Sonnet I*.

To the right worshipfull, my singular good frend, M. Gabriell Harvey, Doctor of the Lawes.

Harvey, the happy above happiest men

I read**; that, sitting like a looker-on

Of this worldes stage, doest note with critique pen

The sharpe dislikes of each condition:

And, as one carelesse of suspition,

Ne fawnest for the favour of the great,

Ne fearest foolish reprehension

Of faulty men, which daunger to thee threat:

But freely doest of what thee list entreat,@

Like a great lord of peerelesse liberty,

Lifting the good up to high Honours seat,

And the evill damning evermore to dy:

For life and death is in thy doomeful writing;

So thy renowme lives ever by endighting.

Dublin, this xviij. of July, 1586.

Your devoted friend, during life,

EDMUND SPENCER.