The Preface of the Author To His Sonne, Faustinus And unto the Readers of this Book

          THAT I to thee some joyous jests
            may show in gentle gloze,
          And frankly feed thy bended eares
            with passing pleasant prose:
          So that thou daine in seemly sort
            this wanton booke to view,
          That is set out and garnisht fine,
            with written phrases new.
          I will declare how one by hap
            his humane figure lost,
          And how in brutish formed shape,
            his loathed life he tost.
          And how he was in course of time
            from such a state unfold,
          Who eftsoone turn'd to pristine shape
            his lot unlucky told.

What and who he was attend a while, and you shall understand that it was even I, the writer of mine own Metamorphosie and strange alteration of figure. Hymettus, Athens, Isthmia, Ephire Tenaros, and Sparta, being fat and fertile soiles (as I pray you give credit to the bookes of more everlasting fame) be places where myne antient progeny and linage did sometime flourish: there I say, in Athens, when I was yong, I went first to schoole. Soone after (as a stranger) I arrived at Rome, whereas by great industry, and without instruction of any schoolmaster, I attained to the full perfection of the Latine tongue. Behold, I first crave and beg your pardon, lest I should happen to displease or offend any of you by the rude and rusticke utterance of this strange and forrein language. And verily this new alteration of speech doth correspond to the enterprised matter whereof I purpose to entreat, I will set forth unto you a pleasant Grecian jeast. Whereunto gentle Reader if thou wilt give attendant eare, it will minister unto thee such delectable matter as thou shalt be contented withall.