Page [unnumbered]
To the Curteous Reader.
THe Prouerbe is, where good wine is to be sold, there needes no luy-bush: where the Author by himselfe is most exquisit, there needs no inscriptions of commendations, or apology to be set before his dore: but because he is a straunger vnknowne, and lately ar∣riued into this Countrey, I will shew him the like entertain∣ment, as other country men haue done, to shew who & what he is: A Graecian he was born, as by his eloquence may plain∣ly appeare; and from neare about Constantinople, as some haue supposed, he went to be preferred in Alexandria, wher he wrote this Historie, as worke most rare and delectable: of the reading of which, I may verily say (as Fulgentius saith in his Mythiologickes) the morall dooth yeelde vnfained profit: whose copious eloquence, pleasant & delightful stile, I leaue to the gentle Readers to commend: to whome I may say (as Crucius saith vppon Heliodorus) there is none who is learned, and desirous of good instructions, which once hauing begun to read him, can lay him aside, vntill he haue perused him ouer. Thus committing him to your fauo∣rable censure, I ende.
Your friend, W. B.