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

To the Reader.

MArie of Vitezokia beyonde Ior∣dane, flying to Ierusalem when Titus and his Romans besiedged the same, was enforced for hun∣ger to kill her sucking Sonne, and hauing eaten the one halfe, the rest shee re∣serued. The Enemies smelling the sent of that ezecrable meat, threatned to kill her, vnlesse they were sharers with her. Then shee vnco∣uered that part of her Sonne which she had left vneaten. At which sight they trembled, and horror fell vpon them. Then sayd Marie, this is truely my Sonne, & my doing; eate you of it, as I haue done; be you no more effeminate then a woman, nor more mercifull then a Mother. My Poyems and Verses are (beloued Lector) the birth of my braine, & the ofspring of my ill ad∣uentured

youth. I haue these yeares bygone luxuriously feasted and surfeited hereon, and haue with the Vitez••kian Woman, couered this part of my Child till now: I pray thee with patience, take a part with the Parent; next time (God willing) thou shalt fare better. But if any aske (how I presumed to inuite my noble Ma••ster my Lord, my Mecaenas, my all, to this foo∣lish and filthie Feast of mine?) I answere: The∣mistocles was animated to noble actions by beholding Miltiades trophies. And Alex∣ander beholding Achilles Tombe, did gree∣uously sigh with an honorable emulation. And his courteous welcomming of my vani∣ties, will rauish braue mindes from the bound∣les troubles of the world, and win them to the contemplation of Vertue. And so his Hono∣rable example in reading and respecting Lear∣ning and the Learned, shall pull donwe the Babell of ignoraunce. I confesse (as Plutarch

speaketh of Aristophanes Poyems) my Ver∣ses are written for no moderat mans pleasure: yet since by his Honor they are countenanced, I beseech thee (good Reader) vse mee kindly; and for his sake, sit still with him, and take a part of my profane Feast. My Lord payeth for all, it costs thee nought saue thanks.

Thine as thou behaues thy selfe, A. Craige.