I must remember I know whom I love A dame of learning, and of life exempt From all the idle fancies of her Sex, And this, that to an other dame wood seeme Perplext and foulded in a rudelesse vaile, Will be more cleere then ballads to her eye.

For sure, of all that in this mortall frame Contained is, nought more divine doth seeme, Or that resembleth more th'immortall flame 115 Of heavenly light, than Beauties glorious beam.

Sir, though your emynence may guyld your vyce And greatnes make your ills seeme gloryous To some too farre beneathe you, that neare looke Into the chynckes and crannyes of the state,

We now have playde, Augustus, wantonly, Tuning our song unto a tender Muse, And, like a cobweb weaving slenderly, Have onely playde: let thus much then excuse This Gnats small poeme, that th'whole history 5 Is but a iest; though envie it abuse: But who such sports and sweet delights doth blame, Shall lighter seeme than this Gnats idle name.