To the Right Honourable and Mighty Lord, THOMAS EARLE OF SUSSEX,
Viscount Fitzwalter, Lord of Egremont and of Burnell, Knight of the
most noble Order of the Garter, Iustice of the forrests and Chases from
Trent Southward; Captain of the Gentleman Pensioners of the House of
the QUEENE our Soveraigne Lady.
After that I had taken upon me (right Honourable) in manner of that
unlearned and foolish Poet, Cherillus, who rashly and unadvisedly
wrought a big volume in verses, of the valiant prowesse of Alexander
the Great, to translate this present booke, contayning the
Metamorphosis of Lucius Apuleius; being mooved thereunto by the right
pleasant pastime and delectable matter therein; I eftsoones consulted
with myself, to whom I might best offer so pleasant and worthy a work,
devised by the author, it being now barbarously and simply framed in
our English tongue. And after long deliberation had, your honourable
lordship came to my remembrance, a man much more worthy, than to whom
so homely and rude a translation should be presented. But when I again
remembred the jesting and sportfull matter of the booke, unfit to be
offered to any man of gravity and wisdome, I was wholly determined to
make no Epistle Dedicatory at all; till as now of late perswaded
thereunto by my friends, I have boldly enterprised to offer the same to
your Lordship, who as I trust wil accept the same, than if it did
entreat of some serious and lofty matter, light and merry, yet the
effect thereof tendeth to a good and vertuous moral, as in the
following Epistle to the reader may be declared. For so have all
writers in times past employed their travell and labours, that their
posterity might receive some fruitfull profit by the same. And therfore
the poets feined not their fables in vain, considering that children in
time of their first studies, are very much allured thereby to proceed
to more grave and deepe studies and disciplines, whereas their mindes
would quickly loath the wise and prudent workes of learned men, wherein
in such unripe years they take no spark of delectation at all. And not
only that profit ariseth to children by such feined fables, but also
the vertues of men are covertly thereby commended, and their vices
discommended and abhorred. For by the fable of Actaeon, where it is
feigned that he saw Diana washing her selfe in a well, hee was
immediately turned into an Hart, and so was slain of his own Dogs; may
bee meant, That when a man casteth his eyes on the vain and soone
fading beauty of the world, consenting thereto in his minde, hee
seemeth to bee turned into a brute beast, and so to be slain by the
inordinate desire of his owne affects. By Tantalus that stands in the
midst of the floud Eridan, having before him a tree laden with pleasant
apples, he being neverthelesse always thirsty and hungry, betokeneth
the insatiable desires of covetous persons. The fables of Atreus,
Thiestes, Tereus and Progne signifieth the wicked and abhominable facts
wrought and attempted by mortall men. The fall of Icarus is an example
to proud and arrogant persons, that weeneth to climb up to the heavens.
By Mydas, who obtained of Bacchus, that all things which he touched
might be gold, is carped the foul sin of avarice. By Phaeton, that
unskilfully took in hand to rule the chariot of the Sunne, are
represented those persons which attempt things passing their power and
capacity. By Castor and Pollux, turned into a signe in heaven called
Gemini, is signified, that vertuous and godly persons shall be rewarded
after life with perpetuall blisse. And in this feined jest of Lucius
Apuleius is comprehended a figure of mans life, ministring most sweet
and delectable matter, to such as shall be desirous to reade the same.
The which if your honourable lordship shall accept and take in good
part, I shall not onely thinke my small travell and labour well
employed, but also receive a further comfort to attempt some more
serious matter, which may be more acceptable to your Lordship: desiring
the same to excuse my rash and bold enterprise at this time, as I
nothing doubt of your Lordships goodnesse. To whome I beseech Almighty
God to impart long life, with encrease of much honour.
From Vniversity Colledge in Oxenforde, the xviij. of September, 1566.
Your Honours most bounden,