THE LOSS OF FAMAGUSTA 



To the Reader. 



A.D. 



I57I. 



Am not ignorant (gentle Reader) how 

 hard a matter it is for any one man to 

 write that, which should please and 

 satisfie all persons, we being commonly 

 of so divers opinions and contrary judge- 

 ments : againe Tully affirmeth it to be 

 a very difficult thing, to finde out any 



matter which in his owne kinde may be in all respects 

 perfect. Wherefore I trust by your owne judgement I 

 ought of reason to be the sooner pardoned (my trans- 

 lation being precisely tied to mine authours meaning) 

 if any thing heerein besides be thought to be wanting : 

 I have learned by the way how comberous a thing it 

 is to turne the selfesame matter out of the Italian 

 language into our countrey speech. But who so doeth 

 what he possibly can is bound to no more. And I 

 now at the request of others (who put me in minde, 

 that I was not onely borne unto my selfe) have accom- 

 plished that in the ende, which I promised and was 

 required. With what paine and diligence, I referre me [II. i. 121.] 

 to them which are skilfull in the Italian tongue, or 

 may the better judge, if it please them to trie the same, 

 casting aside this exampler. I speake it not arrogantly, 

 I take God to witnesse : but mens painefull travels 

 ought not hghtly to be condemned : nor surely at any 

 time are woont to be of the learned, or discreet. By 

 whose gentle acceptation if these my present doings be 

 now supported, I will perswade my selfe that I have 

 reaped sufficient fruit of my travell. Unto whome with 

 all my heart I wish prosperous successe in all their 

 affaires. 



Ann. Dom. 1572. W. M. 



[In Turchas 



127 



