Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, COMMENDATORY VERSES FOR THE FAERIE QUEENE, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

COMMENDATORY VERSES FOR THE FAERIE QUEENE, by                    
First Line: To looke upon a work of rare devise
Last Line: Then looke you give your hoast his utmost dew
Subject(s): "poetry & Poets;spenser, Edmund (1552-1599);


To looke upon a worke of rare devise
The which a workman setteth out to view,
And not to yield it the deserved prise
That unto such a workmanship is dew,
Doth either prove the judgement to be naught,
Or els doth shew a mind with envy fraught.

To labour to commend a peece of worke
Which no man goes about to discommend,
Would raise a jealous doubt, that there did lurke
Some secret doubt, whereto the prayse did tend:
For when men know the goodnes of the wyne,
'T is needlesse for the hoast to have a sygne.

Thus then, to shew my judgement to be such
As can discerne of colours blacke and white,
As alls to free my minde from envies tuch,
That never gives to any man his right,
I here pronounce this workmanship is such,
As that no pen can set it forth too much.

And thus I hang a garland at the dore,
Not for to shew the goodnes of the ware,
But such hath beene the custome heretofore,
And customes very hardly broken are.
And when your tast shall tell you this is trew,
Then looke you give your hoast his utmost dew.
IGNOTO.





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