“The Shepheardes Calender — To His Booke”

Albumleaf 149: October 25, 2018 (Bologna)

Goe little booke: thy selfe present,

As child whose parent is unkent . . .

And asked, who thee forth did bring

A shepheards swaine saye did thee sing,

All as his straying flocke he fedde . . .

But if that any aske thy name,

Say thou wert base begot with blame:

For thy thereof thou takest shame.

And when thou art past ieopardee,

Come tell me, what was sayd of mee:

And I will send more after thee.

–The Shepheardes Calender, opening