A Preface To Certaine Questions And Riddles Ensuing Poem by Humfrey Gifford

Al yee vnto whome the skanning and viewing,
Shal come of these questions, & riddles ensuing:
I let you first know thus much without fayning,
That all of them carry a good and cleane meaning,
If so they be constred aright in their sense,
Thus much may I boldly speake in their defence:
But if in ill part some fortune to take them,
We fayle of the end, to which we did make them.
Which was for the solace of them that can vse them.
What thinges can be sound, if men wil abuse them?
To such as are cleane, what can be vnpure?
Such as are defilde, ill thoughts haue in vre,
If of any riddle badde sense ye pick out,
Gesse at it againe: ye fayle without doubt,
And doe not aright his meaning expound:
Their true exposition is honest and sound.
And that shall be proued, if you will craue tryall,
So truely, that no man will stand in deniall.
Committing the sequel to your approbation,
I finish the preface of this my translation.