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 To draw no envy (Shakespeare) on thy name, As neither man nor muse can praise too much, I, therefore, will begin.-Soule of the age! H I meane with great, but disproportion'd muses, And though thou hadst small Latine and lesse Greeke, Paccuvius, Accius, him of Cordova dead, To life againe, to heare thy buskin tread Of all that insolent Greece or haughtie Rome As they were not of Natures family. |