As willingly come meete & iumpe together,
As new ioyn'd loues, when they doe clip each other.
As willingly, as wenches trip a round,
About a May-pole, after bagpipes sound.
Come riming numbers, come and grace conceite,
Adding a pleasing close, with your deceit
Inticing eares. Let not my ruder hand
Seeme once to force you in my lines to stand,
Be not so fearefull (pretty soules) to meete,
As Flaccus is the Sergiants face to greete.
Be not so backward loth to grace my sence,
As Drusus is, to haue intelligence
His Dad's aliue; but come into my head
As iocondly, as when his wife was dead
Young Lelus to his home. Come like-fac'd rime,
In tunefull numbers keeping musicks time.
But if you hange an arse, like Tubered,
When Chremes dragg'd him from his brothell bed,
Then hence base ballad stuffe, my poetrie
Disclaimes you quite, for know my libertie
Scornes riming lawes; Alas poore idle sound,
Since I first Phoebus knew, I neuer found
Thy interest in sacred Poesie.
Thou to Invention add'st but surquedry,
A gaudie ornature, but hast no part,
In that soule-pleasing high infused art.
Then if thou wilt clip kindly in my lines,
Welcome thou friendly ayde of my designes.
If not? No title of my sencelesse change
To wrest some forced rime, but freely range.
Yee scrupulous obseruers, goe & learne
Of Aesops dogge; meate from a shade discerne.