To the Reader.
The
place of a Prologue let
this leafe take up; which
would gently advise you to
suspend your censure of
this translation, till you
be skilled in both the languages; for
from the ignorant in either I may suffer.
Some places in the Originall I have
changed, but not many: two Scenes I
have left out, as being soliloquies and little
pertinent to the businesse: some things I
have added, but scarce discernable: where
he would give me leave, I have followed
close both the sense & words of the Author,
but many things are received wit in one
tongue which are not in another. The Play
it selfe, being a true history, though like a
Romance (since this age consists of such
Play-seers) I would willingly propose to be
imitated of our undertakers in the like
kinde, I meane for the conveyance, and (as
I may call it) the Oeconomy of it: for what
concernes the wit and naturall expressions
in it; I know I speak to deafe people, whose
eares have beene furr'd with' so many Hyperboles,
which is the wit in fashion, though
the same in
Sen. Rhet. sua 1. sub finem.
Seneca's dayes, were accounted
madnesse. But if they knew how
dissenting with a right eare any affected
speech is, they would rather trespasse the
other way, and not straine nature beyond
what we finde it commonly is. But this
is not fit Porch for the Temple of love, Ile
shut it up, and open you the pleasant way,
into which you had rather enter.
