 | Loves Mistresse : or The Queenes Masque |  |
To the Reader.
Generous Reader,
For this Dramatick Poem, I need not much Apologie; It having past so many Tests of Approbation, yet for commendable Customes sake I follow the tradition of all or most Authors, who were never deficient in this kind of complement: The Argument is taken from Apuleius, an excellent Morrall, if truly understood, and may be called a golden Truth, contained in a leaden fable, which though it be not altogether conspicious to the vulgar, yet to those of Learning and judgement, no lesse apprehended in the Paraphrase, than approved in the Originall: of which, if the perusers hereof were all Apuleians, and never a Midas amongst them, I should make no question: So much for the Subject it selfe, but for the rare decorements which new apparell'd it, when it came the second time to the Royall view, (Her Gracious Majesty then entertaining his Highnesse at Denmarke-hous, upon his Birth-day) I cannot pretermit to give a due Charracter to that admirable Artist, Mr. Inego Jones, Master surveyor of the Kings worke, &c. Who to every Act, nay almost to every Sceane, by his excellent Inventions, gave such an extraordinary Luster; upon every occasion changing the stage, to the admiration of all the Spectators: that, as I must Ingeniously confesse, It was above my apprehension to conceive, so to their sacred Majesties, and the rest of the Auditory; It gave so generall a content, that I presume they never parted from any object, presented in that kind, better pleased, or more plenally satisfied: But these I leave to your judgements to ghesse at; the thing it selfe I propose to your eyes, to consure, which if you judge as favourably as I expresse it freely, I shall ever remaine as heretofore:
| Loves Mistresse : or The Queenes Masque | |