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To Queen Elizabeth

This Lock of Queen Elisabeth's owne Hair was presented to Sir Philip Sidney by Her Majesty's owne faire hands, on which He made these verses, and gaue them to them to the Queen, on his bended knee. Anno Domini 1573.
Her inward worth all outward Show transcends,
Envy her Merits with Regret Commends,
Like Sparkling Gems her Vertues draw the Sight,
And in her Conduct She is alwaies Bright;
When She imparts her thoughts her words have force,
And Sence and Wisdom flow in sweet Discourse.

Lean but Learned

Came it to your ears to hear
What the gaunt philosopher
One day, in his wisdom, said
To a proud, fat, pudding-head?
" Friend! " quoth he, " an Arab steed,
Though he should be lean indeed,
By his quality surpasses
All a stableful of asses! "