Despicere unde queas alios, passimque videre
  Errare, atque viam palantes quaerere vitae.

The truth is, the consideration of so vain a creature as man, is not worth our pains.  I have fool enough at home, without looking for it abroad; and am a sufficient theatre to myself of ridiculous actions, without expecting company, either in a court, a town, or a play-house.  It is on this account that I am weary with drawing the deformities of life, and lazars of the people, where every figure of imperfection more resembles me than it can do others.  If I must be condemned to rhyme, I should find some ease in my change of punishment.  I desire to be no longer the Sisyphus of the stage; to roll up a stone with endless labour, (which, to follow the proverb, gathers no moss) and which is perpetually falling down again.  I never thought myself very fit for an employment, where many of my predecessors have excelled me in all kinds; and some of my contemporaries, even in my own partial judgement have outdone me in Comedy.  Some little hopes I have yet remaining, and those too, considering my abilities, may be vain, that I may make the world some part of amends, for many ill plays, by an heroic poem.  Your lordship has been long acquainted with my design; the subject of which you know is great, the story English, and neither too far distant from the present age, nor too near approaching it.  Such it is in my opinion, that I could not have wished a nobler occasion to do honour by it to my king, my country, and my friends; most of our ancient nobility being concerned in the action[6].  And your lordship has one particular reason to promote this undertaking, because you were the first who gave me the opportunity of discoursing it to his majesty, and his royal highness:  They were then pleased, both to commend the design, and to encourage it by their commands.  But the unsettledness of my condition has hitherto put a stop to my thoughts concerning it.  As I am no successor to Homer in his wit, so neither do I desire to be in his poverty.  I can make no rhapsodies nor go a begging at the Grecian doors, while I sing the praises of their ancestors.  The times of Virgil please me better, because he had an Augustus for his patron; and, to draw the allegory nearer you, I am sure I shall not want a Mecaenas with him.  It is for your lordship to stir up that remembrance in his majesty, which his many avocations of business have caused him, I fear, to lay aside; and, as himself and his royal brother are the heroes of the poem, to represent to them the images of their warlike predecessors; as Achilles is said to be roused to glory, with the sight of the combat before the ships.  For my own part, I am satisfied to have offered the design, and it may be to the advantage of my reputation to have it refused me.