To a young nobleman thus inclined, imbued with a keen relish for dramatic poetry, who was ardent in his thirst for fame, and liberal in the encouragement of genius, it was natural for our poet to look not only with hope and expectation, but with enthusiastic regard. To Lord Southampton, therefore, though only nineteen years old, Shakspeare, in his twenty-ninth year[2:B], dedicated his _Venus and Adonis_, "the first heire of _his_ invention." The language of this dedication, however, indicates some degree of apprehension as to the nature of its reception, and consequently proves that our author was not at this period assured of His Lordship's support; for it commences thus:—"Right Honorable, I know not how I shall _offend_ in dedicating my unpolisht lines to your Lordship;" and he adds in the opening of the next clause, "onely if your Honor _seeme but pleased_, I account myselfe highly praised." These timidities appear to have vanished in a very short period: for our author's dedication to the same nobleman of his _Rape of Lucrece_, which was entered on the Stationers' Books on May 9th, 1594, and published almost immediately afterwards, speaks a very different language, and indicates very plainly that Shakspeare had already experienced the beneficial effects of His Lordship's patronage. Gratitude and confidence, indeed, cannot express themselves in clearer terms than may be found in the diction of this address:—"The _love_ I dedicate to Your Lordship," says the bard, "_is without end_.—The _warrant_ I have of _your Honourable disposition_, not the worth of my untutored lines, makes it _assured of acceptance_. What I have done is yours, what I have to doe is yours, being part _in all I have devoted yours_. Were my worth greater, my duety would shew greater; meane time, as it is, _it is bound to your Lordship_." Words more declaratory of obligation it would not be easy to select, and we shall be justified, therefore, in inferring, that Lord Southampton had conferred upon Shakspeare, in consequence of his dedication to him of _Venus and Adonis_, some marked proof of his kindness and protection.