THE
STRANGE
FORTVNE
OF
Alerane
:
OR
,
My
Ladies
Toy
.
By
H.
M.
of
the
middle
Temple
in
London
.
Tantieris
alijs
,
quanti
tibi
fueris
.
Printed
at
London
by
V.
S.
for
M.
L.
1605.
To
his
singular
good
Ladies
,
F.
R.
H.
R.
H.
M.
wisheth
all
good
increase
.
ADmired
Ladies
,
as
well
for
your
excellent
vertues
;
as
your
rare
beauties
;
I
humbly
intreate
your
pardons
before
I
crave
your
Patronage
,
deeme
not
I
beseech
you
,
that
this
presumption
of
mine
,
(
namely
)
the
resemblance
of
a
Poet
,
hath
taken
his
originall
from
any
defect
of
your
Ladiships
ingenies
,
or
want
of
discretion
to
iudge
betweene
the
piping
of
Pan
,
and
the
musicke
of
Apollo
;
bettweene
that
which
is
rude
,
and
that
which
is
exquisite
,
in
whom
,
there
is
no
defect
or
want
of
acute
and
discreete
iudgement
:
But
onely
that
it
hath
proceeded
from
the
aboundance
of
your
patiences
and
curteous
promises
,
to
all
such
as
are
indued
with
any
sparke
of
good
literature
,
or
have
a
desire
to
attaine
to
knowledge
.
For
my
part
(
sweete
Ladies
)
I
alwayes
affected
Schollers
,
but
every
man
cannot
be
learned
,
every
Poet
cannot
be
Virgil.
I
present
therefore
vnto
you
this
my
Pamphlet
(
kinde
favorites
)
not
as
the
picture
of
Minerva
,
wrought
by
Fideas
,
was
presented
;
that
is
,
as
a
thing
worthy
to
be
respected
,
but
at
your
vacancie
and
fit
oportunitie
to
be
perused
.
As
a
trifle
therefore
to
spend
the
time
withall
,
I
have
entituled
it
(
My
Ladies
Toy
,
)
which
I
hope
shall
not
be
offensive
eyther
in
Title
or
Tittle
,
in
composing
whereof
,
I
have
more
aymed
at
the
fulfilling
of
your
pleasures
,
then
any
waies
deserved
popular
applauses
.
Thus
wishing
to
your
Ladiships
,
the
comfort
of
heaven
,
the
contentment
of
heart
,
and
the
continuance
of
happinesse
;
in
hope
whereof
,
and
prayer
for
which
,
I
rest
Your
servant
,
H
:
M.