To the Right Honorable 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 choosing so
strong a prop to support so weak a burden: 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 god-father, and never after ear so barren a land, for fear
it yield me still so bad a harvest. I leave it to your honor- able
survey, and your honor 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,
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
