THE STATIONER TO THE READER.1

AMONG the highest and most refined wits of the

nation, this gentle and princely poet took his generous rise from the Court, where, having flourished with splendour and reputation, he lived only long enough to see the sunset of that majesty from whose auspicious beams he derived his lustre, and with whose declining state his own loyal fortunes were obscured. But after the several changes of those times, being sequestered from the more serene contentments of his native country, he first took care to secure the dearest and choicest of his papers in the several cabinets of his noble and faithful friends, and among other testimonies of his worth, these elegant and florid pieces of his fancy were preserved in the custody of his truly honourable and virtuous sister, with whose free permission they were transcribed, and now published exactly according to the originals.

This might be sufficient to make you acknowledge that these are the real and genuine works of Sir John

1 1 [This preface is common to the editions of 1646, '48, '58.]

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Suckling; but if you can yet doubt, let any judicious soul seriously consider the freedom of the fancy, richness of the conceipt, proper expression, with that air and spirit diffused through every part, and he will find such a perfect resemblance with what hath been formerly known, that he cannot with modesty doubt them to be his.

I could tell you further (for I myself am the best witness of it), what a thirst and general inquiry hath been after what I here present you, by all that have either seen or heard of them. And by that time you have read them, you will believe me, who have, now for many years, annually published the productions of the best wits of our own and foreign nations.

H. M.

TO THE READER.1

WHILE Suckling's name is in the forehead of this

book, these poems can want no preparation. It had been a prejudice to posterity they should have slept longer, and an injury to his own ashes. They that conversed with him alive and truly, under which notion I comprehend only knowing gentlemen, his soul (being transcendent and incommunicable to others but by reflection), will honour these posthumous Ideas of their friend; and if any have lived in so much darkness as not to have known so great an ornament to our age, by looking upon these Remains with civility and understanding, they may timely yet repent and be forgiven.

In this age of paper-prostitution a man may buy the price of some authors into the price of their volume; but know, the name that leadeth into this Elysium is sacred to Art and Honour, and no man that is not excellent in both is qualified a competent

1 This notice precedes the "Last Remains" in the edition of 1658. Not in editions of 1646, '48.

judge. For when knowledge is allowed, yet education in the course of a gentleman requires as many descents as go to make one, and he that is bold upon his unequal stock to traduce this Name, or learning, will deserve to be condemned again into ignorance (his original sin), and die in it.

But I keep back the ingenuous reader by my unworthy preface. The gate is open, and thy soul invited to a garden of ravishing variety. Admire his wit that created these for thy delight, while I withdraw into a shade, and contemplate who must follow.1

1 [This preface, though unsigned, was almost certainly written by Humphrey Moseley, the stationer. In the last sentence he refers, of course, to the next poet to be undertaken, as a sequel to Suckling.]