For to present to your hye worthynes,

To folowe the trace and all the perfitenes

Of my maister Lydgate with due exercise,

Suche fayned tales I do fynde and devyse.

For under a coloure a truthe may aryse,

As was the guyse in olde antiquitie,

Of the poetes olde, a tale to surmyse,

To cloke the truthe of their infirmitie,

Or yet on joye to have mortalitie.

I me excuse if by neglygence