Classic Poem

THE UNDERWRITTEN LINES WERE COMPOSED BY JOHN LADGATE, A
PRIEST IN LONDON, AND SENT TO ROWLTE, AS AN ANSWER TO THE
PRECEDING SONGE TO ÆLLA .

Having with much attention read
What you did to me send,
Admire the verses much I did,
And thus an answer lend.

Among the Greekes Homer was
A poet much renowned,
Among the Latins Virgilius
Was best of poets found.

The British Merlin often han
The gift of inspiration,
And Alfred to the Saxon men
Did sing with elocation.

In Norman times, Turgotus and
Good Chaucer did excel,
Then Stowe, the Bristol Carmelite,
Did bear away the bell.

Now Rowlie in these murky days
Lends out his shining lights,
And Turgotus and Chaucer lives
In ev'ry line he writes.