[681] TO THE GREAT EXAMPLE OF HONOR, AND VERTVE, THE MOST NOBLE VVILLIAM, EARLE OF PEMBROKE, LORD CHAMBERLAINE, &c. MY LORD, In so thick, and darke an ignorance, as now almost couers the age, I craue leaue to stand neare your light: and, by that, to bee read. Posteritie may pay your benefit the honor, & thanks: when it shall know, that you dare, in these lig-giuen times, to countenance a legitimate Poeme. I must call it so, against all noise 5 of opinion from whose crude, and ayrie reports, I appeale, to that great and singular faculty of iudgement in your Lordship, able to vindicate truth from error. It is the first (of this race) that euer I dedicated to any person, and had I not thought it the best, it should haue 10 beene taught a lesse ambition. Now, it approcheth your censure cheerefully, and with the same assurance, that innocency would appeare before a magistrate. Your Lo. most faithfull Dedication om. Q2. 7 that] the G. honorer, BEN. IONSON. |