From Troilus & Criseyde

[mirrorshard]

To go with my current research obsession, a little bit of free translation (original):

Go, little book! Go, my little tragedy! Before I die,
God grant thy maker might to make a comedy.
But, little book--don't envy other work,
but bow down and kiss the ground
where Virgil, Ovid, Omer, Lucan, and Stace walk.

I fear there's such diversity in English,
pray God that none miscopy thee!
- or worse, mismeasure your lines aloud.
And wherever you're read, or even sung,
I beseech God you're understood!