𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 — 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍 — 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐈

Among all the kinds of serpents, there is none comparable to the dragon, or that affordeth and yeildeth so much plentiful matter in history for the ample discovery of the nature thereof: and therefore herein I must borrow more time from the residue, then peradventure the reader would be willing to space from reading the particular stories of many other. but such is the necessity hereof, that I can omit nothing making to the purpose, either for the nature or morality of this serpent, therefore I will strive to make the description pleasant, with variable history, seeing I may not avoid the length hereof, that so the sweetness of the one, (if my pen could so express it) may countervail the tediousness of the other.