136 The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, by William Shakespeare

VENUS AND ADONIS

Vilia miretur vulgus; mihi flavus Apollo
Pocula Castalia plena ministret aqua.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
HENRY WRIOTHESLEY, EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON,
and Baron of Titchfield.

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 burthen: 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,
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.