Master HARRISON. Entred for his copie in Court holden this day/ a _Senior._ booke entituled, _Orchestra, or a poeme of Daunsing_. vjd. _Transcript &c._ ii. 655. _Ed. 1875._ xxj° Die Novembris [1596]. NICHOLAS LYNG/ Entered for his copie under th[e h]andes of Master JACKSON and master Warden DAWSON, a booke called _Orchestra, or a poeme of Dauncinge_. vjd. _Transcript &c._ iii. 74. _Ed. 1876._ ] [Illustration] To his very friend, Master RICHARD MARTIN. _To whom, shall I, this Dancing Poem send; This sudden, rash, half-capreol of my wit? To you, first mover and sole cause of it, Mine own-self's better half, my dearest friend! Oh would you, yet, my Muse some honey lend From your mellifluous tongue (whereon doth sit_ Suada _in majesty) that I may fit These harsh beginnings with a sweeter end! You know the modest sun, full fifteen times, Blushing did rise, and blushing did descend, While I, in making of these ill made rhymes, My golden hours unthriftily did spend: Yet if, in friendship, you these Numbers praise, I will mispend another fifteen days._ [Illustration] [Illustration] [The following Dedication was substituted in the edition of 1622. To the Prince. [_i.e._, CHARLES, _Prince of_ WALES.] Sir, whatsoever You are pleased to do, It is your special praise, that you are bent, And sadly set your Princely mind thereto: Which makes You in each thing so excellent. Hence is it, that You came so soon to be A Man-at-arms in every point aright, The fairest flower of noble Chivalry, And of Saint GEORGE his Band the bravest Knight. And hence it is, that all your youthful train In activeness and grace You do excel, When You do Courtly dancings entertain: Then Dancing's praise may be presented well To You, whose action adds more praise thereto Than all the Muses, with their pens can do.] [Illustration] [Illustration] ORCHESTRA, or, A Poem of Dancing. 1. Where lives the man, that never yet did hear Of chaste PENELOPE, ULYSSES's Queen? Who kept her faith unspotted twenty year; Till he returned, that far away had been, And many men and many towns had seen: Ten year at Siege of Troy, he ling'ring lay; And ten year in the midland sea did stray. 2. HOMER, to whom the Muses did carouse A great deep cup, with heavenly nectar filled; The greatest deepest cup in JOVE's great house (For JOVE himself had so expressly willed): He drank of all, ne let one drop be spilled; Since when, his brain, that had before been dry, Became the Wellspring of all Poetry. 3.