What thou hast gained for thy better instruction, or what
conceiued for recreation by reading these thirty fiue Nouells,
I am no Iudge, although (by deeming) in reading and perusing,
thou mayst (at thy pleasure) gather both. But howsoeuer profite,
or delight, can satisfy mine apoyntment, wherefore they were
preferred into thy hands, contented am I that thou doe vouchsafe
them Good lessons how to shun the Darts, and Prickes of
insolency thou findest in the same. The vertuous noble may sauor
the fruits and taste the licour that stilleth from the gums or
buds of Vertue. The contrary may see the blossoms fall, that
blome from the shrubs of disloialty and degenerat kinde. Yong
Gentlemen, and Ladies do view a plot founded on sured grounde,
and what the foundation is, planted in shattring Soyle, with a
fashion of attire to garnish their inward parts, so well as
(sparelesse) they imploy vpon the vanishing pompe. Euery sort
and sexe that warfare in the fielde of humayne life, may set
here the sauourous fruict (to outwarde lyking) that fansied the
sensuall taste of Adam's Wyfe. They see also what griefts sutch
fading fruicts produce vnto posterity: what likewise the lusty
growth and spring of vertue's plant, and what delicates it
brauncheth to those that carefully keepe the slips thereof,
within the Orchard of their mindes. Diuers Tragical shewes by
the pennes description haue bene disclosed in greatest number of
these Hystories, the same also I haue mollified and sweetened
with the course of pleasaunt matters, of purpose not to dampe
the deynty mindes of those that shrinke and feare at such
rehearsall. And bicause sodaynly (contrary to expectation) this
Volume is risen to greater heape of leaues, I doe omit for this
present time sundry Nouels of mery deuise, reseruing the same to
be ioyned with the rest of an other part, wherein shall succeede
the remnaunt of Bandello, specially sutch (suffrable) as the
learned French man François de Belleforrest hath selected, and
the choysest done in the Italian. Some also out of Erizzo, Ser
Giouani Florentino, Parabosco, Cynthio, Straparole, Sansouino,
and the best liked out of the Queene of Nauarre, and other
Authors. Take these in so good part with those that haue and
shall come forth, as I do offre them with good will curteously
correcting sutch Faults, and Errors, as shall present
themselues, eyther burying them in the Bosome of Fauor, or
pretermitting them with the beck of Curtesie.