The Speech of Flowers, Title page – Dedication
ANTHEOLOGIA OR The Speech of FLOWERS.
LONON, Printed for John Stafford, and are tobe ſold at his Houſe, at the George at Fleet-bridge. 1655.
Anthologia. or The Speach of Flowers. Partly morall, Partly misticall.
Sould by Iohn Stafford neare Fleete bridge. 1655
To my much Honored Friend, William Stafford Eſquire, Merchant of Briſtoll.
Worthy Sir,
IN this plundering age, wherein the fludies of ſo many have beene ranſacked, and many papers intended for private ſolace and contentment have bin expoſed to publike view, it was my fortune to light on the enſuing diſcourſe: It ſeemed to me pitty that it ſhould be strangled in obſcurity, as conceiving it might conduce ſomething to the delight of the Reader; for ſurely no ingenuous perſon can be ſo conſtantly ſerious, ye a ſurly and Criticall, but to allow ſome intervalls of refreſhment not onelyonly as lawfull but neceſſarie.
Let ſuch moroſe, yea miſchievous ſpirits pine themſelves to walking Anatomies, who brand all refection of the mind by ludicrous intermiſſions to be unlawfull, to ſpare an heavier cenſure (which may more reſent of anger) the worſt I wiſh them is alwaies to eate their meate without ſauce, and let them try whether their palate will be pleaſed with the guſt thereof.
In the following diſcourſe there is nothing preſented but ſweet Flowers and herbs: I could wiſh it had been in the ſummer time, when the heate of the Sunne might have improved their fragrancie to the greatest advantage and rendred them more acceptable to the ſmell of the Reader: Being now ſadly ſenſible that Autumne the Vſher of winter will abate of their ſweetneſſe, and preſent them much to their loſs.
Sure I am no bitter Colloquintida appeareth this our Herball; I meane no tart and toothed reflections on any. Dull are thoſe witts which cannot make ſome ſmile, except they make others cry, having no way to work a delight and complacency in the Reader, ſave onelyonly by gaſhing, wounding and abuſing the credits of others.
It is deſired, that this diſcourſe may but finde as much candidneſſe as it brings, and be entertained according to his own innocency. I have heard a ſtorie of an envious man, who had no other way to be revenged of his Neighbour, who abounded with store of Bee-hives, then by poyſoning all the Flowers in his owne Garden wherein his Neighbours Bees tooke their conſtant repaſt, which infection cauſed a generall mortality in all the winged cattell of his Neighbour.
I hope none have ſo ſpleneticke a deſigne againſt this my harmeleſſe Treatiſe, as to invenome my flowers with peſtilent and unintended interpretations, as if any thing more then flowers were meant in the flowers, or as if they had ſo deepe a root under ground, that men muſt mine to underſtand ſome concealed and profound myſterie therein, ſurely this Mythologie is a Cabinet which needeth no key to unlock it, the lid or cover lyeth open.
Let me intreate you Sir to put your hana into this Cabinet, and after therein you finde what may pleaſe or content you, the ſame will be as much contentment unto your
True Friend, J. S.