The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. I. (of V.)
Page 8
Peter Boaistuau, surnamed Launay, To the Reader.(1)
1 This notice follows the dedicatory preface in the edition of 1558.
Gentle Reader, I can tell thee verily and with good right assert (evenprove by witnesses worthy of belief) when this work was presented to methat I might fulfil the office of a sponge and cleanse it of a multitudeof manifest errors that were found in a copy written by hand, I was onlyrequested to take out or copy eighteen or twenty of the more notabletales, reserving myself to complete the rest at a more convenient seasonand at greater leisure.
However, as men are fond of novelties, I was solicited with verypressing requests to pursue my point, to which I consented, rather byreason of the importunity than of my own will, and my enterprise wasconducted in such fashion, that so as not to show myself in any wisedisobedient, I added some more tales, to which again others have sincebeen adjoined.
In regard to myself, I can assure thee that it would have been lessdifficult for me to build the whole edifice anew than to mutilate it inseveral places, change, innovate, add and suppress in others, but Iwas almost perforce compelled to give it a new form, which I have done,partly for the requirements and the adornment of the stories, partly toconform to the times and the infelicity of our century, when most humanthings are so exulcerated that there is no work, however well digested,polished, and filed, but it is badly interpreted and slandered by themalice of fastidious persons. Take, therefore, in good part our hastylabour, and be not too close a censor of another's work until thou hastexamined thine own.