EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR
TO THE MOST LEARNED, AND MY HONOURED FRIEND
MASTER CAMDEN
CLARENCIEUX
SIR,--There are, no doubt, a supercilious race in the world, who will esteem all
office, done you in this kind, an injury; so solemn a vice it is with them to use the
authority of their ignorance, to the crying down of Poetry, or the professors: but
my gratitude must not leave to correct their error; since I am none of those that
can suffer the benefits conferred upon my youth to perish with my age. It is a frail
memory that remember s but present things: and, had the favour of the times so
conspired with my disposition, as it could have brought forth other, or better, you
had had the same proportion, and number of the fruits, the first. Now I pray you
to accept this; such wherein neither the confession of my manners shall make
you blush; nor of my studies, repent you to have been the instructer: and for the
profession of my thankfulness, I am sure it will, with good men, find either praise
or excuse. Your true lover,
