565 _E. S._ 566 567 568 To the most renowmed and valiant Lord, the 569 Lord Grey of Wilton, knight of the Noble order 570 of the Garter, &c. 571 572 MOst Noble Lord the pillor of my life, 573 And Patrone of my Muses pupillage, 574 Through whose large bountie poured on me rife, 575 In the first season of my feeble age, 576 I now doe liue, bound yours by vassalage: 577 Sith nothing euer may redeeme, nor reaue 578 Out of your endlesse debt so sure a gage, 579 Vouchsafe in worth this small guift to receaue, 580 Which in your noble hands for pledge I leaue, 581 Of all the rest, that I am tyde t'account: 582 Rude rymes, the which a rustick Muse did weaue 583 In sauadge soyle, far from Parnasso mount, 584 And roughly wrought in an vnlearned Loome: 585 The which vouchsafe dear Lord your fauorable doome. 586 587 567 568 _To the Most Renowned and Valiant Lord, the 569 Lord Grey of Wilton, Knight of the Noble Order Lord Grey > (Arthur Grey, 14th Lord Grey de Wilton, 1536-93, Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1580-82; on appointment he made Spenser his private secretary) 570 of the Garter, etc._ 571 572 Most noble lord, the pillar of my life, 573 And patron of my Muse's pupillage, 574 Through whose large bounty, poured on me rife rife > unstintingly 575 In the first season of my feeble age, 576 I now do live, bound yours by vassalage: vassalage > {The allegiance of a vassal: one who, in the feudal system, held land in return for homage and allegiance to his lord} 577 Sith nothing ever may redeem, nor reave Sith > Since reave > forcibly remove, take 578 Out of your endless debt so sure a gage, gage > pledge 579 Vouchsafe in worth this small gift to receive, in worth > in good part; at its true value 580 Which in your noble hands for pledge I leave for pledge > as a token 581 Of all the rest, that I am tied to account: 582 Rude rhymes, which a rustic Muse did weave Rude > {Unpolished, lacking in literary skill} 583 In savage soil, far from Parnasso Mount, savage soil > (Cf. I:513) Parnasso Mount > (Mount Parnassus, chief seat of Apollo, god of song and music, and leader of the Muses) 584 And roughly wrought in an unlearned loom: wrought > worked 585 Which vouchsafe, dear lord, your favourable doom. doom > judgement, opinion