Classic Poem

AN EPITAPH VPON POET SPENCER.

MOVRNFULL Muses, Sorrowe minions
Dwelling in Despaires opinions:
Yee, that neuer thought inuented
How a heart may be contented;
(But in torments all distressed,
Hopelesse how to be redressed,
All with howling and with crying
Liue in a continuall dying,)
Sing a dirge on Spencer's death,
Till your soules be out of breath.

Bidde the dunces keepe their dennes,
And the poets breake their pennes;
Bidde the sheepheards shed their teares
And the nymphes goe teare their haires;
Bidde the schollers leaue their reeding
And prepare their hearts to bleeding
Bidde the valiant and the wise
Full of sorrowes fill their eyes:
All for griefe that he is gone,
Who did grace them euery one.

Fairy Queene shew fairest Queene
How her faire in thee is seene:
Sheepeheards Calendar set downe.
How to figure best a clowne
As for Mother Hubberts Tale
Cracke the nut, and take the shale:
And for other workes of worth,
(All too good to wander forth,)
Grieue that euer you were wrot.
And your Author be forgot.

Farewell Arte of Poetry
Scorning idle foolery:
Farewell true conceited Reason,
Where was neuer thought of treason:
Farewell Judgement, with inuention
To describe a hearts intention:
Farewel Wit, whose sound and sense
Shewe a poets excellence,
Farewell, all in one togither.
And with Spencers garland wither.

And if any Graces liue
That will vertue honour giue;
Let them shewe their true affection
In the depth of Griefes perfection
In describing forth her glory,
When she is most deepely sory:
That they all may wish to heere
Such a song, and such a quier,
As, with all the woes they haue
Follow Spencer to his graue.