Robert Herrick: To the Patron of Poets, M. End. Porter.

TO THE PATRON OF POETS, M. END. PORTER.
by Robert Herrick

LET there be patrons, patrons like to thee,
Brave Porter ! poets ne'er will wanting be :
Fabius and Cotta, Lentulus, all live
In thee, thou man of men ! who here do'st give
Not only subject-matter for our wit,
But likewise oil of maintenance to it :
For which, before thy threshold, we'll lay down
Our thyrse for sceptre, and our bays for crown.
For, to say truth, all garlands are thy due :
The laurel, myrtle, oak, and ivy too.

Source:
Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol I.
Alfred Pollard, ed.
London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 49.

Daniel Mytens. Endymion Porter. 1627.

* “The friend and patron of poets
and artists, Porter was a protégé
of Charles I's favourite, the Duke
of Buckingham. He was instru-
mental in bringing Van Dyck to
England and the King admired
him 'for his general learning,
brave stile, sweet temper, great
experience, travels and modern
languages'.”

—National Portrait Gallery.

to Works of Robert Herrick