Basilicon Doron

Summary

THE DEDICATION of the booke.

SONET.

LO heere (my Sonne) a mirrour viue and faire,

Which sheweth the shaddow of a worthy King.

Lo heere a Booke, a patterne doth you bring

Which ye should preasse to follow mair and maire.

This trustie friend, the trueth will neuer spaire,

But giue a good aduice vnto you heare:

How it should be your chiefe and princely care,

To follow vertue, vice for to forbeare.

And in this Booke your lesson will ye leare,

For guiding of your people great and small.

Then (as ye ought) giue an attentiue eare,

And panse how ye these preceptes practise shall.

Your father bids you studie here and reede.

How to become a perfite King indeede.

THE ARGVMENT.

SONNET.

God giues not Kings the stile of Gods in vaine,

For on his Throne his Scepter doe they swey:

And as their subiects ought them to obey,

So Kings should feare and serue their God againe:

If then ye would enioy a happie raigne,

Obserue the Statutes of your heauenly King,

And from his Law, make all your Lawes to spring:

Since his Lieutenant here ye should remaine,

Reward the iust, be stedfast, true, and plaine,

Represse the proud, maintayning aye the right,

Walke alwayes so, as euer in his sight,

Who guardes the godly, plaguing the prophane:

And so ye shall in Princely vertues shine,

Resembling right your mightie King Diuine.