Page:The Works of Ben Jonson - Gifford - Volume 1.djvu/373

 The Autograph of Jonson appears in so many books, that it is probably familiar to the reader; a specimen of it, however, is here given, that the curiosity of no one may be disappointed. It will be seen that he wrote a very firm and clear hand. Many of his memorials to his friends are most beautifully written; the inscription in the opposite fac-simile is alluded to vol. viii. p. 169. I had not seen it when that note was drawn up. It stands in a blank leaf of Casaubon's Commentary on Persius, with which Jonson presented his friend. It has been already observed that the number of books which Jonson gave away is prodigious; some kind and cordial expression of his friendship accompanies each of them. Whalley has preserved one which fell into his hands—a beautiful copy of Sejanus with this epigraph: "To my perfect Friend Master Francis Crane, I erect this pillar of friendship, and leave it as the eternal witness of my love. Ben Jonson."