Certaine tragicall discourses written out of Frenche and Latin, by Geffraie Fenton, no lesse profitable then pleasaunt, and of like necessitye to al degrees that take pleasure in antiquityes or forreine reapportes

George Turberuille in praise of the translator of this booke.

IF handycraftesmen haue greate praise for working well By toyling trade the trifling wares which they for money sel: Then why should Fenton feare to purchace prayse of men, To whom he frāckely gyues the gift of this his pleasant pen? If he his busye browe haue beate for our auayle, And for our pleasure taken paynes, why should his guerdon fayle? No gredye golden fee, no Iem or Iewell braue, But of the reader good reporte this writer longes to haue. No man of meanest witt, no beast of slender brayne That thinckes that such a volume great is wrought with slender pain. The thinge it selfe declares what toyle he vndertooke, Ere Fentons curious fyle could frame this passing pleasant booke. The Frenche to Englishe phrase, (his mother language) hee, The darcke to lighte, the shade to sonne, hath brought as you may see. The learned stories erste, and sugred tales that laye Remoude from simple common sence, this writer doth displaye: And what before hee tooke his painfull quyll to write Did lurcke vnknown, is playnelie now to be disternd in sight. Nowe men of meanest skill what Bandel wrought maye vew, And tell the tale in Englishe well that erst they neuer knewe, Discourse of sundrye strange and Tragicall affaires, Of louynge Ladyes haples haps, theyr deathes, ad deadly cares, And dyuers thinges beside, wherby to flee the darte Of vyle deceytefull Cupids bowe that woundes the louers harte. Synce this by Fentons meane, and trauayle thou doct gayne, (Good reader) yeld hym earned prayse and thanckes for taken paine. Then I that made this verse shall thincke as well of the As Fentons worke doth well deserue accompted of to be.