If one write never so well, he shall not please all; if never so ill, he shall please some: a dog will barke, though he lacke his teeth; and a dolt will censure, though hee want judgement. I know to some curious heads it will be thought amisse, that every verse answers not their expectation, because I have not word for word concurd with the Author in my translation: yet if they will but looke a little into the difficulty of this thing, considering the kinde of verse which I have used, I hope they will rest satisfied. I onely will answer them out of Hor. Non verbum verbo curabis reddere, fidus interpres. And furthermore (besides the diversitie betweene a construction and a translation) they may know, that there are many mysteries in this writer, which uttered in English, would shew little pleasure, and in mine opinion, are better to be untouched, then to diminish the grace of the rest with tediousnesse and obscuritie: I have therefore followed the counsell of the aforesaid Horace, teaching the duty of a good Interpreter, qui, quæ desperat tractata nitescere posse, relinquit. By which occasion, some few sentences I have in places omitted, somewhat added, somewhat altered, and somewhat expounded: that which I have added, you shall finde noted with this marke * The significations of the names (being indeed no names, but onely words correspondent to the nature of Frogs and Mice) ne quis in ijs hæreat, lest any should therewith be troubled, I have englished and inserted them in the verse, that the inferiour Readers should not beewearied
