Magnificke Lord, whose vertues excellent, + 

Doe merit a most famous Poets witt + 

To be thy living praises instrument, + 

Yet doe not sdeigne to let thy name be writt + 

In this base Poeme, for thee far unfitt: + 

Nought is thy worth disparaged thereby; + 

But when my Muse, whose fethers, nothing flitt, + 

Doe yet but flagg, and lowly learne to fly, + 

With bolder wing shall dare alofte to sty + 

To the last praises of this Faery Queene; + 

Then shall it make more famous memory + 

Of thine Heroicke parts, such as they beene: + 

Till then, vouchsafe thy noble countenaunce + 

To these first labours needed furtheraunce. + 