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CHAPTER VIII
OF THE AFFECTIONS OF FATHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN.
TO THE LADY OF ESTISSAC
MADAME, if strangencsse doe not save or novelty shield
mee, which are wont to give things reputation, I shall
never, with honesty, quit myselfe of this enterprise ;
yet is it so fantastical!, and bears a shew so different
from common custome, that that may haply purchase it
free passage. It is a melancholy humour, and consequently
a hatefull enemy to my naturall complexion,
bred by the anxietie and produced by the anguish of
carking care, whereinto some years since I cast myselfe,
that first put this humorous conceipt of writing into my
head. And finding myselfe afterward wholy unprovided
of subject, and void of other matter, I have presented
myselfe unto myselfe for a subject to write and argument
to descant upon. It is the only booke in the
world of this kinde, and of a wilde extravagant
designe. Moreover, there is nothing in it worthy the
marking but this fantasticalnesse. For, to so vaine a
ground and base a subject, the worlds best workman
could never have given a fashion deserving to be
accompted of. Now (worthy Lady) sithence I must
pourtray my selfe to the life, I should have forgotten a
part of importance, if therewithall I had not represented
the honour I have ever yeelded to your deserts, which
I have especially beene willing to declare in the forefront
of this chapter; Forasmuch as amongst your
other good parts and commendable qualities, that of
loving amity, which you have shewen to your children,
holdeth one of the first rankes. Whosoever shall
understand and know the age, wherein your late
to