Lord, has shared the
Fate common to every great Genius, receiving very
-- iv --
ill Returns for all his Beauties and Benefits; in
amends for which, my present Endeavour is to wipe
off the Dust of Age, Error and Ignorance, and screen
his valuable Remains under Your Lordship's Protection.
YOUR Lordship knowing his Excellencies, can
happily compare them with the Antients, and have
thereby a peculiar Right to this Offering. That
Nurse of Arts and Sciences, that Builder and Refiner
of Mankind, (with what Pride I say our common
Mother, Eton!) has furnished You with a
true Taste of Letters; so that tho Shakespear
might fear You, as a Judge, yet he now prides himself
in courting You, as a Patron.
IN Your Travels, Your Name, the best Harbinger,
prepared for You at every Court a Reception suitable
to the Son of Mr. Walpole. You was then the
Representative of the English Genius Abroad, displaying
that Probity, Integrity, and Openness of Soul,
that distinguishes this Nation from all others.
IN the Situation You are now in, My Lord,
You have nothing to do but to imitate the Great
-- v --
Pattern before You, to the Joy of Your Friends, and
the Disappointment not of Yours, so much as of Your
Country's Enemies. You have the noblest Incentives:
For it is with You as with young Ascanius,
Te pater Æneas & Avunculus excitat Hector.
I am,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient
humble Servant,
G. Sewell
-- vii --
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
