MADAM,

I am too sensible of the distinguished honour conferred upon me, in your

Majesty's gracious protection of these Poems, to abuse it by adopting

the common strain of dedication.

That praise corresponds best to your Majesty's generous feelings, which

is poured without restraint from the heart, and is repeated where you

cannot hear.

I suppress therefore, in delicacy to those feelings, the warmth of my

own, and subscribe myself,

Poems (1786), Volume I. · 第 7 / 145 题