To the Most Noble and Incomparable Pair of
Brethren,
WILLIAM
EARL OF PEMBROKE, &C., 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 OUR SINGULAR GOOD LORDS.

Right Honourable,

WHILST we study to be thankful in our par-
ticular 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 descend 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 outliving 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. Wherein, as we have
justly observed no man 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. We cannot go beyond our own
powers. Country hands reach forth milk, cream,
fruits, or what they have; and many nations, we
have heard, that had not gums and incense, 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 humbly consecrate
to your H.H. these remains of your servant
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 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 your
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 magis-
trate of wit, and sit on the stage at Black-friars
or the Cock-pit, to arraign 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 letters 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 publish'd them as where before
you were abused with divers stolen and surrepti-
tious copies, maim'd and deform'd by the frauds
and stealths of injurious impostors, that exposed
them, even those are now offer'd to your 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 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 we wish him.

JOHN HEMINGE,
HENRY CONDELL.

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