And Musicke milde I lernde, that telles Tune, tyme, and measure of the song: A science swete the reste excelles, For melody hir notes among. But sixtly I the dame of artes, Geometrie of great engine Employde, with all hir skilfull partes, Therby some greater giftes to winne. So laste I lernde Astronomie, A lofty arte that paste them all: To knowe by motions of the skye, And fixed starres, what chaunce might fall. This pleasaunt arte allured me, To many fonde inuentions then: For iudgements of Astrologie, Delites the mindes of wisest men. So doth the arte Phisiognomie, Dependes on iudgment of the face: And that of Metoposcopie, Which of the forehead telles the grace. And Chiromancie by the hande, Coniecures of the inward minde: Eke Geomancie by the lande, Doth diuers many farlies finde. Augurium eke was vsde of olde By byrdes of future things presagde: And many thinges therby they tolde, Were skilfull, learned, wyse and agde. But Magicke, for it seemid sweete, And full of wonders made me muse: For many feates I thought it meete, And pleasaunt for a Prince to vse. Three kindes there are for nature’s skill, The first they Naturall do name: In which by herbes and stones they will, Worke wonders thinges, are worthy fame. The next is Mathematicall, Where Magike workes by nature so: That brasen heads make speake it shall, Of woode birdes, bodies flye, and go. The thirde Veneficall by right, Is named for by it they make: The shapes of bodies chaunge in sight, And other formes on them to take. What nede I tell what Theurgie is, Or Necromancie you despise: A diuelishe arte, the feendes by this Seeme calde, and coniurde to arise. Of these too much I learned then, By those such secrete artes profest: For of the wise and skilfull men, Whome Fame had praisde I gate the best. They promist for to teach me so, The secretes of dame nature’s skill: That I nede neuer taste of woe, But alwayes might forsee it still. Wherfore enflamed with their loue, I brought away the best I could: From Greece to Britayne lande to proue, What feates for me deuise they would. Of which were foure Philosophers, For passing skill excelde the rest: Phisitions and Astronomers, In Athens all they were the best. My father harde of my retourne, Of my successe in learning there: And how the Grecians did adourne, My wittes with artes that worthy were. He herde likewyse what store I brought, Of learned Greekes from Atticke soyle: And of my laboure learning sought, With study, trauayle, payne and toyle. I likewyse heard he buylded here, Three townes while absent thence was I: By South he foundid Winchester, By East he built Cantorbury.