It is somewhat tart, I grant it; acriora orexim excitant embammata, as he said, sharp sauces increase appetite, Nec cibus ipse juvat morsu fraudatus aceti. Object then and cavil what thou wilt, I ward all with Democritus buckler, his medicine shall salve it; strike where thou wilt, and when: Democritus dixit, Democritus will answer it.

It was written by an idle fellow, at idle times, about our Saturnalian or Dyonisian feasts, when as he said, nullum libertati periculum est, servants in old Rome had liberty to say and do what them list.

When our countrymen sacrificed to their goddesse Vacuna, and sat tipling by their Vacunall fires, I writ this, and published this οὖτις ἔλεγεν, it is neminis nihil. The time, place, persons, and all circumstances apologize for me, and why may I not then be idle with others? speak my minde freely? If you deny me this liberty, upon these presumptions I will take it: I say again, I will take it.

Si quis est qui dictum in se inclementius Existimavit esse, sic existimet. If any man take exceptions, let him turn the buckle of his girdle, I care not. I owe thee nothing (Reader) I look for no favor at thy hands, I am independent, I fear not.

No, I recant, I will not, I care, I fear, I confesse my fault, acknowledg a great offence, ——motos præstat componere fluctus, I have overshot my self, I have spoken foolishly, rashly, unadvisedly, absurdly, I have anatomized mine own folly.

And now me thinks upon a sudden I am awaked as it were out of a dream, I have had a raving fit, a phantastical fit, ranged up and down, in and out, I have insulted over most kinde of men, abused some, offended others, wronged my self;

and now being recovered, and perceiving mine error, cry with Orlando, Solvite me, pardon (o boni) that which is past, and I will make you amends in that which is to come; I promise you a more sober discourse in my following Treatise.

If through weaknesse, folly, passion, discontent, ignorance, I have said amisse, let it be forgotten and forgiven. I acknowledg that of Tacitus to be true, Asperæ facetiæ ubi nimis ex vero traxere, acrem sui memoriam relinquunt, a bitter jest leaves a sting behinde it: and as an honorable man observes, They fear a Satyrist’s wit, he their memories.

I may justly suspect the worst; and though I hope I have wronged no man, yet in Medeas words I will crave pardon, ——Illud jam voce extrema peto, Ne si qua noster dubius effudit dolor, Maneant in animo verba, sed melior tibi Memoria nostri subeat, hæc iræ data Obliterentur——

And in my last words this I do desire, That what in passion I have said, or ire, May be forgotten, and a better minde Be had of us, hereafter as you finde. I earnestly request every private man, as Scaliger did Cardan, not to take offence.

I will conclude in his lines, Si me cognitum haberes, non solum donares nobis has facetias nostras, sed etiam indignum duceres, tam humanum animum, lene ingenium, vel minimam suspitionem deprecari oportere. If thou knewest my modesty and simplicity, thou wouldst easily pardon and forgive what is here amiss, or by thee misconceived.

If hereafter anatomizing this surly humor, my hand slip, as an unskilfull prentise I launce too deep, and cut through skin and all at unawares, make it smart, or cut awry, pardon a rude hand, an unskilfull knife, tis a most difficult thing to keep an even tone, a perpetual tenor, and not sometimes to lash out;

difficile est Satyram non scribere, there be so many objects to divert, inward perturbations to molest, and the very best may sometimes erre; aliquando bonus dormitat Homerus, it is impossible not in so much to overshoot: ——opere in longo fas est obrepere somnum.

But what needs all this? I hope there will no such cause of offence be given; if there be, Nemo aliquid recognoscat, nos mentimur omnia. Ile deny all (my last refuge) recant all, renounce all I have said, if any man except, and with as much facility excuse, as he can accuse;

but I presume of thy good favor, and gratious acceptance (gentle reader) Out of an assured hope and confidence thereof, I will begin.