TheTreface to the Reader. 



That the oFrener we read them over,the more ftiii we find andlearne in them: as 

 beei'ng fo mdidoufly and pithily penned, that^as the Poet faid verie vvell^ decie's 

 refetita fUcerentMSltW may thenevveft fongsandlaft devifed plaies^delfghtour 

 earsatthc firft, and for the prefenc ravifh our fenfesslikeas horarib and ^arly 

 Summer fruits content our tafh and pleafe the appetit : bdt furtly it is antiquicie 

 that hath given grace^ vigor, fhrength to writings 5 even as age commendetH 

 the moft generous and beft wines . In which regard^ and upon this experience 

 of mineovvne, I nothing doubt but the^alfo whome I might iuftly feare as 

 hard cenfoursof thefemy labours^willnotonly pitiemefor my pains, but alfd 

 infome meafureyeeld me thanks in theend,vvhen either by thehghtof the En- 

 gliflb (if they bee young ftudents) they fhall be able more readily to goe away 

 with the darkephrafe and obfcure conftrucflion of the Latine^ orCbeing great 

 fchoUers and taking themfelves for deepe CiiticksJ by conferring the one 

 with the other^ haply to efpie wherein Ihave tripped, they fhall by that means 

 perufeoncc againe, and confequently gather neyv profit out of that authour 

 whomperadventure they hadlaidby for many yecrs as ftifficiendy underftood. 

 When fome benefit ClfayJIhall accrew unto them likewife by this occafion^ I 

 lefle dread their fearfull doome^ tovvhich fo vvilFulIyl have expofed my felfe. 

 Well I will:, that among the Athenians, order vvas taken by law^ That an enter- 

 lude newly aded fhould be heard with filence and applaufe : which cuftome, 

 as it wasrefpediveand favourable to the firft endeavours of die acflours^ fo ic 

 implied an inevitable danger of hifsing out and utter difgracejirafterwards they 

 chanced to niiiTe and faile in their parts. Having (hewed my felfe oncebefoie 

 upon the ftage, prefuming upon this priviledge and the curtefie of thethea- 

 trejl mighthave now fitten flilland fo refled i In mounting up thus foon againe^ 

 I may feeme either in the afTured confidence of mine ovvne worthineiTe^to pro- 

 claime a challenge to all mens cenfures 5 or els upon a deepe conceit of fome ge- 

 nei all connivencie make reckning of an extraordinarie and wonderful! favour^ 

 But as thechoife that! have m.ade to publifh the monuments of other men, 

 vvithoutfathering any thing of mine ovvne, doth excufe and acquit me for the 

 one 3 fo the frovvard difpofition of carpers in thefe daies wherein wee live, will 

 checke the other. Hovvbeit,confidering fuch pains undergone by me one man, 

 for the pleafure of fo many ; fo much time (pent of mine, for gaining time to 

 others 3 and fome opportunities of privat lucre overflipt and loft, to win profit 

 unto ailjl feare liot but thefe regards may deferve a friendly acceptance,^: coun- 

 terweigh all defects and faults efcaped,vvhatfoever. The perdiafion hereof, but 

 principally the privitieof my affedionatloveunto my country (vvhich d^^^ui^^d 

 meofafafe-conducT: tbpalTe peaceably through their hands who are of the bet> 

 ter ibrtand well affe(fted) inducedmeto arefolutionnotonelyto enter upon 

 this nevvtaske,but alfo to breake through all difficulties, untill I had brought 

 the fame, if not to a full and abfolute perfe<fiion,yet to an end and ^nd^X conclii- 

 Hon. Befides thisnaturall inclination & hope vvhith carried me this vvayjOrher" 

 motives there were that made faile and fet mic forward, I favv how divers nieii 

 before me had dealt with this authour, whiles fome laboured to reforme vvhat> 

 Ibeverby iniurie of time was growne out of frame: others did their b<:iit to 

 tranflatehim into their own tongue,and namely,the Italian and Frepvi'i : mor 

 ver,the Tideprefixed therto fo univerfallas itis^to mt^The HiHomof^'- " 



