To my VVorthy and much Respected Friend, Mr. Thomas Hammon, of Grayes Inne Esquire.
Sir,
If the noble Scholler Nichod. Friseelimus,
thought that his labour in Transferring
six of Aristophanes his Comedies, out of
the Originall Greeke into the Roman
tongue, was worthy to be dedicated to six seueral,
the most eminent Princes of his time, for Learning
and Iudgement: Thinke it then no disparagment
to you, to vndertake as well the Patronage,
perusall of this Poem: Which as it exceedes the
strict limits of the ancient Comedy (then in vse)
informe, so it transcends them many degrees;
both in the fulnesse of the Sceane, and grauity of
the Subject.
The History whereon it is grounded, hauing
beene the selected Argument of many exquisite
Poets: For what the Pen of note, in one page or other
hath not remembered
Troy, and bewayl'd the
sacke, and subuersion of so illustrious a Citty:
Which, although it were scituate in
Asia, yet out
of her ashes hath risen, two of the rarest Phœnixes
in
Europe, namely
London and
Rome. Sir my
acquaintance with your worth, and knowledge of
your iudgement, were the chiefe motiues, inducing
me to select you before many others: accept
it, I intreate you, as fauourably as hee exposeth it
willingly, who as he hath antecedently long, so
futurely euer,
Shall remayne yours:
Thomas Heywood.
