The Complete Poems of Richard Barnfield/Cynthia/To the curteous Gentlemen Readers
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—
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 birth;
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 leaue you to the reading of that, which I so much desire may breed your Delight.