TIs commonly acknowledged by learned men, that Aesops Fables, or the Book so called, is one of the wisest, as well as pleasantest moral books of its bigness, in the world. [It was so ge­nerally read in old time as that it became a Proverb when they would say such a one was a very Idiot, or Ignoramus, to say to him [...], that is, thou hast not yet read Aesop. [That it is commonly read in Grammar Schools ought to be taken for no disparage­ment to it, seeing the like may be said of Tullie's Offices, a book of so profound wisdome, that a famous Privy Counsel-Ior to Qu. Elizabeth is said to have always carried it about him. [Men, and children, may read the same books, but for different ends and purposes. Men may read those books for their Profundity which Children read for their pleasant­ness. Or men may read the same books for their Solidity wisdome, and Judgment, which is in them, which children [Page]are taught meerly for their fancy, stile, and language. [Doubt­less the famous Oglesby had never provided so elaborate a Translation for but one hundred and twenty Fables, or thereabouts, or found encouragement to print but such a num­ber in two volumes, with excellent Sculptures at a very great charge, and price, if notwithstandlng the seeming prostitution of that book to the use of children, it had not had a very great esteem, amongst the wiser sort of mankind. [I am bold to say it is not beneath the wisest and best man in the world to read Aesops Fables. Else why are they frequently quoted by one of the greatest Oracles for Learning, and wisdome, that ever England, if not the world, had, viz. the Lord Verulam, in his Essayes, and other of his excellent writings? [More­over I could give instance of several Fables which, as their own Morals do construe them, Ex Gr. Fab. 194. and Fab. 218. are of a very pious, and religious import, (as almost all the rest are very grave prudent, and sober,) and thence it was that I have presumed to say it would not misbecome, or dishonour the best, as well as the wisest man in the world to read what Aesop has written.

It has been said that though a person by the name of Aesop, was doubtless the Author of some of those Fables which go by his name, yet that the book which we call Aesop's Fable (though they were not all his) is a kind of System or Pan­dect, of the choicest Observations of several Ages, delivered to the world by way of Fables.

Certainly Aesop's Fables is a book not only to be read, and contemplated but to be followed and practis'd; and may serve to guide and govern our civil, domestical, and political affairs, (in many cases) as the Marriners compass doth di­rect his Steerage, and conduct his voyage.

Give me leave to say that a due observation of some few Fables in this little book, I mean a due compliance with the wise directions therein given, had preserved divers individu­al [Page]persons, and not only persons but Families, not only Fa­milies but kingdomes, and nations, from those courses which have proved to be their ruine.

Socrates that great Morall Philosopher (who in the judg­ment of Apollo was the wisest man on earth) but a little before his death, translated one or more of Aesops Fables in­to Greek verse.

All which things consider'd no mans Profession can be too grave, solemn or sacred to permit him the reading, transla­ting, or improving of Aesops Fables. Yet I my self, I think, should hardly have done it, had I not been constrained to con­cern my self for some time with the education of youth, and thereby invited to it, both for their advantage, and my own diversion. [True it is that Mr. Oglesby hath helpt the world to a Translation of some part of Aesops Fables, which is incomparably good; for such as can reach the sense and price of it, but certainly to understand so lofty a Poem as that is, requires a better capacity, and more skill in Poetical phrases, and Fictions, than the generality of those who are willing to read Aesop's Fables are endowed with. And doubt­less the price of his two excellent Folio's upon Aesop, doth as much exceed most mens purses, as the Style and language thereof doth their capacities. [Moreover there are not above one hundred and thirty two Fables of that excellent Transla­tion, whereas the book which is now in thy hand containeth about three hundred and fifty.

I have turned the same number of Fables into Latine Hexa­meter and Pentameter. If that version by a tollerable ac­ceptance of this shall receive encouragement to come forth into the world, I purpose that the numbers of both of them shall ex­actly answer each to other, that with so much more ease and expedition they may be read together by such as shall desire it.

The Advantages which I have aim'd at in turning Aesops Fables into verse are first to fix the contents thereof more in­delibly [Page]upon the minds, and memories of such as shall read them, common experience shewing us that it is easier for men (to be sure for children) to remember Metre, than Prose; For that reason I suppose it was that Lilly, and several other Grammarians have put divers of their Rules into Verse. Secondly, To insinuate the excellent sense and grave counsels, therein contain'd into the minds of old and young with more delight and pleasure.

As for the Morals of each Fable I have generally kept to those which are annex'd to the Fables in Latine (as seeming to be most authentick) but where I found any moral (as I thought) short and defective, I have taken the liberty to add to it, where dark and obscure, I have laboured to explain it, and where I found the same Morals repeated over and over, I have presented thee with some variety, which I hope may render the work more profitable, than it would otherwise have been, as the putting of it into metre with some little admix­ture of humour and fancy, (at leastwise attempted) was de­signed to render it more pleasant. [This is generally printed as correctly as other English books are, but here and there a fault has escap'd the press which hath perverted the sense, and is such as I am heartily asham'd of, for which the best amends. I could make thee was to put such mistakes into a Ta­ble of Errata where thou mayst see them corrected. [I hope a small Apology may serve; for having brought in Aesop at se­veral turns speaking like one of us, or according to the English mode and dialect, or using Expressions and Allusions much more novel and modern, than was the time he liv'd in; for why should that be more a Solecism than to make him speak English? (which was never his language) or by what means could we cause his drift and scope to be better understood by English men? (who best apprehend and are most pleased with their own Idioms) moreover I think our so doing is very justi­fiable by the Figure Prosopopeia which is greatly usual [Page]amongst those whose way of writing is any thing towards Burlesque.

I have heard of a master, who told one that was his Scho­lar, that he would never be able sufficiently to requite him for that he first taught him to know the worth of Horace. I am bold to say he that shall bring any person to know the worth of Aesops Fables so as to make the best use that may be made thereof, shall by that oblige and serve him altogether as much, as he did his pupil who brought him in love with Horace. For he that shall steer his course by the wise directions given in Aesops Fables, will be thought by them that know him, to be as prudent, as Aesop himself was wise and witty. Rea­der it is at thy choice in what language (of those thou under­standest) thou wilt read Aesop (for I think he is in most) or whether thou wilt read him in Verse, or in Prose, and if in verse, whether in this Translation, or in another [only 150 of these Fables I think thou canst not find translated into English metre, any where else) but one way or other thou should'st read Aesop over and over, if I were worthy to advise thee; Let thy Sex, Capacity, Quality, (I was about to add profession, or Age) be what it will be, and be guided by him as an Oracle in many cases, which being done, I have little doubt, but Aesop may leave thee both wiser and better than he found thee.