Ornamented with Three Portraits, by Bartolozzi, &c.

VIT

BIBLIOTHEC

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR EDWARD JEFFERY, No. 11, PALL-MALL

Price, One Guinea in Boards.

DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER.

Portrait of SHAKSPEARE to face Title.

CAPELL, after his History of the Origin of

(.

TO THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE

HENRY WRIOTHESLY,

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 cenfure 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 fome graver labour. But if the first heir of my invention prove deformed, I shall be forry it had so noble a godfather, and never after ear so barren a land, for fear it yield me still fo 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 SHAKSPEARE.