Enchiridium epigrammatum Latino-Anglicum.: An epitome of essais, Englished out of Latin: without elucidat explications. Containing six classes or centuries of [brace] 1. Theologicals. 2. Historicals. 3. Heterogeneals. 4. Bryto-Anglicals. 5. Miscellaneals. 6. Mutuatitials. Beside a fardel of 76 fragments. / Doon [sic] by Rob. Vilvain of Excester. Price at press unbound 1s. 6d.

Ad Lectores omnifarios: To al sorts of Surveiors.

THis Toy is a meer Table of 676 Essais on several Sub∣jects: which are more co∣piously contained in two Folio Tomes intended for the Press, with larger or lesser Explications on ech: But my hand is illegible and much interlined; so they must al be new transcribed, which wil take up one yeers time at least, if God Grant life so long. In which regard, to satisfy many Mens ear∣nest expectations, I hav published hand in hand eght Theological Theorems, and two subnected Essais explicated in quarto, which he that lists may peruse.

Virgil is said to play the part of a Shep∣herd in his Eclogs, a Farmer in his Georgics, and a Warrier in his Aeneids.: So I pre∣suming to print three Pamphlets, act the Per∣son of a Poetaster in this first, to vent the dregs of Youthly delights: being a bare bag of bones or Sceleton (like a Nutshel with∣out kernel) denuded of skin, flesh, liga∣ments,

and other lineaments: Of a Theolo∣gist in the next (which is a rich casknet of sublime Speculations) to jet like a long eard Animal in a Lions skin: being peeced out with collections taken from deep Divines. And of a general Sciolist or Smatterer in the last (which shal folow so soon as Lucina can bring it to birth) to venditat sundry sorts of liberal literature in shreds, being the rotten withered fruits of Academic studies, now almost antiquated or out of date by long de∣suetud.

To tel truth this pety pocket peece (first intitled memorativ Verses) is printed a part in policy, purposly to bestow on Friends; being but a Catalog of Contents belonging to the larger Volume; which is grown to so big a bulk beyond du bounds, as wil mount to a far higher valu (that every one may hav one) then my ruined Fortune can bear; ho∣ping that al such as know my poverty wil ac∣cept this smal mite in lieu of a richer present. My memory cannot reach to remember eve∣ry Patient or Party of my antient acquain∣tance, to whom I am ingaged in amity or courtesy: but my desire is to gratisy ech, and send 400. Copies (som bound, som unbound) to dispers in free gift (with∣out any fee to sender or bri••ger) that none may be forgotten. Thos that are omit∣ted, may repair to Mr. Hooper Apothecary

in Exceter neer S. Martins Lane; who wil deliver one gratis to any man of quality my familiar Friend.

Nemo erit è priscis mihi non donatus amicis,Line 1 Quin unum excipiet pro meo amore LibrumLine 2 For lovs sake none of antient Friends shal be,Line 3 But he one Book shal hav for boon from me.Line 4

The Essais or Epigrams run in one tenor throughout: for though the matter be di∣vers, yet the method or maner (mostly Di∣stichs, which is the pithiest parcel of Poetry, comprising the ful sens in two Verses) is uni∣form: know one, know al. Al Latin Verses whether new coined or borowed are fresh translated neer the letter, which som nasut Critics censure as too Pedantic; when their Libertin guise is in very Antick disguise: who render their own sens so far varying from the Authors meaning, as he wil scars own it: but the english Versions flowed forth ex tempore.

Sponte sua carmen numeros veniebat ad aptos: * 1.1Line 1 Et quod tentabam scribere Versus erat.Line 2 Metres of free accord to fit feet came:Line 3 And what I tried to write, in Vers did frame.Line 4

For the Latin hav al just feet, but som Eng∣lish one too many; which may be clipped off

by corrept pronouncing. Al proper names (Adam, Abel) being squared by no rule, are made long or short by Poetical liberty: but thos with Dipthongs, duple Consonants, or the like (Caesar, Xerxes, Tullius) are long by Nature or Position: Yet in most Roman names (Roma, Romulus) I observ custom and authority so curiously as can be, w^ch may be a good Lesson for Grammar Scholars to doo the like. If any profest Poet shal sift the whol Pile, he wil find som such Crabtree peeces of knotty Subjects, as may haply gal his hand to cleav them, or trouble his head-peece to reduce them into smooth Metres: therfore no marvel if many of the Puzlers here be not so wel planed, polished, or per∣fected as is expected, or as they should be.

Carbasa siste, Ratis: mihi Cynthia vellicat auresLine 1 Barque, stop thy sails: Cynthia bids stay,Line 2 Lest she should sole my Ears away.Line 3

Nor wil I set a large Porch before a litle Pile, lest the hous run out at dore.

Adieu.

Scribere scribendo disces, promptū efficit usus:Line 1 Sic cudendo itidem cudere quisque potest.Line 2 By writing or Printing one shal learn to writeLine 3 And likewise Print: use makes men prompt t' indite.Line 4

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ovid.