Rude and unpolish'd as my lines can be, I must start forth into the world with thee. That which, yet private, did my wonder raise, Now 'tis made public challenges my praise: Such miracles thy charming verse can do, Where'er it goes, it draws me with it too. This is a kind of birthday to thy Muse! Transported with delight I cannot choose But bid her _Welcome to the Light_, and tell, How much I value what is writ so well; 10 Tho' thou reap'st no advantage by my rhyme, More than a taper helps the day to shine. Thus in dull pomp does th' empty coach attend To pay respect to some departed friend! The difference of regard in this does lie, _That_ honours dust, _mine_ that which cannot die: For what can blast the labours of thy pen, While wit and virtue are allow'd by men? Thou entertain'st the world with such a feast, So cleanly and so elegantly drest, 20 So stor'd with laudable varieties As may a modest appetite suffice; Whoever is thy guest is sure to find Something or other that may please his mind. Sometimes in pious flames thy Muse aspires Her bosom warm'd with supernat'ral fires; In noble flights with Pindar, soars above; Dallies sometimes with not-indecent love, Thence down into the grave does humbly creep, And renders Death desirable as Sleep. 30 The debonair, the melancholy here Find matter for their mirth, ease for their care. Since such provision's made for all that come, He must be squeamish that goes empty home; If these refections cannot do him good, 'Tis 'cause his stomach's vicious, not the food. FRANCIS KNOLLYS, Esq. [_Rude and unpolished, &c._] 4 public] Orig. 'publique'. So often 'Pindarique', and sometimes '-iq''.] [Line: 37 This Knollys is again unknown to me.] To the Author on his excellent Poems. I. Strange magic of thy wit and style, Which to their griefs mankind can reconcile! Whilst thy Philander's tuneful voice we hear Condoling our disastrous state, Touch'd with a sense of our hard fate, We sigh perhaps, or drop a tear, But he the mournful song so sweetly sings, That more of pleasure than regret it brings. With such becoming grief The Trojan chief 10 Troy's conflagration did relate, Whilst ev'n the suffrers in the fire drew near And with a greedy ear Devour'd the story of their own subverted state. II.