The Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wiseThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise

Or if I wander astray in France, and that I come again into the country, I do think that the favourable Reader will well bear with such faults, and especially in the rimes and French verses, which sometime I mingle in these Dialogues, following the example of the good Authors, which have willingly kept this custom, to translate into verse, after their own language, that which they allege of the Poets, which have written it in an other language: The which I have done sometime, because that I put in the margents those Authors, by the which I help my self, for to discover and unhide better the abuses and superstitions, to the end that some men should not think that I speak of the speakers of the Dialogues for the nonce, and without just occasion. If there be in my verses but little rime, it sufficeth me so that it have some reason. For I do not make profession of Poetry: & it sufficeth me to turn them grossly or plainly: Besides that, that I am an evil Orator, yet I am a worse Poet. Yet nevertheless I am fully certified that so many good minds and wits as France bringeth up very able and expert, both in Poetry and French prose, shall have none occasion to envy me, nor to rebuke or find fault with my Poetry. For they may very well judge that I pretend not by my verses to have the crown of Bay, and that I will not take from them their Science and name. Also I hope that those unto whom GOD hath given more gifts and grace ⟨image 12⟩to speak, will consider to bear with my rude style, as the Athenians, who were the cummingest in all Greece, both in doctrine and in language, have not despised the doctrine and language of the Philosopher, Anacharsis, ¹notwithstanding that he was a Scythian and of a barbarous Nation. They must also consider which know the greatness of the country wherein I am, I have sometimes used expressly some words which shall not be received of those which study in the fineness of the French tongue, but I do the same, for to condescend to the rudeness and capacity of the most ignorant which better understand those words taken from their language, then others that are more fine and eloquent.

Or if I wander astraye in Fraunce, and that I come agayne into the countrey, I doe thincke that the fauourable Reader wyll well beare wyth such faultes, and especially in the rymes and French verses, which sometyme I mingle in these Dialogues, following the example of the good Authours, which haue willingly kept this custome, to translate into verse, after their owne language, that whiche they alledge of the Poets, which haue written it in an other language: The which I haue done sometime, bycause that I put in the margentes those Authours, by the which I helpe my selfe, for to discouer and vnhide better the abuses and superstitions, to the ende that some men shoulde not thincke that I speake of the speakers of the Dialogues for the nonce, and wythout iust occasion. If ther be in my verses but little rime, it sufficeth me so yt it haue some reason. For I do not make profession of Poetry: & it sufficeth me to tourne them grosly or plainely: Besides that, that I am an euill Oratour, yet I am a worse Poet. Yet neuerthelesse I am fully certified that so many good mindes and wittes as Fraunce bringeth vp very able and experte, both in Poetry and French prose, shall haue none occasion to enuye mée, nor to rebuke or finde faulte with my Poetry. For they may very well iudge that I pretende not by my verses to haue the crowne of Baye, and that I wyll not take from them their Science and name. Also I hope that those vnto whome GOD hath gyuen more gyftes and grace