Penny Dreadfuls, 1602 · page 13 of 400
Penny Dreadful Cover — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This is a prefatory page—specifically a dedicatory letter "To the Reader" printed in early modern English (not Victorian, despite the prompt's framing). The ornamental header and large initial letter indicate this is front matter from a book. The author addresses readers about pearls being low-priced in India yet precious in England, using this as a metaphor for literary merit. He explains that he has written works first in prose (already approved by some) and now offers verse, accepting indifferent judgment. He disclaims pretension to his own work's quality regarding "Veritie, Brewitie, Invention, and Varietie," and warns that arrogant or envious readers will find fault regardless. The tone is apologetic and defensive about impending criticism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
To the Reader. ay ays 6) Ell know I, that Pearles low-prifed in In- — — » Homer was flichsly anthorifed in wo) Vo/fe9 Greece, but fineularly admired elfe« VA\ Vie 99 where, and that for the moft part, the Wy, best Authors finde at home their wor ft 2 9 Auditors : howbeit, whatfoener Writer is most famous, the fame % therefore indebredto his natine Lan- guage: Neither preferrel aboue three fpeeches before ours for more fententious, Writtten bane I already in Proefe, allowed of fome, and now offer I Verfe, attending indifferent Cenfures. In whith , sf erofely I faile ( 28 not greatly Lfofeare ) in Veritie, ' Brewitie, Inuention, and Varietse, profitable, pat heticall, pithie, and pleafant, fo farre off {hall 1 be from being opinionate of mine owne Labors,that my felfe wil alfo fubferibeto preferibe the fame for a bfurde and erronious. But in vaine t it either to intreate or feare the Courteous or Captious : the one will nor cauill, nor the other bereconciled. Ady labour ts paft, and your liking to come, and things hardly founded may eafily bee confoundeds Arrogancie t Linx-eyed into aanantages , Enuie and felfe- conceited Readers capable of the least errour: But fach Aare \ Osa) F£E diaare preciows in England , that enen 00a Mindes and the Coniraries of thofe Aden in reading of A 3 * Bookes, Comicboo — +. al - <S, ht aa ant ty