George Gascoigne. The Princely Pleasures at Kenelworth Castle. The song of Protheus.

¶ The song of Protheus.
from
THE PRINCELY PLEASURES
AT KENELWORTH CASTLE
by George Gascoigne

O Noble Queene give eare,
to this my floating muse:
And let the right of readie will,
my little skill excuse.
For heardmen of the seas,
sing not the sweetest notes:
The winds and waves do roare and crie
Where Phoebus seldome floates:
Yet since I doe my best,
in thankfull wise to sing:
Vouchsafe (good Queene) that calme consent
these words to you may bring.
We yeeld you humble thanks,
in mightie Neptunes name.
Both for our selves and therewithall,
for yonder seemely Dame.
A Dame: whom none but you,
deliver could from thrall:
Ne none but you deliver us,
from loitring life withall.
She pined long in paine,
as overworne with woes:
And we consumde in endles care,
to fend her from her foes.
Both which you set at large,
most like a faithfull freend:
Your noble name be praisde therefore,
and so my song I ende.

Gascoigne presenting his poems to Elizabeth I

Source:
Gascoigne, George. The Complete Works of George Gascoigne. Vol. II.
John W. Cunliffe, Ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1910. 105.

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