The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy/Dedicatory Epistle

by John Webster

Fleuron from first edition of 'The Tragedy of the Duchesse of Malfy' by John Webster (1623)

❧ TO THE RIGHT
HONORABLE, GEORGE
HARDING, Baron Barkeley, of Barkeley
Castle and Knight of the Order of the Bathe
To the Illustrious Prince Charles.

 

⁠My Noble Lord,

HAT I may present my excuse why, (being a stranger to your Lordshippe) I offer this Poem to your Patronage, I plead this warrant; Men (who never saw the Sea, yet desire to behold that regiment of waters,) choose some eminent River, to guide them thither; and make that as it were, their Conduct, or Postilion: By the like ingenious meanes, has your fame arrived at my knowledge, receiving it from some of worth, who both in contemplation, and practise, owe to your Honor their clearest service. I do not altogether looke up at your Title: The ancien'st Nobility, being but a rellique of time past, and the truest Honor indeede beeing for a man to conferre Honor on himselfe, which your Learning strives to propagate, and shall make you arrive at the Dignity of a great Example. I am confident this worke is not unworthy your Honors perusal for by such Poems as this, Poets have kist the hands of Great Princes, and drawne their gentle eyes to looke downe upon their sheetes of paper, when the Poets themselves were bound up in their winding-sheetes. The like curtesie from your Lordship, shall make you live in your grave, and laurell spring out of it when the ignorant scorners of the Muses ( that like wormes in Libraries, seeme to live onely, to destroy learning) shall wither, neglected, and forgotten. This worke and my selfe I humbly present to your approved censure. It being the utmost of my wishes, to have your Honorable selfe my weighty and perspicuous Comment: which grace so done me, shall ever be acknowledged

 

By your Lordships

in all duty and

Observance,

 

John Webster.

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