_Ioue_ and _Apollo_ for the _Muses_ stand. Then noble _Chaucer_, in those former times, The first inrich'd our _English_ with his rimes, And was the first of ours, that euer brake, Into the _Muses_ treasure, and first spake 50 In weighty numbers, deluing in the Mine Of perfect knowledge, which he could refine, And coyne for currant, and as much as then The _English_ language could expresse to men, He made it doe; and by his wondrous skill, Gaue vs much light from his abundant quill. And honest _Gower_, who in respect of him, Had only sipt at _Aganippas_ brimme, And though in yeares this last was him before, Yet fell he far short of the others store. 60 When after those, foure ages very neare, They with the _Muses_ which conuersed, were That Princely _Surrey_, early in the time Of the Eight _Henry_, who was then the prime Of _Englands_ noble youth; with him there came _Wyat_; with reuerence whom we still doe name Amongst our Poets, _Brian_ had a share With the two former, which accompted are That times best makers, and the authors were Of those small poems, which the title beare, 70 Of songs and sonnets, wherein oft they hit On many dainty passages of wit. _Gascoine_ and _Churchyard_ after them againe In the beginning of _Eliza's_ raine, Accoumpted were great Meterers many a day, But not inspired with braue fier, had they Liu'd but a little longer, they had seene, Their works before them to have buried beene. Graue morrall _Spencer_ after these came on Then whom I am perswaded there was none 80 Since the blind _Bard_ his _Iliads_ vp did make, Fitter a taske like that to vndertake, To set downe boldly, brauely to inuent, In all high knowledge, surely excellent. The noble _Sidney_ with this last arose, That _Heroe_ for numbers, and for Prose. That throughly pac'd our language as to show, The plenteous _English_ hand in hand might goe With _Greek_ or _Latine_, and did first reduce Our tongue from _Lillies_ writing then in vse; 90 Talking of Stones, Stars, Plants, of fishes, Flyes, Playing with words, and idle Similies, As th' _English_, Apes and very Zanies be, Of euery thing, that they doe heare and see, So imitating his ridiculous tricks, They spake and writ, all like meere lunatiques. Then _Warner_ though his lines were not so trim'd, Nor yet his Poem so exactly lim'd And neatly ioynted, but the Criticke may Easily reprooue him, yet thus let me say; 100 For my old friend, some passages there be In him, which I protest haue taken me, With almost wonder, so fine, cleere, and new As yet they haue bin equalled by few. Neat _Marlow_ bathed in the _Thespian_ springs