YOV may think Sir , some want of discretion in mee , for thus boldly presuminge to thrust into your handes these Tragedies of SENECA. From whych boldnesse , the very Conscience of myne own vnworthynes , might easely haue dissuaded mee , had not certayne learned Gentlemen of good credite and worship thereunto persuaded & animated mee . Assuring mee ( where of I thought my selfe afore assured ) that your Worship ( such is your loue to learning , & the generosity of your Heroicall mynde ) would daygne not onely to dispence with my temerity , but also take in worth my affectionate simplicity . And yet ( all this notwithstandinge ) well durst I not haue geuen the aduenture to approch your presence , vpon trust of any singularity , that in this Booke hath vnskilfully dropped out of myne owne penne , but that I hoped the perfection of others artificiall workmanship , that haue trauayled herein aswell as my selfe should somewhat couer my nakednèsse 〈◊〉 pùrchase my pardon . And hard were the dealing , if in payment of a good round gubbe of Gold of full wayght and poyse , one poore peece somewhat clypped and lighter then his fellowes may not be foysted in among the rest , and passe in pay for currant coigne . Theirs I know to be deliuered with singuler dexterity : myne , I confesse to be an vnflidge nestling , vnhable to flye : an vnnatural abortion , and an vnperfect Embryon : neyther throughlye laboured at Aristophanes and Cleanthes candle , neither yet exactly waighed in Critolaus his precise ballance . Yet this dare I saye , I haue deliuered myne Authors meaning with as much perspicuity , as so meane a Scholler , out of so meane a stoare , in so smal a time , and vpon so short a warning was well able to performe . And whereas it is by some squeymish Areopagites surmyzed , that the readinge of these Tragedies , being enterlarded with many Phrases and sentences , literally tending ( at the first sight ) some time to the prayse of Ambition , sometyme to the mayntenaunce of cruelty , now and then to the approbation of incontinencie , and here and there to the ratification of tyranny , can not be digested without great daunger of infection : to omit all other reasons , if it might please than with no forestalled iudgment , to mark and consider the circumstaunces , why , where , & by what maner of persons such sentences are pronounced , they cannot in any equity otherwise choose , but find good cause ynough to leade them to a more fauourable and milde resolution . For it may not at any hand be thought and deemed the direct meaning of SÈNECA himselfe , whose whole wrytinges ( penned with a peerelesse sublimity and loftinesse of Style , are so farre from còuntenauncing Vice , that I doubt whether there bee any amonge all the Catalogue of Heathen wryters , that with more grauity of Philosophicall sentences , more waightynes of sappy words , or greater authority of sound matter beateth down sinne , loose lyfe , dissolute dealinge , and vnbrydled sensuality : or that more sensibly , pithily , and bytingly layeth downe the guerdon of filthy lust , cloaked dissimulation & odious treachery : which is the dryft , wherunto he leueleth the whole yssue of ech one of his Tragedies . Howsoeuer & whatsoeuer it be , your Worships curteous acceptaunce shal easily counterpoyse any of our imperfections . Vnto whose learned Censure , wee humbly submit these the exercises of our blusshing Muses . The Lord God in mercy long preserue you in health and dignity with daily encrease of many his gracious gyfts , already rychly abounding in you : to the propagation , and aduauncement of his truth ( whereof yee are a zealous Professor , to the honoure of her Maiestye , to whom you are a most loyall seruitour , and to the generall benefite of your Countrey , whereof you are a rare and most worthy Ornament .