THE Printed for JACOB TONSON at Shakespear's Head, M.DCC.XV, PROD QUAM PIC To the Right Honourable JOHN Lord SOMMERS, Baron of EVESHAM. MY LORD, IN Editor of the Works of a dead Author ought to confider himself as a kind of Executor of his Will; which he fhould endeavour to perform with the fame Care, and, A 2. in in every Circumstance, after the fame manner he believes the Au thor himself wou'd have done, if living. For this Reason I cannot think I have acquitted my felf of what is neceffary towards placing the Writings of our Celebrated SPENSER in the most advantageous Light, till I have addrefs'd them to Your Lordship, by whom they have always been particularly efteem'd. And I am zealous in making known fo honourable a Diftinction, of the fame Confequence to his Fame now, which is the After-Life of Poets, as the Friendship of the admir'd SIDNEY was to his Reception at his first Appearance. HAVING done this Juftice to my Author, I am at a lofs to ex |