TO THE NOBLEST NURSERIES OF HUMANITY AND LIBERTY IN THE KINGDOM

THE INNS OF COURT

I UNDERSTAND you, Gentlemen, not your houses:  and a worthy succession of you, to all time, as being born the judges of these studies.  When I wrote this poem, I had friendship with divers in your societies; who, as they were great names in learning, so they were no less examples of living.  Of them, and then, that I say no more, it was not despised.  Now that the printer, by a doubled charge, thinks it worthy a longer life than commonly the air of such things doth promise, I am careful to put it a servant to their pleasures, who are the inheritors of the first favour born it.  Yet, I command it lie not in the way of your more noble and useful studies to the public:  for so I shall suffer for it.  But when the gown and cap is off, and the lord of liberty reigns, then, to take it in your hands, perhaps may make some bencher, tincted with humanity, read and not repent him.

By your true honourer,
BEN JONSON.