To the Reader.

This Figure, that thou here feeft put,
It was for gentle Shakespeare cut;
Wherein the Grauer had a strife

with Nature, to out-doo the life :
O, could he but haue drawne his wit
As well in braffe, as he hath hit
His face, the Print would then furpaffe
All, that vvas euer vvrit in braffe.

But, fince he cannot, Reader, looke
Not on his Picture, but his Booke.

B. I.

SHAKESPEARES

COMEDIES,
HISTORIES, &
TRAGEDIES.

Published according to the True Originall Copies.

Printed by Ifaac Iaggard, and Ed. Blount. 1623.

Earle of Montgomery,&c. Gentleman of his Maiefties Bed-Chamber. Both Knights of the moft Noble Order of the Garter, and our fingular good

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; rafhneffe in the enterprize, and feare of the fucceffe. For, when we valew the places your H.H. Juftaine, we cannot but know their dignity greater, then to defcend to the reading of thefe trifles: and, while we name them trifles, we haue depriu'd our felues of the defence of our Dedication. But fince your L.L. baue beene pleas'd to thinke thefe trifles fome-thing, heeretofore; and haue profequuted both them, and their Authour living, Voith 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 haue done

A 2

unto

any Booke For,

vnto their parent. There is a great difference, vvhether choofe his Patrones, or finde them: This hath done both. 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 humble 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 addresse ;it hath bin the height of our care, vvho are the Presenters, to make the present 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 Country bands 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 vvas 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 bis, & the faults ours, if any be committed, by a payre fo carefull to fhew their gratitude both to the living, and the dead, as is

Your Lordshippes most bounden,

IOHN HEMINGE.

HENRY CONDELL.