And ask you kindly bear the try with me
As I attempt to write in polish'd verse
What else'd be as free and plain prose written,
Though hard's the fight with iambs and stress and feet
And language jumps from old to new and back.
The cause, my dearest friends, you may have guess'd
From my pretentious caption -
I dare and try to do what I should not:
Try to improve the epic plays o' Shakespeare.
