The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [antikvár]

(From thf First Folio, 1623) To the Most Noble and Incomparable Fair of Brethren, WILLIAM EARL OF PEMBROKE, ., LORD CHAMBERLAIN 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 OtIR SINGULAR GOOD LORDS. Right Honourable, WHILST we study to be 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 and rashness; rashness in the enterprise, and fear of the success. For when we value the places your H.H. sustain, we cannot but know their dignity greater than to desccnd to the reading of these trifles; 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 his 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 before they were publish'd, 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. \^herein, as we have justly observed no man to come near your L.L. but with a Hnd 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 consider d, my Lords. We cannot go beyond our own powers. Country hands reach forth milk, cream, fruits, or what th^ have; and many nations, we have heard, that had not gums and incetise, obtain'd their requests with a leaven'd 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 htmbly 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 cartful 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 speU: there you are number'd. We had rather you were weigh'd: especially when the fate 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 yovir license the same, and spare not. Judge your six-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 jack go. And though you be a maps-trate of wit, and sit on the stage at Black-friars or the Cock-pit, to arraign plays daily, know, these plays have liad their trial already, and stood out all appeals, and do now come forth quitted rather by a decree of court than any purchased letters of conmiendation. 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 publish'd 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 exposed them, even those are now offer'd to yotir view cured and perfect of their limbs, and all the rest absolute in their numbers as he conceived them; who, as he was a happy imitator of Nature, was a most gentle expresser of it: his mind and band 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 we wish him. John Heminge, Hbnry Condbll.