My youthfull course thus wisely did I steere, T’auoid those rockes my wracke that else did thret: Yet some faire hopes from farre did still appeere, If that too much my wants me did not let: Wherefore my selfe aboue my selfe to beare, Still as I grew, I knowledge stroue to get, To perfect that which in the embryon was, Whose birth, I found, time well might bring to passe. 22. But when my meanes to faile me I did finde, My selfe to trauell presently betooke,[2012] As much distastfull[2013] to my noble minde, That the vile world into my wants should looke, And of my selfe industriously[2014] inclinde, To measure other’s actions with my booke, I might my iudgement rectifie[2015] thereby, In matters that were difficult and hie. 23. When, loe, it hapt that fortune, as my guide, Of me did with such prouidence dispose, That th’English merchants then, who did reside At Antwerpe, me their secretarie chose, (As though in me to manifest her pride) Whence to those principalities I rose, To pluck me downe, whence afterward she fear’d Beyond her power that almost she had rear’d. 24. When first the wealthie Netherlands me traind In wise commerce, most proper to the place, And from my countrie carefully me wain’d, That with the world did chiefly winne[2016] me grace, Where great experience happily I gaind: Yet here I seem’d but tutor’d for a space, For hie imploiment otherwise ordaind, Till which the time I idely entertaind. 25. For hauing Boston businesse in[2017] hand, The charge thereof on _Chambers_ being laid, Coming to Flanders, hapt to vnderstand Of me, whom he requested him to aid: Of which, when I the benefit had scand, Weighing what time at Antwerpe I had staid, Quickly me wonne[2018] faire Italy to trie, Vnder a cheerefull and more luckie skie: 26. For what the meanest cleerely makes to shine, Youth, wit, and courage, all in me concurre In euery proiect, that so powerfull trine By whose kind working brauely I did sturre, Which to each hie and glorious designe (The time could offer) freely did me spurre, As forcing fate some new thing to prepare (Shewing successe) t’attempt that could me dare. 27. Where now my spirit got roomth it selfe to show, To the fair’st pitch doth make a gallant flight, From things that too much earthly were and low, Strongly attracted by a genuine light, Where higher still it euery day did grow: And being in so excellent a plight, Crau’d but occasion happily to proue How much it sate each vulgar spirit aboue. 28.