The Excusation of the Auctour

Unto all Poetes I do me excuse, If that I offende for lacke of science; This lyttle boke yet do ye not refuse, Though it be devoyde of famous eloquence; Adde or detra by your hye sapience; And pardon me of my hye enterpryse, Whiche of late this fable dyd fayne and devise.

Go, little boke! I praye God the save From misse metryng by wrong impression; And who that ever list the for to have, That he perceyve well thyne intencion, For to be grounded without presumption, As for to eschue the synne of ydlenes; To make suche bokes I apply my busines.

Besechyng God for to geve me grace Bokes to compyle of moral vertue; Of my maister Lidgate to folowe the trace, His noble fame for laude and renue, Whiche in his lyfe the slouthe did eschue; Makyng great bokes to be in memory, On whose soule I pray God have mercy.