TO THE NOBLEST NURSERIES OF HUMANITY AND LIBERTY IN THE
KINGDOM
I UNDERSTAND you, Gentlemen, not your houses: and a worthy succession of
you, to all time, as being born the judges of these studies. When I wrote this
poem, I had friendship with divers in your societies; who, as they were great
names in learning, so they were no less examples of living. Of them, and then,
that I say no more, it was not despised. Now that the printer, by a doubled
charge, thinks it worthy a longer life than commonly the air of such things doth
promise, I am careful to put it a servant to their pleasures, who are the inheritors
of the first favour born it. Yet, I command it lie not in the way of your more noble
and useful studies to the public: for so I shall suffer for it. But when the gown
and cap is off, and the lord of liberty reigns, then, to take it in your hands,
perhaps may make some bencher, tincted with humanity, read and not repent
him.
By your true honourer,
BEN JONSON.
