The extravagant shepherd, the anti-romance, or, The history of the shepherd Lysis translated out of French.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MARY, Countess of Winchelsey, &c.

MADAM,

WHen I have thrown my self at your Ladiships feet, with the humblest Reverences I can be capable of, I must confess I cannot be excused from the greatest Presumption I am able to make. For to acknowledge that the meanest person in the world hath assumed the boldness to offer this Piece to one of the most illustrious Ladies of this Island, is so small an argument for my Pardon, that I must, not with∣out much regret, profess my self to be in the highest degree unfortunate, in having no nobler a Sacrifice to offer at the Shrine of so much Ho∣nor and Vertue.

They are strangers to England, Madam, that are ignorant of your Excellencies; and yet all those Attraits, all those Graces, all that Majesty which you carry about you, and like the Sun in its sphere, incessantly disperse, are far short of those Endowments which the fairer guest, your Soul, is possess'd of. Your strange Vivacity and Recollection, excellent Prudence, severe and ge∣nerous Chastity, and your great and exemplary Affection to your Noble Lord, hath rendred you in the opinion of all the interessed in Vertue, as one much above your years, and perfected in the highest Practises and Experiences to Con∣summation; Nature▪ who accomplishes others by degrees, having finished you in a manner in an instant, and from your Childhood brought you to that perfection, as if she intended to en∣dow you, with what others acquire, and lift you up to your Meridian, assoon as you were come above your Horizon.

But, Madam, I fear I make an assault upon your Vertue, and confess these declarations un∣necessary to a Soul so fully comprehensive as yours is, and must be. It might have been e∣nough if I had only said you are derived from the Royal and heroick Families of SEYMOVR and DEVEREVX, and that you are the true Pattern of that great & good Lady Marchioness of Hartford, your mother, whose noble example is all you can find in books. For this expression

of Charite's Beauty, 'tis but your Ladiships in reverse; and those vain and idle Adorations which Lysis payes her, are but such as are really due from all Mankind to You.

But, Madam, as I ought to be modest in my Authors behalf, who was esteem'd one of the most refin'd Wits of France; so I beseech you recollect in that great and piercing Mind of yours, that, as excellent pieces of Painting have been done from the ugliest Faces, and have had their places in the Cabinets of Princes, so I have been bold to present this (which is a Picture of one of the greatest and most pleasant Extrava∣gances) to your Ladiship; and if my endea∣vours have done my Author his right, I hope they may find the same reception from your Ladiship in English, as the Authors did in his language; which is the passionate desire of

MADAM,

Your Ladiships most humble, and most devoted Servant, JOHN DAVIES.