Diminuat ne sera dies praesentis honorem Quis, qualisque fui, percipe Posteritas. Cambria me genuit, patulis ubi vallibus errans Subjacet aeriis montibus Isca pater. Inde sinu placido suscepit maximus arte Herbertus, Latiae gloria prima scholae. Bis ternos, illo me conducente, per annos Profeci, et geminam contulit unus opem; Ars et amor, mens atque manus certare solebant, Nec lassata illi mensue, manusue fuit. Hinc qualem cernis crevisse: sed ut mea certus Tempora cognoscas, dura mere, scias. Vixi, divisos cum fregerat haeresis Anglos Inter Tysiphonas presbyteri et populi. His primum miseris per am[oe]na furentibus arva Prostravit sanctam vilis avena rosam, Turbarunt fontes, et fusis pax perit undis, Moestaque coelestes obruit umbra dies. Duret ut integritas tamen, et pia gloria, partem Me nullam in tanta strage fuisse, scias; Credidimus nempe insonti vocem esse cruori, Et vires quae post funera flere docent. Hinc castae, fidaeque pati me more parentis Commonui, et lachrymis fata levare meis; Hinc nusquam horrendis violavi sacra procellis, Nec mihi mens unquam, nec manus atra fuit. Si pius es, ne plura petas; satur ille recedat Qui sapit et nos non scripsimus insipidis. TO THE TRULY NOBLE AND MOST EXCELLENTLY ACCOMPLISHED, THE LORD KILDARE DIGBY. My Lord, It is a position anciently known, and modern experience hath allowed it for a sad truth, that absence and time,--like cold weather, and an unnatural dormition--will blast and wear out of memory the most endearing obligations; and hence it was that some politicians in love have looked upon the former of these two as a main remedy against the fondness of that passion. But for my own part, my Lord, I shall deny this aphorism of the people, and beg leave to assure your Lordship, that, though these reputed obstacles have lain long in my way, yet neither of them could work upon me: for I am now--without adulation--as warm and sensible of those numerous favours and kind influences received sometimes from your Lordship, as I really was at the instant of fruition. I have no plot by preambling thus to set any rate upon this present address, as if I should presume to value a return of this nature equal with your Lordship's deserts, but the design is to let you see that this habit I have got of being troublesome flows from two excusable principles, gratitude and love. These inward counsellors--I know not how discreetly--persuaded me to this attempt and intrusion upon your name, which if your Lordship will vouchsafe to own as the genius to these papers, you will perfect my hopes, and place me at my full height. This was the aim, my Lord, and is the end of this work, which though but a _pazzarello_ to the _voluminose insani_, yet as jessamine and the violet find room in the bank as well as roses and lilies, so happily may