And passion out their pangu's in statlie rimes;
But of loues pleasures none did euer write,
That have succeeded in theis latter times. 12

Accept of it, Deare Lord, in gentle gree,
And better lynes, ere long, shall honor thee._

* * * * *

FOOT- AND LINE NOTES:

[i] Henry Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton, and Baron of
Titchfield. The dedication is absent in the Rawlinson text: _cf._
variorum reading in line 13.

1 _Matchles_, machles.

2 _the red rose euer bare_, that euer red rose bare.

3 _devorst from deeper care_, diuert from deepest care. Nash was
notoriously impecunious all through his life, and probably reference
is here made to some bounty received at the hands of Lord Southampton
(_see_ Introduction). What patronage meant at times is gleaned from
Florio's dedication of _The Worlde of Wordes_ in 1598 to the same
nobleman. He says:--"In truth I acknowledge an entire debt, not only
of my best knowledge, but of all; yea, of more than I know, or care,
to your bounteous lordship, in whose pay and patronage I have lived
some years.... But, as to me, and many more, the glorious and gracious
sunshine of your honour hath infused light and life." Rowe also tells
a story of Lord Southampton's munificence to Shakspeare. It is said