❧ Walter Gray gentleman, in commendation of the Author his labors, studies (as well Diuine as Mathematicall) and Generositie.
THis Scutchin rich, and Snowhite-siluer shield,
where harts (in prime) their Sabled heads haue fixt,
With glyttring tyres: which like reflections yeeld
as gilden drops of Or, with Christall mixt:
Explores (at full) the worth of Hartgills race,
whose rare affects, do ad vnto his birth
A Laurell wreath: which seemes a second grace,
that shunnes delight of vaine, and peeuish mirth.
What fortune frames, that nature doth combine,
to Fraight his muse, with thoughts of things diuine.
With Atlas goade, he guides Bootes waine:
and shewes the trace, where swift Pegasus flings:
How Hyads waile, their brother whilom slaine,
when to his harpe, Arion sweetly sings.
And how on skies, the Knightly Perseus rides,
to chace the vgly Gorgon to her caues:
Then how from Easte; the floating Dolphin glides
to wet his winds, in western Ocean waues:
All these (with else each Star) in course he sorts,
and what their fall, and rising aye imports.
And heere (with toyle) he harrowes flat to ground
the swelling balkes, which former plowmen wrought:
Whose Tables earst, did doubt, in doubts confound,
as fewe (or none) shot leauell to their thought.
Which discord now, mild Hartgill doth reproue,
and of the Stars, the ready station tels:
As they on Spheares, or seuerall centers moue,
though farre alooffe, he from the Zodiacke dwels.
Peruse this tract, and say, as thou shalt see,
no English penne, hath done so well as he.
This gentle he, this English gentle guest,
in gentle wise, hath hatch, this Learned worke:
Which taking wing, is fluttred from his nest:
and Plumes bewray, what in his bowels lurke.
From whence pure streames, of reuerend Science flow,
which moysten so, the buds of growing skill:
As he that pines, in searching Arte (I trowe)
may hence drawe sap, to quench his thirstin [...] [...]
If so inough, may breede a sound consent;
to say inough, doth as a feast content.