Marston. from "The Metamorphosis of Pygmalion's Image." The Author in Praise of his precedent Poem.

The Metamorphosis of Pigmalion's Image
By John Marston

THE ARGUMENT OF THE POEM.

IGMALION,   whose chast mind all   the   beauties in
   Cyprus could not ensnare, yet, at the length having
carved in ivorie an excellent proportion of   a beauteous
woman, was so deeplie enamored on his owne workman-
ship that he would oftentimes lay the image in bedde with
him, and fondlie use such petitions and dalliance as if it
had been a breathing creature.      But in the end,   finding
his   fond dotage, and yet persevering in his ardent affec-
tion, made his devout prayers to   Venus, that she would
vouchsafe to enspire life into his love, and then joyne them
both together in marriage.     Whereupon, Venus graciously
condiscending to his earnest sute, the mayde, (by the power
of   her deitie)   was metamorphosed into a living woman.
And after, Pigmalion (beeing in Cyprus) begat a sonne of
her,    which   was   called   Paphus;     whereupon   that   iland
Cyprus, in honor of Venus, was after, and is now, called
by the inhabitants, Paphos.

Source:
The Works of John Marston, Vol. III.
J. O. Halliwell [Halliwell-Phillips], ed.
London: John Russell Smith, 1856. 201.