To my Honoured friend, Master Thomas May, upon his Comedie, The Heire.

THe Heire being borne, was in his tender age
Rockt in the Cradle of a private Stage,
Where lifted up by many a willing hand,
The child did from the first day fairely stand.
Since having gather'd strength, he dares preferre
His steps into the publike Theater
The World: where he dispaires not but to find
A doome from men more able, not lesse kind;

I but his Vsher am, yet if my word
May passe, I dare be bound he will afford
Things must deserve a welcome, if well knowne
Such as best writers would have wisht their owne.

You shall observe his words in order meet,
And softly stealing on with equall feet
Slide into even numbers, with such grace
As each word had beene moulded for that place,

You shall perceive an amorous passion, sp…ne
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 love so well exprest, must be the same
The Authour felt himselfe from his faire flame:

The whole plot doth alike it selfe disclose
Through the five Acts, as doth the Locke that goes
With letters, for till every one be knowne,
The Lock's as fast as if you had found none.
And where his sportive Muse doth draw a thread
Of mirth, chast Matrons may not blush to reade.

Thus have I thought it fitter to reveale
My want of art (deare friend) then to conceale
My love. It did appeare I did not meane
So to commend thy well-wrought Gomick-scene,
As men might judge my aime rather to be,
To gaine praise to my selfe, then give it thee;
Though I can give thee none, but what thou hast
Deserv'd, and what must my faint breath out-last.

Yet was this garment (though I skillesse be
To take thy measure) onely made for thee,
And if it prove to scant, 'tis cause the stuffe
Nature allow'd me was not large enough.