University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Heire

an excellent comedie
  
  
TO MY HONOVRED friend, master Thomas May, vpon his Comedy, The Heire.
  

 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
 4. 
 5. 

  

TO MY HONOVRED friend, master Thomas May, vpon his Comedy, The Heire.

The Heire being borne, was in his tender age
Rockt in the Cradle of a priuate Stage,
Where lifted vp by many a willing hand,
The child doth from the first day fairely stand,
Since, hauing gathered strength, he dares preferre
His steps into the publicke Theater
The World: where he dispaires not but to find
A doome from men more able, but lesse kind.
I but his Vsher am, yet if my word
May passe, I dare be bound he will afford
Things must deserue a welcome, it well knowne
Such as best writers would haue wisht their owne.
You shall obserue his words in order meete,
And often stealing on, with equall feete
Slide into equall numbers, with such grace
As each word had beene moulded for that place.
You shall perceiue an amorous passion, spun
Into so smooth a web, as had the sunne,
When he pursu'd the swiftly flying Maid,
Courted her in such language she had staid,
A loue so well exprest must be the same,
The Author felt himselfe from his faire flame.
The whole plot doth like it selfe disclose
Through the fiue Acts, as doth a Locke, that goes
With letters, for till euery one be knowne,
The Lock's as fast as if you had found none.
And where his sportiue Muse doth draw a thred
Of mirth, chast Matrons may not blush to reade.