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TO THE

RIGHT HONORABLE HENRY WRIOTHESLY,

EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON, AND BARON OF TITCHFIELD.

RIGHT HONORABLE,

I KNOW not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolished lines to your Lordship, nor how the world will censure me for choosing so strong a prop to support so weak a burthen only if your honor seem but pleased, I account myself highly praised, and vow to take advantage of all idle hours till I have honored you with some graver labor. But if the first heir of my invention prove deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather, and never after ear1 so barren a land, for fear it yield me still so bad a harvest. I leave it to your honorable survey, and your honor 2 to your heart's content; which I wish may always answer your own wish, and the world's hopeful expecta. tion.

Your Honor's in all duty,

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

1 Ear, p.ougn.

2 Honor. As a duke is now styled "your grace," so "your honor " formerly the usual mode of address to noblemen in general.

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