The amorose songes, sonets, and elegies: of M. Alexander Craige, Scoto-Britane

To LAIS.

EƲery man (as Pittacus affirmeth) hath some im∣perfection: in mee Loue is most predominant. But a•• Alcibiades cut off his faire Dogs eares and tayle, & so droue him in the market place, that giuing this subiect of prattle to the people, they might not meddle with his other actions. So haue I presumed to publish these my castrat Rimes vnder (ô lasciuious Lais) thy protection, that my chaster Ʋerses may appeare lesse faulty. Anti∣nonides the Musitian, gaue order, that before or after him, some bad Musitian should cloy and surfet his audi∣tors. So when the Lector shall be weary to ••uerread these lubricke Lynes, hee shall with more alacrity consider and ouerlooke the rest. And thus were not hereby I minded to beautifie my other Poyems, J could gladly consent, that all those Lynes of Lais, were ouer whelmed in obliuion, I glory not (God knowes) in my frailty: and more for euitation, then imitation, are these Songes foorth sent to the view of the censuring world. And thus nor crauing, nor carefull of thy acceptance, O Lais, I cease to serue, or more

to be Thine.

O miseri qu••ru•• gaudia crimen habent▪

Dum furtiua dedit nigra munuscula nocte, Me tenet, absentes alios suspirat amores.