Jr ALTON I AN A. 



To the Reader. 



'mm 



HOUGH the Autboorhad fome years 

 berbre his lamented death, compord, 

 re\'iew'd, and corrected theie Eclogues; 

 yet, he left no EpirUe to the Reader, 

 bur onely a Tide, and a blanke leafetbr that purpole. 

 Whether he meant ibme Allegoricall expoiidon 

 of the Shepheards names, or their Eglogues, is 

 doubtful! : but 'ns certain, that as they are, they 

 appear a perfect pattern of the Authour; whofe 

 perfon, and minde, were both lovely, and his con- 

 verfation fuch as diftilFd pleafure, knowledge, and 

 verrue, into his friends and acquaintance. 



'Tis confell, thefe Eglogues are not fo whollv 

 di\'ine as many of his publilht Meditations, which 



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