Which will in death seal the bold counterpart.
A Letter.] I do not know any clue to the object of this epistle. King, like most churchmen of distinction at the time, was on familiar terms with divers 'persons of quality'. But it might be a mere literary exercise—a 'copy of verses'.
23 'Nod regardant' is good. It shows, with 'passant' just before that his own reference to heraldry was still floating in King's mind.
54 Either of two of the numerous senses of 'blank' would come in here. One is tabula rasa, the judgement being obscured by no prepossession; the other 'bull's-eye' or 'target'.
59 Orig. as usual, 'Heralds', with no apostrophe to make case or number. If anybody prefers 'herald's' I have no objection.
67 indent] In the sense of 'contract', 'engage'.
An Acknowledgement.
My best of friends! what needs a chain to tie
One by your merit bound a votary?