Robert Greene’s Vision

Written at the instant of his death
Containing a penitent passion for the folly of his pen
Sero sed serio
To the gentlemen readers, health.

Gentlemen,  in  a  vision  before  my  death  I  foresee  that  I  am  like  to  sustain  the  shame  of many  follies  of  my  youth  when  I  am  shrouded  in  my  winding-sheet.  O  let  not  injurious tongues  triumph  over  a  dead  carcass.  Now  I  am  sick,  and  sorrow  hath  wholly  seized  on me;  vain  I  have  been;  let  not  other  men  show  themselves  vain  in  reproaching  my  vanity. I  crave  pardon  of  you  all  if  I  have  offended  any  of  you  with  lascivious  pamphleting. Many  things  I  have  wrote  to  get  money  which  I  could  otherwise  wish  to  be  suppressed; poverty  is  the  father  of  innumerable  infirmities;  in  seeking  to  salve  private  wants,  I  have made  myself  a  public  laughing-stock.  He  that  cometh  in  print  setteth  himself  up  as  a common  mark  for  everyone  to  shoot  at;  I  have  shot  at  many  abuses,  overshot  myself  in describing  of  some;  where  truth  failed,  my  invention  hath  stood  my  friend.  God  forgive me  all  my  misdemeanours;  now  in  the  best  lust  of  my  years,  death  I  fear  will  deprive  me of  any  further  proceeding  in  security.  This  book  hath  many  things  which  I  would  not have  written  on  my  tomb;  I  write  this  last;  let  it  be  my  last  will  and  testament.  Farewell; if  I  live  you  shall  hear  of  me  in  divinity;  in  the  meantime,  accept  the  will  for  the  deed, and speak well of me when I am dead.

Yours dying,

Robert Greene .

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