STATE UĶIVERSITY As put forth in 1623. OF KWA A REPRINT OF MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARES COMEDIES, HISTORIES, & TRAGEDIES. Published according to the True Originall Copies. LONDON Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed. Blount, 1623; and Re-Printed for Lionel Booth, 307 Regent Street. A15 ว เ ΤΟ ΤΗΕ MOST NOBLE AND INCOMPARABLE PAIRE OF BRETHREN. VVILLIAM Earle of Pembroke, &c. Lord Chamberlaine to the AND PHILIP Earle of Montgomery,&c. Gentleman of his Maiefties LORDS. Right Honourable, Hilft we ftudie to be thankful in our particular, for the many fauors we haue received from your L.L we are falne vpon the ill fortune, to mingle two the most diuerfe things that can bee, feare, and rafbneffe; rashnesse in the enterprize, and feare of the fucceffe. For, when we valew the places your H.H. fuftaine, we cannot but know their dignity greater, then to defcend to the reading of these trifles: and, vvhile we name them trifles, we haue depriu'd our felues of the defence of our Dedication. But fince your L.L. haue beene pleas'd to thinke these trifles fome-thing, beeretofore; and haue profequuted both them, and their Authour living, vvith fo much fauour: we hope, that (they out-liuing him, and he not bauing the fate, common with fome, to be exequutor to his owne writings) you will use the like indulgence toward them, you baue done A 2 76209 vnto AUG vnto their parent. There is a great difference, whether any Booke choofe his Patrones, or finde them: This hath done both. For, Jo much were your LL. likings of the feuerall parts, vvhen they were acted, as before they vvere published, the Volume ask'd to be yours. We baue but collected them, and done an office to the dead, to procure his Orphanes, Guardians; vvithout ambition either of felfe-profit, or fame: onely to keepe the memory of fo worthy a Friend, & Fellow aliue, as was our SHAKESPEARE, by bumble offer of his playes, to your most noble patronage. Wherein, as we haue iuftly obferued, no man to come neere your L.L. but vvith a kind of religious addreffe ;it hath bin the height of our care, vvho are the Presenters, to make the prefent worthy of your H.H. by the perfection. But, there we must also craue our abilities to be confiderd, my Lords. We cannot go beyond our owne powers. Country hands reach foorth milke, creame, fruites, or what they haue: and many Nations (we haue heard) that had not gummes & incenfe, obtained their requests with a leauened 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 confecrate to your H. H. thefe remaines of your feruant Shakespeare; that what delight is in them, may be euer your L.L. the reputation his, & the faults ours, if any be committed, by a payre fo carefull to fhew their gratitude both to the liuing, and the dead, as is Your Lordfhippes moft bounden, IOHN HEMINGE. |