"For out of olde feldes, as men seith,
Cometh al this newe corn fro yeer to yere;
And out of olde bokes, in good feith,
Cometh al this newe science that men lere."
--_Chaucer._
"I finde that you have vsed in this your tr[=a]slation greate art,
knowledge, and discretion. For walking as it were in golden fetters (as
al Translators doe) you notwithstanding so warilie follow your Auctor,
that where he trippeth you hold him vp, and where he goeth out of the
way, you better direct his foote. You haue not only with the Bee sucked
out the best iuyce from so sweete a flower, but with the Silke-worme as
it were wouen out of your owne bowels, the finest silke; & that which
is more, not rude & raw silke, but finely died with the fresh colour of
your owne Art, Invention, and Practise. If these Adamantes draw you not
to effect this which you haue so happilie begunne: then let these
spurres driue you forward: viz. Your owne promise, the expectation of
your friends, the losse of some credit if you should steppe backe, the
profit which your labours may yeeld to many, the earnest desire which
you yourselfe haue to reviue this Arte, and the vndoubted acceptation
of your paines, if you performe the same."--(Prefatory epistle of John
Case, D. of Physicke, printed in R. Haydocke's translation of _The
Artes of Curious Painting_, of Lomatius, Oxford, 1598.)
"This booke is not for every rude and unconnynge man to see, but for
clerkys and very gentylmen that understand gentylness and
scyence."--_Caxton._
CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.
TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.
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