To the truly noble, the lady Theophila Coke.

Madam,

If I had no obligation to your Ladyship, which might challenge my endeavours of honouring you, a fitter or a happier name could not protect this piece (whose subject is the preferring of duty and respects before love, as the former did honour and courage), which I therefore offer to your Ladyship, because in them there is none better studied than yourself, in whom I have observed from the strength of virtue, such a serenity as conducts your mind to the performance of whatsoever is fit and decent in human life. And I remember I had the honour to hear your Ladyship discourse of this subject, when you concluded that a perfect lover should submit his desires to his mistress’s advancement, which made me wish that our French author had spoken with those graces here in this, with which your Ladyship then did. But since it pleased his Majesty to think it worth the translating and commanded it to be put into my hands, I will not censure it, though I believe, if that may carry the place which is free from deformities, without excellence before that which is here and there exceeding fair and as much blemished, I think this may deserve it, which is rather not to be excepted to then much extolled. Whatsoever it be, I beseech your Ladyship to let it pass under your name, lest I be thought indiscreet in placing it elsewhere, or unmindful of what I owe you, though this be the least part of that return which is meant to you from

Your most humble and obedient servant,

J. Rutter.