[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 that he gave the poet L1,000 (equal to L12,000 now-a-days) to complete a special purchase. Whether this story be true or not, it is certain that Lord Southampton was a most liberal patron of letters. 4 _Presents thee with_, Presentes you with. 5 "Ne" = Nor, A.S.; _unchastitie_, inchastitye. 6 _painting_, paynting; _things_, thinges; _hidden are_, hidden be. 7 & 8 In Rawl. MS. these lines are transposed. _Since all men act_, sith most men marke; _speache declare_, speech descrie; _Onlie_, only; _varietie_, varyetye. 9 _Complants and praises euery one_, Complayntes & prayses every man. 10 _passion out_, passion forth; _their pangu's_, there loue; _statlie rimes_, statly rime. 11 _pleasures none_, pleasure non; _euer write_, e're indite. 12 _theis latter times_, this latter time. 13 _Deare Lord_, deare loue. A significant reading in view of the absence of the dedication in the Rawl. MS. "_Accept ... in gentle gree_," to take kindly. 14 _And better lynes ere long_, And better farr, ere long (_see_ Introduction). [Illustration] THE CHOOSING OF VALENTINES. It was the merie moneth of Februarie, When yong men, in their iollie roguerie, Rose earelie in the morne fore breake of daie, To seeke them valentines soe trimme and gaie; 4 With whom they maie consorte in summer sheene, And dance the haidegaies on our toune-greene, As alas at Easter, or at Pentecost, Perambulate the fields that flourish most; 8 And goe to som village abbordring neere, To taste the creame and cakes and such good cheere; Or see a playe of strange moralitie, Shewen by Bachelrie of Maningtree. 12 Where to, the contrie franklins flock-meale swarme, And Jhon and Jone com marching arme in arme. Euen on the hallowes of that blessed Saint That doeth true louers with those ioyes acquaint, 16