The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [antikvár]

(From thf First Folio, 1623) To the Most Noble and Incomparable Pair of Brethren, WILLIAM earl of pembroke, c., lord chamberlaik to the king's most excellent majesty, AND PHILIP earl of montgomery, c., gentleman of his majesty's bed-chamber; both knights of the most noble order of the garter, and our singular good lords. Right Honourable, WHILST toe study to he thankful in our particular for the many favours we have received from your L.L., we are fallen upon the ill fortune, to mingle two the most diverse things that can be, fear cmd rashness; rashness in the enterprise, and fear of the success. For when we value the places your H.H. sustain, wc cannot hut know their dignity greater than to descend to the reading of these triflesi and while we name them trifles, we have deprived ourselves of the defence of our dedication. But since your L.L. have been pleased to think these trifles something heretofore, and have prosecuted both them and their author living with so much favour, we hope that {they outlivir.g him, and he not having the fate, common with some, to be executor to his own writings) you will use the like indulgence toward them you have done unto their parent. There is a great difference whether any book choose kis patrons, or find them: this hath done both. For so much were your L.L. likings of the several parts when they were acted, as b^ore 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 orphans guardians; without ambition either of self-profit or fame; only to keep the memory of so worthy a friend and fellow alive as was our shakespeare, by humble offer of his plays to your most noble patronage. \^erein, as we have justly observed no mem to come near your L.L. but with a kind of religious address, 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 con-sider'd, my Lords. VTe cannot go beyond our own powers. Country hands reach forth milk, cream, fruits, or what they have; and many natioru^ we have heard, that had not gums and incense, obtain*d their requests with a leavened cake. It was no fault to approach their gods by what means 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 remains of your servat.t 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 pair so careful to show their gratitude both to the living and the dead as is Your Lordships* most bounden, John Heminge, Henry Condell. TO THE GREAT VARIETY OF READERS From the most able to him that can but spell: there you arc numbered. We had rather you were weigh'd: especially when the fete of all books depends upon your capacities; and not of your heads alone, but of your purses. Well, it is now public; and you will stand for your privileges, we know,—to read and censure. Do so, but buy it first. That doth best commend a book, the stationer says. Then how odd soever your brains be or your wisdoms, make your license the same, and spare not. Judge your six-pen'orth, your shillings-worth, your five-shiUings-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 jack go. And though you be a magistrate of wit, and sit on the stage at Black-f^s or the Cock-pit, to arrai^ plays daily, know, these plays have had their trial already, and stood out all appeals, and do. now come forth quitted rather by a decree of court than any purchased leners of commendation. It had been a thing, we confess, worthy to have been wish'd, that the author himself had lived to have set forth and overseen his own writings. But, since it hath been ordain'd otherwise, and he by death departed from that right, we pray you do not envy his friends the office of their care and pain, to have collected and publish*d them; and so to have published them as where before you were abused with divers stolen and surreptitious copies, maim'd and deform'd by the frauds and stealths of injurious impostors, that expMed them, even those are now offerM to your view cured and perfect of their limbs, and ail the rest absolute in their niunbers as he conceived them; who, as he was a happy imitator of Nature, was a most gentle expresser of it: his mind and hand went together; and what he thought, he utter*d with that easiness, that we have scarce received from him a blot in his papers. But it is not our province, who only gather his works and give them you, to praise him. It is yours that read him: and there we hope, to your divers capacities, you will find enough both to draw and hold you; for his wit can no more lie hid than it could be lost. Read him, therefore; and again and again: and if then you do 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 be your guides: if you need them not, you can lead yourselves and others. And such readers wc wish him. John Heminge, Henry Condell.