The Choise of Valentines; Or the Merie Ballad of Nash His Dildo

My mynde once purg'd of such lascivious witt,
With purifide words and hallowed verse,
Thy praises in large volumes shall rehearse,
That better maie thy grauer view befitt.
It is curious to note that while Shakspeare and Nash both promise graver work and better lines, they alike select amatory themes for their first offerings. The promise in Shakspeare's case was redeemed by the dedication to Southampton of The Rape of Lucreece, while it may be assumed, as aforesaid, that Nash followed suit with The Unfortunate Traveller.
Nash, however, for some cause or other failed to retain the Earl's interest; indeed, says Mr. Sidney Lee, he did not retain the favour of any patron long. It is only fair to state, however, that the withdrawal of Lord Southampton's patronage may not have been due to any fault or shortcoming on the part of Nash, for there is likewise no evidence whatever to show that any close intimacy existed between Southampton and Shakspeare after 1594. Probably there was much else to claim Lord Southampton's attention—his marriage, and the Essex rebellion to wit. This, however, leads somewhat wide of the present work.
But O! my soule is vext to thinke how euill
It is abus'd to beare suits to the Deuill.
Pierse-Pennilesse (a Pies eat such a patch)
Made me (agree) that business once dispatch.
And having made me vndergo the shame,
Abusde me further, in the Deuills name: