TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY
EARL OF RUMNEY
_Master-General of Their Majesties Ordinance, and of Their Majesties
most Honourable Privy-Council, Constable of Dover-Castle, and Lord
Warden of the Cinque-Ports._
My Lord,
Good men think the meanest friend no more to be dispis'd, than the
politick the meanest enemy; and the generous would be as inquisitive
to discover an unknown esteem for 'em, as the cautious an unknown
hatred: This I say to plead myself into the number of those you know
for your admirers; and that the world may know it, give me leave to
present you with a translation of _Petronius_, and to absolve all my
offences against him, by introducing him into so agreeable company.
You're happy, my Lord, in the most elegant part of his character, in
the gallantry and wit of a polite gentleman, mixt with the observation
and conduct of a man of publik employments; And since all share the
benefit of you,'tis the duty of all to confess their sence of it, I
had almost said, to return, as they cou'd, the favour, and like a true
author, made that my gratitude which may prove your trouble: But what
flatters me most out of the apprehensions of your dislike, is the
gentleman-like pleasantry of the work, where you meet with variety of
ridicule on the subject of _Nero's_ court, an agreeable air of humour
in a ramble through schools, bagnio's temples, and markets; wit and
gallantry in armours, with moral reflections on almost every accident
of humane life. In short, my Lord, I shall be very proud to please a
_Sidney_, an house fertile, of extraordinary genio's, whose every
member deserves his own Sir _Philip_ to celebrate him; whose
characters are romances to the rest of mankind, but real life in his
own family.
_I am, my Lord,_
_Your Lordships most devoted_
_Humble Servant,_
W. BURNABY.