Book praef

That I to thee some joyous jests may show in gentle glose, And frankly feed thy bended ears with passing pleasant prose: So that thou deign in seemly sort this wanton book to view, That is set out and garnished fine, with written phrases new. I will declare how one by hap his human figure lost, And how in brutish formed shape his loathed life he tossed. And how he was in course of time from such estate unfold, Who eftsoons, turned to pristine shape, his lot unlucky told.

What and who he was attend a while, and you shall understand that it was even I, the writer of mine own Metamorphose and strange alteration of figure. Hymettus, Athens, Isthmia, Ephyrus, Taenaros, and Sparta, being fat and fertile soils (as I pray you give credit to the books of more everlasting fame) be places where mine ancient progeny and lineage did sometime flourish: there I say, in Athens, when I was young, I went first to school. Soon after (as a stranger) I arrived at Rome, whereas by great industry, and without instruction of any school master, I attained to the full perfection of the Latin tongue: behold, I first crave and beg your pardon, lest I should happen to displease or offend any of you by the rude and rustic utterance of this strange and foreign language. And verily this new alteration of speech doth correspond to the enterprised matter whereof I purpose to entreat; I will set forth unto you a pleasant Grecian jest. Whereunto, gentle reader, if thou wilt give attendant ear, it will minister unto thee such delectable matter as thou shalt be well contented withal.