User:Sbh/Clyomon/Prologue

Prologue

As lately lifting up the leaves of worthy writers’ works,

Wherein the noble acts and deeds of many hidden lurks,

Our author he hath found the glass of glory shining bright,

Wherein their lives are to be seen which honor did delight,

To be a lantern unto those which daily do desire

Apollo’s garland by desert in time for to aspire;

Wherein the froward chances oft of fortune you shall see,

Wherein the cheerful countenance of good successes be,

Wherein true lovers findeth joy with hugy heaps of care,

Wherein as well as famous facts, ignomious placed are,

Wherein the just reward of both is manifestly shown,

That virtue from the root of vice might openly be known.

And doubting naught right courteous all, in your accustomed wont

And gentle ears, our author he is prest to bide the brunt

Of babblers’ tongues, to whom be thinks as frustrate all his toil,

As pearls taste^[1] to filthy swine which in the mire doth moil.

Well,^[2] what he hath done for your delight, he gave not me in charge:

The actors come, who shall express the same to you at large.

[Exit.

Textual Notes

1. taste] Q; cast D B
2. Well] Dyce prints this word as a line by itself.

Explanatory Notes

ignomious: i.e. “ignominious.”—Dyce. Ignomy for ignominy is frequently found. We have it in sc. iii, l. 31.—Bullen.

prest: ready.

As pearls taste to filthy swine: Dyce and Bullen both emend taste to cast in reference to Matthew 7:6, "Do not cast your pearls before swine."