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To the curteous Gentlemen Readers.
Gentlemen; the last Terme there came forth a little toy of mine, intituled, The affectionate Shepheard: In the which, his Country Content found such friendly favor, 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 been the authour of two Books heretofore. I neede not to name them, because they are too- 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: and 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—
