Pleasant dialogues and dramma's, selected out of Lucian, Erasmus, Textor, Ovid, &c. With sundry emblems extracted from the most elegant Iacobus Catsius. As also certaine elegies, epitaphs, and epithalamions or nuptiall songs; anagrams and acrosticks; with divers speeches (upon severall occasions) spoken to their most excellent Majesties, King Charles, and Queene Mary. With other fancies translated from Beza, Bucanan, and sundry Italian poets. By Thomas Heywood

Spoken to the right Honourable the Earle of Dover, at his house in Broadstreet upon a Candlemas night. The Prologue.

•••• downy Swan though yoakt in Venus Teame,

Yet of all birds that ever lov'd the streame, Is held to be the chiefest: Pallas Owle In Athens fam'd for many a learned scrowle, Compos'd in Inke and Oyle, th' embleme of watch, By which the most laborious students catch At Arts (howe're, benighted) was not more Famous, in Greece, then on Caister shore Your sacred Bird, which the nine Sisters strove To make the symbole of conjugall love, With which the Cock, the Bird of Mars combin'd, A double gardian knot, to be untwin'd Never: 'Tis now made fast, so intricate, Not Alexanders sword, not time, not fate Can e'ver untye, for what's in vertue laid, Envie can never blast, nor age invade. In this blest state both you, and yours, now stand As first dispos'd, so strengthened by that hand, Which as it makes, protects; you have begun To grace the City with your presence: run That happy course still: you and your lov'd wife Have to dead hospitality given new life. Still cherish it: old Christenmasse almost starv'd Through base neglect, by you hath beene preserv'd. O give him still like welcome, that whilst he Hath name on earth, you may his harbourer be.