THE AUTHOR TO HIS BOOKE

Go painefull Booke, go plead thy owne Defence,

Walke with undaunted Courage, stop the Breath

Of carping tongues; who count it small offence

To bulge Thee up, within the jawes of Death:

Go lively charg’d, with stout Historian Faith,

And trample downe, base Crittickes in the Dust:

Make Trueth thy sword, to batter down their wrath

So shall thy Grave discourse, triumph as just:

Who yeeld Thee Credite, and deserving trust,

There prostrate fal, give them their hearts content:

Point forth the Wise, and Court them as thou must,

Give them insight, as I give Argument:

Instruct the Curious, inlarge the Servile Mind,

Illuminate misunderstandings blinde:

Sound Knowledge in their eares, deigne to approove me,

Since Friends and Foes, the World and I, must love thee.