The Epistle. 
8 Though countrie health long staid me, 
yet lesse ' expiring fraid me, 
and (zcfus sapit) praid me 
to seeke more steadie staie : 
New lessons then I noted, 
and some of them I coted,? 
least some should think I doted, 
by bringing naught awaie. 
g Though Pallas hath denide me, 
hir learned pen to guide me, 
for that she dailie spide me, 
with countrie how I stood: 
Yet Ceres so did bold me, 
with hir good lessons told me, 
that rudenes cannot hold me, 
from dooing countrie good. 
io By practise and ill speeding, 
these lessons had their breeding, 
and not by hearesaie, or reeding, 
as some abrode haue blowne : 
Who will not thus beleeue me, 
so much the more they greeue me, 
because they grudge to geeue me, 
that is of right mine owne. 
11 At first for want of teaching, 
at first for trifles breaching, 
at first for ouer reaching,® 
and lacke of taking hid,* 
was cause that toile so tost me, 
that practise so much cost me, 
that rashnes so much lost me, 
or hindred as it did. 
1 lease. 1585 and 1620. 2 quoted. 1585 and 1620. 
5 reacing. 1599. 4 hede: 41577: 
Pallas, 
Goddesse of 
wisdomeand 
cunning. 
