Scottish Text Society publications > Third series > Thomas Hudson's historie of Judith

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THE HISTORIE OF JUDITH.
THE AVTHORS ADMONI¬
TION TO THE READER.
Beloued Reader, it is about fourtene years past since I was sig- Av*
commanded by the late Illustrate and most vertuous Princesse
lean, Queene of Nauarre, to reduce the Historie of ludith, in
forme of a Poeme Epique, wherein I haue not so much aimed to
follow the phrase or text of the byble, as I haue preased {without
wandring from the veritie of the Historie) to imitate Homer in
his Iliades, and Virgill in his Aineidos, and others who hath
left to vs workes of such like matter : thereby to render my worke 10
so much the more delectable. And if the effect hath not answeared
to my desire, I beseech thee to laye the fault vppon her who pro¬
posed to me so meane a Theame or subiect, and not on mee who
could not honestly disobeye. Yet in so much as I am the first
in Fraunce, who in a iust Poeme hath treated in our toung of
sacred things, I hope of thy fauour to receiue some excuse, seing
that things of so great weight cannot be both perfectly begunne
and ended together. If thou neither alow my stile nor workman¬
ship, at least thou shalt be driuen to alow the honest pretence
and holy desire which I haue to see the youth of Fraunce so 20
holyly by mine example exercysed.
I may not forget that they doe greatly wrong mee, Who thinkes
that in discriuing the Catastrophe of this Historie (truelie
tragical!) thinkes 1 that I am becomme a voluntairy Aduocate
to these troublesome &■ sedicious sprites [who for to serue their
temerarious passions, and priuate inspirations) conspires against
the / Hues of placed princes. For so much doe I disassent that sin. Av*
this example and the like ought to be drawen in consequence,
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SIC.