Bellay, first garland of free poesie
That France brought forth, though fruitfull of brave wits,
Well worthie thou of immortalitie,
That long hast traveld*, by thy learned writs,
Olde Rome out of her ashes to revive,
And give a second life to dead decayes!
Needes must he all eternitie survive,
That can to other give eternall dayes.
Thy dayes therefore are endles, and thy prayse
Excelling all that ever went before:
And, after thee, gins Bartas hie to rayse
His heavenly Muse, th’Almightie to adore.
Live happie spirits, th’honour of your name,
And fill the world with never dying fame!
[* _Traveld_, travailed, toiled.]
L’Envoy, 11.—_Bartas_. Guillaume de Salluste du Bartas, a French poet
of the time of Henry IV, of extraordinary popularity in his day. His
poem on the Creation is said to have been reprinted more than thirty
times in six years, and was translated into several languages; among
others, into English by Joshua Sylvester. H.