Page:Batrachomyomachia, or, the wonderfull and bloudy Battell betweene Frogs and Mice.djvu/14



Aving of late, for mine owne exercise at vacant houres, consummated the translation of this little Booke, I now boldly adventure to commit it to the Presse, being the rather induced thereunto by the incouragement of certaine of mine acquaintance: not that I seeke hereby to winne praise, or publish this for any devotion in print, since I am verily perswaded, it deserves not the least title of commendation: and I hold it as a maxime with Lylie, that he which commeth in print, because he would be known, is like the foole that goeth into the market, because he would be seene. Onely I hope, that this my simple labour will be a spurre to the riper wits of our time, that the golden workes of this & other famous Poets, may not still lye hidden, as under a vaile or mysterie, from the weake capacitie of meaner judgements. Concerning my translation, as I cannot altogether commend it: for quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus: so neither will I wholly discommend it; in the one I might seeme arrogant; in the other be accounted foolish: and therfore puto rectius esse, ut sint mediocria omnia.