 The engraving is praised by Shakespeare 's friend Ben Jonson in his poem To the Reader printed alongside it , in which he says that it is a good likeness of the poet . He writes that " the graver had a strife / With nature to outdo the life " and that he has " hit his face " accurately . He adds that the engraver could not represent Shakespeare 's " wit " , for which the viewer will have to read the book . 
