Ames mentions a Discourse of Human Nature, tranflated from Hippocrates, p. 428; an Extract from Pliny, tranflated from the French, p. 312; Æfop, &c. by Caxton and others, and there is no doubt, but many Tranflations at present unknown, may be gradually recovered, either by Industry or Accident.

то

MOST NOBLE AND INCOMPARABLE PAIRE OF BRETHREN,

WILLIAM

Earle of PEMBROKE, &C. Lord Chamberlaine to the Kings moft Excellent Majestie;

AND

PHILIP

Earle of MONTGOMERY, &c. Gentleman of his Majesties Bed-chamber.

Both Knights of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and our fingular good LORDS.

RIGHT HONOURABLE,

W

HILST we ftudy to be thankefull in our particular, for the many favours we have received from your L. L. we are falne upon the ill fortune to mingle two the moft divers things that can be, feare, and rafhneffe; rafhneffe in the enterprize, and feare of the fucceffe. For, when we value the places your H. H. fuftaine, wee cannot but know their dignity greater, than to defcend to the reading of these trifles: and, while we name them trifles, we have deprived ourfelves of the defence of our dedication. But fince your L. L. have been pleased to thinke thefe trifles fomething, heretofore; and have profequuted both them, and their author living, with fo much favour: we hope (that they out-living him, and he not having the fate, common VOL. I. [F]

with

with fome, to be exequutor to his owne writings) you will use the fame 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, fo much were your L. L. likings of the feverall parts, when they were acted, as before they were published, the volumne asked to be yours. We have but collected them, and done an office to the dead, to procure his orphanes, guardians; without ambition either of felfe-profit, or fame: onely to keepe the memory of fo 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 juftly obferved, no man to come neere your L. L. but with a kind of religious addreffe; it hath been 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 confidered, my Lords. We cannot goe beyond our owne powers. Countrey hands reach forth milke, creame, fruits, 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 approach their gods by what meanes they could and the moft, though meaneft, of things, are made more precious, when they are dedicated to temples. In that name therefore, we moft humbly confecrate to your H. H. these remaines of your fervant 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 paire fo carefull to fhew their gratitude both to the living, and the dead, as is

Your Lordships most bounden

JOHN HEMINGE,

HENRY CONDELL.

THE

PREFACE

O F ТНЕ

PLAYER S.

To the great Variety of READERS.

F

ROM the most able, to him that can but fpell: there you are numbered, we had rather you were weighed. Efpecially, when the fate of all bookes depends upon your capacities: and not of your heads alone, but of your purfes. Well, it is now publike, and you will stand for your priviledges, we know to reade, and cenfure. Doe fo, but buy it first. That doth best commend a booke, the ftationer fayes. Then, how odde foever your braines be, or your wifdomes, make your licence the fame, and spare not. Judge your fixe-penny'orth, your fhillings worth, your five fhillings worth at a time, or higher, fo you rife to the juft rates, and welcome.. But, whatever you doe, buy. Cenfure will not drive a trade, or make the jacke goe. And though you be a magiftrate of wit, and fit on the ftage at Blackfriars, or the Cock-pit, to arraigne playes dayly, know, these playes have had their triall already, and stood out all appeales; and doe now come forth quitted rather by a decree of court, than any purchased letters of commendation.

It had been a thing, we confeffe, worthy to have been wished, that the author himselfe had lived to have fet forth, and overfeene his owne writings; but fince [F 2]

it

it hath been ordained otherwife, and he by death departed from that right, we pray you doe not envy his friends, the office of their care and paine, to have collected and published them; and fo to have published them, as where (before) you were abused with divers ftolne and furreptitious copies, maimed and deformed by the frauds and stealths of injurious impoftors that expofed them: even thofe are now offered to your view cured, and perfect of their limbes; and all the reft, abfolute in their numbers as he conceived them. Who, as he was a happy imitator of nature, was a moft gentle expreffer of it. His minde and hand went together: and what he thought, he uttered with that eafineffe, that we have scarce received from him a blot in his papers. But it is not our province, who onely gather his workes, 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 loft. him, therefore; and againe, and againe and if then you doe not like him, furely you are in fome manifeft danger, not to understand him. And fo we leave you to other of his friends, who, if you need, can be your guides: if you neede them not, you can leade yourselves, and others. And fuch readers we wish him.

Reade

JOHN HEMINGE,

HENRY CONDELL.

MR. POPE'S