To Robert Earl of Salisbury
XLIII. ? TO ROBERT EARL OF SALISBURY. What need hast thou of me, or of my muse, Whose actions so themselves do celebrate ? Which should thy country's love to speak refuse, Her foes enough would fame thee in their hate. Tofore, great men were glad of poets ; now, I, not the worst, am covetous of thee : Yet dare not to my thought least hope allow Of adding to thy fame ; thine may to me, When in my book men read but CECIL'S name, And what I write thereof find far, and free From servile flattery, common poets' shame, As thou stand'st clear of the necessity.