speake my minde freely of all things, yea, of such as peradventure exceed my sufficiencie, and that no way I hold to be of my jurisdiction.  What my conceit is of them is told also to manifest the proportion of my insight, and not the measure of things.  If at any time I finde my selfe distasted of Platoes Axiochus, as of a forceles worke, due regard had to such an Author, my judgement doth nothing beleeve it selfe:  It is not so fond-hardy, or selfe-conceited, as it durst dare to oppose it selfe against the authority of so many other famous ancient judgements, which he reputeth his regents and masters, and with whom hee had rather erre.  He chafeth with, and condemneth himselfe, either to rely on the superficiall sense, being unable to pierce into the centre, or to view the thing by some false lustre.  He is pleased only to warrant himselfe from trouble and unrulinesse:  As for weaknesse, he acknowledgeth and ingeniously avoweth the same.  He thinks to give a just interpretation to the apparences which his conception presents unto him, but they are shallow and imperfect.  Most of AEsopes fables have divers senses, and severall interpretations:  Those which Mythologize them, chuse some kinde of colour well suting with the fable; but for the most part, it is no other than the first and superficiall glosse:  There are others more quicke, more sinnowie, more essentiall, and more internall, into which they could never penetrate; and thus thinke I with them.  But to follow my course, I have ever deemed that in Poesie, Virgil, Lucretius, Catullus, and Horace, doe doubtles by far hold the first ranke:  and especially Virgil in his Georgiks, which I esteeme to be the most accomplished peece of worke of Poesie:  In comparison of which one may easily discerne, that there are some passages in the AEneidos to which the Author (had he lived) would no doubt have given some review or correction:  The fifth booke whereof is (in my mind) the most absolutely perfect.  I also love Lucan, and willingly read him, not so much for his stile, as for his owne worth and truth of his opinion and judgement.  As for good Terence, I allow the quaintnesse and grace of his Latine tongue, and judge him wonderfull conceited and apt, lively to represent the motions and passions of the minde, and the condition of our manners:  our actions make me often remember him.  I can never reade him so often but still I discover some new grace and beautie in him.  Those that lived about Virgil’s time, complained that some would compare Lucretius unto him.  I am of opinion that verily it is an unequall comparison; yet can I hardly assure my selfe in this opinion whensoever I finde my selfe entangled in some notable passage of Lucretius.  If they were moved at this comparison, what would they say now of the fond, hardy and barbarous stupiditie of those which now adayes compare Ariosto unto him?  Nay, what would Ariosto say of it himselfe?

     O seclum insipiens et infacetutn.
     [Footnote:  Catul.  Epig, xl. 8.]