VENUS AND ADONIS. Villia miretur vulgus, mihi flavus Apollo Ovid, Amor. I. 1. el. 15. TO THE Right Honourable HENRY WRIOTHESLY, EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON, AND BARON OF TICHFIELD. Right Honourable, I KNOW not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolished lines to your lordship, nor how the world will censure me for chusing so strong a prop to support so weak a burden, only if your honour seem but pleased, I account myself highly praised, and vow to take advantage of all idle hours, till I have honoured you with some graver labour. But if the first heir of my invention prove deformed I shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather, and never after ear so barren a land, for fear it yield me still so bad a harvest. I leave it to your honourable survey, and your honour to your heart's content, which I wish may always answer your own wish, and the world's hopeful expectation. Your honour's in all duty, WILL. SHAKESPEARE. |