to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, and Philip, earle of Montgomery, &c., Gentleman of his Majesties Bedchamber, both Knights of the most Noble Order of the Garter, and our singular good lords.

Right Honourable,-Whilst we studie to be thankful in our particular for the many favors we have received from your L.L., we are falne upon the ill fortune to mingle two the most diverse things that can bee, feare and rashnesse; rashnesse in the enterprize, and feare of the successe. For when we valew the places your H.H. sustaine, we cannot but know their dignity greater then to descend to the reading of these trifles; and, while we name them trifles, we have depriv'd ourselves of the defence of our Dedication. But since your L.L. have beene pleas'd to thinke these trifles some-thing heeretofore, and have prosequuted both them, and their authour living, with so much favour, we hope, that (they out-living him, and he not having the fate, common with some, to be exequutor to his owne writings) you will use the like indulgence toward them, you have done unto their parent. There is a great difference whether any booke choose his patrones, or finde them. This hath done both. For so much were your L.L. likings of the severall parts, when they were acted, as, before they were published, the volume ask'd to be yours. We have but collected them, and done an office to the dead to procure his orphanes guardians; without ambition either of selfe-profit or fame, onely to keepe the memory of so worthy a friend and fellow alive, as was our Shakespeare, by humble offer of his playes to your most noble patronage. Wherein, as we have justly observed, no man to come neere your L.L. but with a kind of religious addresse,

it hath bin the height of our care, who are the presenters, to make the present worthy of your H.H. by the perfection. But there we must also crave our abilities to be considerd, my Lords. We cannot go beyond our owne powers. Country hands reach foorth milke, creame, fruites or what they have: and many nations (we have heard) that had not gummes and incense, obtained their requests with a leavened cake. It was no fault to approch their gods by what meanes they could, and the most, though meanest, of things are made more precious when they are dedicated to temples. In that name, therefore, we most humbly consecrate to your H.H. these remaines of your servant Shakespeare; that what delight is in them may be ever your L.L., the reputation his, and the faults ours, if any be committed by a payre so carefull to shew their gratitude both to the living and the dead as is-Your Lordshippes most bounden.-Iohn Heminge. Henry Condell.

To the great Variety of Readers.--From the most able to him that can but spell;-there you are number'd. We had rather you were weighd, especially when the fate of all bookes depends upon your capacities, and not of your heads alone, but of your purses. Well! It is now publique, and you wil stand for your priviledges wee know; to read and censure. Do so, but buy it first. That doth best commend a booke, the stationer saies. Then, how odde soever your braines be, or your wisedomes, make your licence the same and spare not. Judge your sixe-pen'orth, your shillings worth, your five shillings worth at a time, or higher, so you rise to the just rates, and welcome. But, whatever

you do, buy.

Censure will not drive a trade or make the jacke go. And though you be a magistrate of wit, and sit on the stage at Black-Friers or the Cock-pit to arraigne playes dailie, know, these playes have had their triall alreadie, and stood out all appeales, and do now come forth quitted rather by a Decree of Court then any purchas'd letters of commendation.

It had bene a thing, we confesse, worthie to have bene wished, that the author himselfe had liv'd to have set forth and overseen his owne writings; but since it hath bin ordain'd otherwise, and he by death departed from that right, we pray you do not envie his friends the office of their care and paine to have collected and publish'd them; and so to have publish'd them, as where (before) you were abus'd with diverse stolne and surreptitious copies, maimed and deformed by the frauds and stealthes of injurious impostors that expos'd them; even those are now offer'd to your view cur'd and perfect of their limbes, and all the rest absolute in their numbers as he conceived them; who, as he was a happie imitator of Nature, was a most gentle expresser of it. His mind and hand went together; and what he thought, he uttered with that easinesse that wee have scarse received from him a blot in his papers. But it is not our province, who onely gather his works and give them you, to praise him. It is yours that reade him. And there we hope, to your divers capacities, you will finde enough both to draw and hold you: for his wit can no more lie hid then it could be lost. Reade him, therefore; and againe and againe; and if then you doe not like him, surely you are in some manifest danger not to understand him. And so we leave you to other of his friends,

whom, if you need, can bee your guides. If you neede them not, you can leade yourselves and others; and such readers we wish him.-Iohn Heminge.-Henrie Condell.

To the memory of my beloved, the author, Mr. William
Shakespeare, and what he hath left us.

To draw no envy (Shakespeare) on thy name,
Am I thus ample to thy booke and fame;
While I confesse thy writings to be such,

As neither man nor muse can praise too much,
'Tis true, and all mens suffrage. But these wayes
Were not the paths I meant unto thy praise;
For seeliest ignorance on these may light,
Which, when it sounds at best, but eccho's right;
Or blinde affection, which doth ne're advance
The truth, but gropes and urgeth all by chance
Or crafty malice might pretend this praise,
And thinke to ruine where it seem'd to raise.
These are, as some infamous baud or whore
Should praise a matron. What could hurt her more?
But thou art proofe against them, and indeed
Above th'ill fortune of them, or the need.

I, therefore, will begin.-Soule of the age!
The applause! delight! the wonder of our stage!
My Shakespeare, rise; I will not lodge thee by
Chaucer or Spenser, or bid Beaumont lye
A little further, to make thee a roome;
Thou art a moniment without a tombe,
And art alive still while thy booke doth live,
And we have wits to read and praise to give.
That I not mixe thee so my braine excuses,

H

I meane with great, but disproportion'd muses,
For if I thought my judgement were of yeeres,
I should commit thee surely with thy peeres,
And tell how farre thou didstst [sic] our Lily out-shine,
Or sporting Kid, or Marlowes mighty line.

And though thou hadst small Latine and lesse Greeke,
From thence to honour thee I would not seeke
For names, but call forth thund'ring Æschilus,
Euripides and Sophocles to us,

Paccuvius, Accius, him of Cordova dead,

To life againe, to heare thy buskin tread
And shake a stage; or, when thy sockes were on,
Leave thee alone, for the comparison

Of all that insolent Greece or haughtie Rome
Sent forth, or since did from their ashes come.
Triumph, my Britaine, thou hast one to showe,
To whom all scenes of Europe homage owe.
He was not of an age, but for all time!
And all the Muses still were in their prime,
When, like Apollo, he came forth to warme
Our eares, or like a Mercury to charme!
Nature herselfe was proud of his designes,
And joy'd to weare the dressing of his lines,
Which were so richly spun and woven so fit,
As, since, she will vouchsafe no other wit.
The merry Greeke, tart Aristophanes,
Neat Terence, witty Plautus, now not please,
But antiquated and deserted lye

As they were not of Natures family.
Yet must I not give Nature all; thy art,
My gentle Shakespeare, must enjoy a part;
For though the poets matter Nature be,
His art doth give the fashion! and that he,