To The Honorable, Vertuous, And Renowned Lady The Lady Penelope Dynham Poem by William Basse

This Muses story, that a Princes eares
Did once vouchsafe to grace, and such a one
As in his tyme, and at his youthfull yeares,
In greatnes match'd with goodnes was alone,
You may coniecture, then in so much grace
Had little thought to seeke a second place.
Nor comes (Renowned Lady) to you now,
Though out of service has so long remain'd,
As one discarded: but to shew you how
And by whom then she first was entertain'd.
And loth vn-own'd now to and fro to waue,
That lost a master, would a Mistres haue.
For not to flatter (which no Muses can
Or if mine could, she durst not him, nor you)
In that he was a Prince, he was a Man
And therein his inferiour like vnto,
And so [a] lesse then he, in noble heart
May be like him: for that's a Princely part.
But (Noble Lady) though Vrania soung
This story then to him, that could infuse
No pride in Prince so vertuous (though so young),
Nor could his grace, such vice jn such a Muse:
And in your selfe of pride no danger seeing,
I am the likelyest to be proud in being
signed - Madam Your Ladyships very humble Servant William Basse.