LOUES LEPROSIE.

THE PREFACE TO THE TITLE.

The leprosie yf phisicke bin approued,
Achilles cure, because Achilles loued:
The leprosie (saith Gordon) a disease,
Which on the child as yet vnborne doth sease,
Infectious and contagious, I could proue
It is incurable, and so is loue.

Loues leprosie, according to her kinde,

Made him a leaper in a louers minde.

Imprinted at London by W. White, dwelling in Cow-lane.

1598.

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE

SIR ROBERT SYDNIE,

LORD GOUERNOUR OF FLUSHING, T.P. WISHETH ALL INCREASE
OF HONOUR, WITH THE CONTINUANCE OF HIS HOUSE
IN THAT FLORISHING ESTATE WHEREIN IT
IS NOW ESTABLISHED.

I KNOW not (right Honourable) how to excuse this insinuation of mine, in committing this vnballast barke to the maine of your protection, considering that euerie little riuer hath water enough to beare it from the ground; yet if the ozean rage not (as in disdayne to support so weake a vessell) I may accomplish the period of my desires, and by this voiage learne to correct my compasse; if otherwise, this barke, conteyning all my fortunes, suffers vntimely shipwracke, and I banquerout of my hopes:

At tua supplicibus domus est assueta juvandis,
In quorum numero me precor esse velis.

There is a sea interventing the hauen Aulis, of Beotia and Euboea, called Euripus, which flowes with such violence, that it preuayles against the windes in maynteining full sayles displayed ex aduerso: the same sea (right honorable) a true

F

idæa, resembles the loue wherewith you imbrace the muses sonnes in rescuing from the Phocian Pyreneus the Pyerian queristers, whom headstrong lust seekes to dishonour; Ipresent to your Lordshyppe the lucklesse loues of Achilles, which if they may but gaine a gratious view in your iudiciall discretion, shall buy my labours at a high rate, and I thinke my selfe therewith bountifully rewarded.

you

Your Lordshippes officious in all dueties of humilitie. THO. POWELL.

LECTORI.

TWAS Dedelus that enuied at the boy

Drencht in the sea, for making of a toy :
Little glory did he winne,

Enuie is a mickle sinne.

Tis he, and none but he I feare,

Loath to buy my toy so deare.
When Apollo shineth bright,
Lesser starres shall loose their light.
Wonder not when day is ended,
Though our glimmering be extended.
If I borrow from the Sunne,
And restore not, day once done,
May this starre that's so impaled,
Like a meteor be exhaled;
That with his prodigious breath,

Doth infect vnto the death.

Cast me not headlong from Parnassus hill, Although my work be wanting to my will. Gentle reader yours to vse,

If propitiate with his muse.

T. P.