ABSTRACT
T homasNashe'sdedicationofTheUnfortunateTravellertotheEarlofSouthamptoncloseswithabitofconventionalplayon theword"leaves":"YourLordshipisthelargespreading
branchofrenown,fromwhencethesemyidleleauesseeketoderiue theirwholenourishing:itrestethyoueitherscornfullyshakethem off,asworm-eaten&worthies,orinpitypreseruethemandcherish themoff,forsomelitlesummerfruteyouhopetofindamongst them"1(II,202).EveninhismostseriousmomentsNashewasnot aboveapun,anditisnosurprisetofindhimrecyclingthisoneinthe originalpreface"TotheReader"ofChristsTearesOverJerusalem, whereinheutterlyrenouncesthewantonworksofhisyouth:"The AutumneIimitate,insheadingmyleaueswiththeTrees"(II,IJ).
