_Small is the gift, but great is my good-will; the which, by how much the lesse I am able to expresse it, by so much the more it is infinite. Liue long: and inherit your Predecessors vertues, as you doe their dignitie and estate. This is my wish: the which your honorable excellent giftes doe promise me to obtaine: and whereof these few rude and vnpollished lines, are a true (though an vndeseruing) testimony. If my ability were better, the signes should be greater; but being as it is, your honour must take me as I am, not as I should be. My yeares being so young, my perfection cannot be greater: But howsoeuer it is, yours it is; and I my selfe am yours; in all humble seruice, most ready to be commaunded._ Richard Barnefeilde. [Illustration] _To the curteous Gentlemen Readers._ [Illustration] Gentlemen; the last Terme [_i.e._, _November_ 1594] there came forth a little toy of mine, intituled, _The affectionate Shepheard:_ In the which, his Country _Content_ found such friendly fauor, that it hath incouraged me to publish my second fruites. _The affectionate Shepheard_ being the first: howsoeuer undeseruedly (I protest) I haue beene thought (of some) to haue beene the authour of two Books heretofore. I neede not to name them, because they are two-well knowne already: nor will I deny them, because they are dislik't; but because they are not mine. This protestation (I hope) will satisfie th'indifferent: as for them that are maliciously enuious, as I cannot, so I care not to please. Some there were, that did interpret _The affectionate Shepheard_, otherwise then (in truth) I meant, touching the subiect thereof, to wit, the loue of a Shepheard to a boy; a fault, the which I will not excuse, because I neuer made. Onely this, I will vnshaddow my conceit: being nothing else, but an imitation of _Virgill_, in the second Eglogue of _Alexis_. In one or two places (in this Booke) I vse the name of _Eliza_ pastorally: wherein, lest any one should misconster my meaning (as I hope none will) I haue here briefly discouered my harmeles conceipt as concerning that name: whereof once (in a simple Shepheards deuice) I wrot this Epigramme. _One name there is, which name aboue all other I most esteeme, as time and place shall proue: The one is_ Vesta, _th'other_ Cupids _Mother, The first my Goddesse is, the last my loue; Subiect to Both I am: to that by berth; To this for beautie; fairest on the earth._ Thus, hoping you will beare with my rude conceit of _Cynthia_, (if for no other cause, yet, for that it is the first imitation of the verse of that excellent Poet, Maister _Spencer_, in his _Fayrie Queene_) I will leaue you to the reading of that, which I so much desire may breed your Delight. _Richard Barnefeild._ T. T. in commendation of the _Authour his worke_. [Illustration]