[Footnote 21: Cf. _Amours_ (1594), xx and xxiv.]
[Footnote 22: Cf. Sonnet vj (1619 edition); which is a dignified summary of much that he says more coarsely in the _Moone-Calfe_.]
[Footnote 23: Cf. Morley's ed. _Barons' Wars, &c._, p. 8.]
[Footnote 24: Charles FitzGeoffrey, _Drake_ (1596), 'golden-mouthed Drayton musical.' Guilpin, _Skialetheia_ (1598), 'Drayton's condemned of some for imitation, But others say, 'tis the best poet's fashion ... Drayton's justly surnam'd golden-mouth'd.' Meres, _Palladis Tamia_ (1598),' In Charles Fitz-Jefferies _Drake_ Drayton is termed "golden-mouth'd" for the purity and pretiousnesse of his stile and phrase.']
[Footnote 25: Cf. _E. H. E._, pp. 90, 99 (ed. 1737); Elegy i; and _Ode written in the Peak_.]
[Footnote 28: Cf. _Returne from Parnassus_, i. 2 (1600) ed. Arb. p. 11.]
[Footnote 29: _Michael Drayton. A Critical Study_. Oliver Elton, M.A. London: A. Constable & Co., 1905.]
To the deere Chyld of the Muses, and _his euer kind_ Mecænas, _Ma._ Anthony Cooke, Esquire
Vovchsafe to grace these rude vnpolish'd rymes, Which long (dear friend) haue slept in sable night, And, come abroad now in these glorious tymes, Can hardly brook the purenes of the light. But still you see their desteny is such, That in the world theyr fortune they must try, Perhaps they better shall abide the tuch, Wearing your name, theyr gracious liuery. Yet these mine owne: I wrong not other men, Nor trafique further then thys happy Clyme, Nor filch from _Portes_, nor from _Petrarchs_ pen, A fault too common in this latter time. Diuine Syr Phillip, I auouch thy writ, I am no Pickpurse of anothers wit. Yours deuoted, M. DRAYTON.
Reade heere (sweet Mayd) the story of my wo, The drery abstracts of my endles cares, With my liues sorow enterlyned so; Smok'd with my sighes, and blotted with my teares: The sad memorials of my miseries, Pend in the griefe of myne afflicted ghost; My liues complaint in doleful Elegies, With so pure loue as tyme could neuer boast. Receaue the incense which I offer heere, By my strong fayth ascending to thy fame, My zeale, my hope, my vowes, my praise, my prayer, My soules oblation to thy sacred name: Which name my Muse to highest heauen shal raise By chast desire, true loue, and vertues praise.