TOMARTINCHARLESBURNEY,ESQ.

tomartincharlesburney,esq.

(thededicationtovol.ii.oflamb'sworks,1818)

forgiveme,burney,iftotheetheselate

andhastyproductsofacriticpen,

thyselfnocommonjudgeofbooksandmen,

infeelingofthyworthidedicate.

myversewasofferedtoanolderfriend;

thehumblerprosehasfallentothyshare:

norcouldimisstheoccasiontodeclare,

whatspokeninthypresencemustoffend—

that,setasidesomefewcapriceswild,

thosehumorouscloudsthatflito'erbrightestdays,

inallmythreadingsofthisworldlymaze,

(andihavewatchedtheealmostfromachild),

freefromself-seeking,envy,lowdesign,

ihavenotfoundawhitersoulthanthine.