Auaunsynge my selfe sum thanke[1693] to deserue, I me determynyd for to sharpe my pen, Deuoutly arrectyng my prayer to Mynerue, She to vowchesafe me to informe and ken; To Mercury also hertely prayed I then, Me to supporte, to helpe, and to assist, To gyde and to gouerne my dredfull tremlyng[1694] fist. As a mariner that amasid[1695] is in a stormy rage, Hardly bestad and[1696] driuen is to hope 830 Of that the tempestuows[1697] wynde wyll aswage, In trust[1698] wherof comforte[1699] his hart doth grope, From the anker he kuttyth[1700] the gabyll rope, Committyth all to God, and lettyth his shyp ryde; So I beseke[1701] Ihesu now to be my gyde. _To the ryght noble Countes of Surrey._ After all duly ordred obeisaunce, In humble wyse as lowly[1702] as I may, Vnto you, madame, I make reconusaunce,[1703] My lyfe endurynge I shall both wryte and say, Recount, reporte, reherse without delay 840 The passynge bounte of your noble astate, Of honour and worshyp which hath the formar date: Lyke to Argyua by iust resemblaunce, The noble wyfe of Polimites kynge; Prudent Rebecca, of whome remembraunce The Byble makith; with whos chast lyuynge Your noble demenour is counterwayng, Whos passynge bounte, and ryght noble astate, Of honour and worship it hath the formar date. The noble Pamphila,[1704] quene of the Grekis londe,[1705] 850 Habillimentis royall founde out industriously; Thamer also wrought with her goodly honde Many diuisis passynge curyously; Whome ye represent and exemplify, Whos passynge bounte, and ryght noble astate, Of honour and worship it hath the formar date. As dame Thamarys, whiche toke the kyng of Perce, Cirus by name, as wrytith the story; Dame Agrippina also I may reherse Of ientyll corage the perfight[1706] memory; 860 So shall your name endure perpetually, Whos passyng bounte, and ryght noble astate, Of honour and worship it hath the formar date. _To my lady Elisabeth Howarde._ To be your remembrauncer,[1707] madame, I am bounde, Lyke to Aryna, maydenly of porte, Of vertu and[1708] konnyng the well and perfight grounde; Whome dame Nature, as wele I may reporte, Hath fresshely enbewtid with many a goodly sorte Of womanly feturis, whos florysshyng tender age Is lusty to loke on, plesaunte, demure, and sage: 870 Goodly Creisseid, fayrer than Polexene,[1709] For to enuyue Pandarus appetite; Troilus, I trowe, if that he had you sene, In you he wolde haue set his hole delight: Of all your bewte I suffyce not[1710] to wryght; But, as I sayd, your florisshinge tender age Is lusty to loke on, plesaunt, demure, and sage. _To my lady Mirriell Howarde._