377 That never gives to any man his right, 378 I here pronounce this workmanship is such, 379 As that no pen can set it forth too much. 380 381 And thus I hang a garland at the door, 382 Not to show the goodness of the ware: ware > wares, merchandise 383 But such has been the custom heretofore, 384 And customs very hardly broken are. very hardly > with great difficulty 385 And when your taste shall tell you this is true, 386 Then look you give your host his utmost due. look you > (An intensive: "make sure you", etc.) 387 _Ignoto_ Ignoto > "Unknown" (not identifiable) 388 389 390 391 392 393 _To the Right honourable Sir _Christopher Hatton, 394 Lord high Chauncelor of England. &c. 395 396 THose prudent heads, that with theire counsels wise 397 Whylom the Pillours of th'earth did sustaine, 398 And taught ambitious _Rome_ to tyrannise, 399 And in the neck of all the world to rayne, 400 Oft from those graue affaires were wont abstaine, 401 With the sweet Lady Muses for to play: 402 So _Ennius_ the elder Africane, 403 So _Maro_ oft did _C'sars_ cares allay. 404 So you great Lord, that with your counsell sway 405 The burdeine of this kingdom mightily, 406 With like delightes sometimes may eke delay 407 The rugged brow of carefull Policy: 408 And to these ydle rymes lend litle space, 409 Which for their titles sake may find more grace. 410 389 390 391 DEDICATORY SONNETS 392 393 _To the Right Honourable Sir Christopher Hatton, Right > Very Sir Christopher Hatton > (1540-91; principal minister of Elizabeth's government) 394 Lord High Chancellor of England, etc._ 395 396 Those prudent heads, that with their counsels wise 397 Whilom the pillars of the earth did sustain, Whilom > Formerly 398 And taught ambitious Rome to tyrannize, 399 And in the neck of all the world to reign, in the neck > on top 400 Oft from those grave affairs were wont abstain, wont > accustomed to, given to 401 With the sweet lady Muses to play: 402 So Ennius the elder African, Ennius > (Quintus Ennius, 239-170 BC, Roman poet) the elder African > (Scipio Africanus, 237-183 BC, Roman general in Second Punic War) 403 So Maro oft did Caesar's cares allay. Maro > (Publius Vergilius Maro [Virgil], 70-19 BC, author of the _Aeneid_) Caesar > (Augustus Caesar, 63 BC-14 AD, Emperor of Rome) 404 So you, great lord, that with your counsel sway sway > influence 405 The burden of this kingdom mightily, burden > fate, destiny 406 With like delights sometimes may eke delay eke > also delay > mitigate, assuage; _hence:_ soothe 407 The rugged brow of careful policy: careful > {Full of cares; prudent} policy > statesmanship