And talke alone, least the proceedinge ayre That easeth me beget in you a payne.

Hys majestie comands you uppon payne Of life and your aleagance that from hence You never more conversse with Ganelon Eyther by letter, speeche or complyment.

The following lines from the fifth eclogue may serve to illustrate Barclay's style: I shall not deny our payne and servitude, I knowe that plowmen for the most part be rude, Nowe shall I tell thee high matters true and olde, Which curteous Candidus unto me once tolde, Nought shall I forge nor of no leasing bable, This is true history and no surmised fable.

Walkt forth to ease my payne 10 Along the shoare of silver streaming Themmes; Whose rutty** bank, the which his river hemmes, Was paynted all with variable flowers, And all the meades adornd with dainty gemmes, Fit to decke maydens bowres, 15 And crowne their paramours Against the brydale day, which is not long@: Sweet Themmes!

And then by it his wearie limbes display, (Whiles creeping slomber made him to forget His former payne,) and wypt away his toilsom sweat.

And I will study to requite thy paynes.

And though he sought my learned paynes to wrong I hate him not for that; My verse shall live When Neroes body shall be throwne in Tiber, And times to come shall blesse those wicked armes.