As =Prologue=, to the service I intend, This PRESENT comes; and, without =Hope=, or =End=, Of gaining further =Grace=, or more =Esteeme=, Than may, with humblest modestie, beseeme His =Love=, and =Honest-meaning=, to expect, Whose =Merits= have, no visible effect, Conducing to your profit; and, from whom The best of his intents, are yet to come. I cannot thinke, these =Lots=, or =Emblems=, are So worthy in themselves, as they’l appeare In your acceptance; Or, that they can give, Such Grace to YOV, as they’l from you receive. Yet, if YOV please, they may be, otherwhile, A profitable Meanes, to help beguile A Melancholy thought; And, have the pow’r To shorten (without losse) a tedious howre. Sometime (no doubt) content you are to walke In =Artlesse Groves=; Or, to admit the talke of Rustick =Swaines= (though ev’ry day you might Your self in well-trim’d =garden-bowr’s=, delight, Or, heare the learnedst =Muses=, when you please;) Ev’n so, for change, you may, perhaps, in these A =Recreation= finde; and, in some measure, A =Profit=, intermixed with your =Pleasure=. I will not make my =Promises= too large, Lest, my =Performances=, they overcharge With =Expectation=: but, I leave them, SIR, To =Bee=, and to =be thought=, the same they are. And, if your EXCELLENCE, (when you behold The Ground whereon I first became so bold, To make this Entrance) shall vouchsafe to daigne Those =Favours=, which, I dare not thinke to gaine By =Meer-deserving=; you may then, perchance, My =Willingnesse=, to =Ablenesse= advance: And, reap in =Mee= (when ripened they are grown) Some timely =fruits=, of that, which =you= have sown. Till then, let it suffice, that I professe A cheerefull, and a thankfull Readinesse To honour YOV; and, openly to show The Dutie, which, it may appeare, I owe To HIM that’s gone. And, let your GRACE descend To take this =Pledge=, of what I more intend._ Who am in all humilitie Your GRACES to be commanded, GEO: WITHER. _If well thou dost, and well intend, Thou shalt be crowned, in the end._ [Illustration: SI RECTE FACIES. ILLVSTR. I. _Book. 3_]