The lyght of trouth I lacke cunnying to cloke,

To drawe a curtayne I dare not to presume,

Nor hyde my matter with a misty smoke,

My rudenes cunnying doth so sore consume:

Yet as I may I shall blowe out a fume

To hyde my mynde underneth a fable,

By covert coloure well and probable.

Besechying your grace to pardon myne ignoraunce,

Whiche this fayned fable, to eschue idlenes,

Have so compyled nowe without doubtance,