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To Sir Walter Aston, Knight Of The Honourable Order Of The Bath, And My Most Worthy Patron

I will not striue m' inuention to inforce,

With needlesse words your eyes to entertaine,

T' obserue the formall ordinarie course

That euerie one so vulgarly doth faine:

Our interchanged and deliberate choise,

Is with more firme and true election sorted,

Then stands in censure of the common voice.

That with light humor fondly is transported:

Nor take I patterne of another's praise,

Then what my pen may constantly avow.

Nor walke more publique nor obscurer waies

Then vertue bids, and iudgement will allow;

So shall my tone, and best endeuours serue you,

And still shall studie, still so to deserue you.

Michaell Drayton.