Shakespeare of Stratford/The Biographical Facts/Fact 10
X. THE EARLIEST TRIBUTE TO SHAKESPEARE BY NAME AS A POET (1594).
Anonymous verses prefixed to Willobie His Avisa (1594).
Though Collatine have dearly bought
To high renown a lasting life,
And found that [what] most in vain have sought,
To have a fair and constant wife;
Yet Tarquin plucked his glistering grape,
And Shake-speare paints poor Lucrece’ rape.
To high renown a lasting life,
And found that [what] most in vain have sought,
To have a fair and constant wife;
Yet Tarquin plucked his glistering grape,
And Shake-speare paints poor Lucrece’ rape.
Note. This illustrates the immediate popularity of Shakespeare’s Lucrece. The curious topical work in mingled prose and verse which this commendatory poem introduces comprises a dialogue between H. W. (Henry Willobie) and one W. S. It has been dubiously supposed to allude to Shakespeare as an authority on love. The book was entered for publication, September 8, 1594.