Front Matter

Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609)

Parthenophil and Parthenophe.
Sonnets, Madrigals, Elegies, and Odes.

To the right noble and virtuous gentleman,
M. WILLIAM PERCY, Esq., his dearest friend.

[The lower part of the Title-page is torn away in the only copy at present known (in the library of the Duke of Devonshire); but there is the following entry in the Stationers’ Registers in 1593.

10 Maij.

JOHN WOLF.Entred for his copies twoo bookes aucthorised by master HARTWELL vnder his hand. th[e]one … th[e]other intituled. PARTHENOPHIL and PARTHENOPHE &c. By B. BARNES … xijd S.

Transcript &c. 11. 631. Ed. 1875.]

To the Learned Gentlemen Readers, the Printer

GENTLEMEN!
THESE labours following, being come of late into my hands barely, without title or subscription; partly moved by certain of my dear friends, but especially by the worth and excellency of the Work, I thought it well deserving my labour, to participate them to your judicial views: where, both for variety of conceits, and sweet Poesy, you shall doubtless find that which shall be most commendable, and worth your reading.

The Author, though at the first unknown (yet [has been] enforced to accord to certain of his friends’ importunacy herein, to publish them, by their means, and for their sakes) [is] unwilling, as it seemeth, to acknowledge them, for their levity; till he have redeemed them, with some more excellent work hereafter. Till when, he requesteth your favourable and indifferent censures of these his over-youthful Poems; submitting them to your friendly patronages.

Farewell! thisof May, 1593.

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