Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Preface (1623 First Folio Edition)
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Preface
1: To the Reader.
2: This Figure, that thou here seest put,
3: It was for gentle Shakespeare cut;
4: Wherein the Grauer had a strife
5: with Nature, to out-doo the life:
6: O, could he but haue drawne his wit
7: As well in brasse, as he hath hit
8: His face; the Print would then surpasse
9: All, that was euer writ in brasse.
10: But, since he cannot, Reader, looke
11: Not on his Picture, but his Booke.
12: B.I.
13: MR. WILLIAM
14: SHAKESPEARES
15: COMEDIES,
16: HISTORIES, &
17: TRAGEDIES.
18: Published according to the True Originall Copies.
19: LONDON
20: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed. Blount. 1623.
21: TO THE MOST NOBLE
22: AND
23: INCOMPARABLE PAIRE
24: OF BRETHREN.
25: WILLIAM
26: Earle of Pembroke, &c. Lord Chamberlaine to the
27: Kings most Excellent Maiesty.
28: AND
29: PHILIP
30: Earle of Montgomery, &c. Gentleman of his Maiesties
31: Bed-Chamber. Both Knights of the most Noble Order
32: of the Garter, and our singular good
33: LORDS.
34: Right Honourable,
35: Whilst we studie to be thankful in our particular, for
36: the many fauors we haue receiued from your L.L
37: we are falne vpon the ill fortune, to mingle
38: two the most diuerse things that that can bee, feare,
39: and rashnesse; rashnesse in the enterprize, and
40: feare of the successe. For, when we valew the places your H.H.
41: sustaine, we cannot but know their dignity greater, then to descend to
42: the reading of these trifles: and, while we name them trifles, we haue
43: depriu'd our selues of the defence of our Dedication. But since your
44: L.L. haue beene pleas'd to thinke these trifles some-thing, heereto-fore;
45: and haue prosequuted both them, and their Authour liuing,
46: with so much fauour: we hope, that (they out-liuing him, and he not
47: hauing the fate, common with some, to be exequutor to his owne wri-tings)
48: you will vse the like indulgence toward them, you haue done
49: vnto their parent. There is a great difference, whether any Booke
50: choose his Patrones, or finde them: This hath done both. For,
51: so much were your L.L. likings of the seuerall parts, when
52: they were acted, as before they were published, the Volume ask'd to
53: be yours. We haue but collected them, and done an office to the
54: dead, to procure his Orphanes, Guardians; without ambition ei-ther
55: of selfe-profit, or fame: onely to keepe the memory of so worthy
56: a Friend, & Fellow aliue, as was our SHAKESPEARE, by hum-ble
57: offer of his playes, to your most noble patronage. Wherein, as
58: we haue iustly obserued, no man to come neere your L.L. but with
59: a kind of religious addresse; it hath bin the height of our care, who
60: are the Presenters, to make the present worthy of your H.H. by the
61: perfection. But, there we must also craue our abilities to be considerd,
62: my Lords. We cannot go beyond our owne powers. Country hands
63: reach foorth milke, creame, fruites, or what they haue: and many
64: Nations (we haue heard) that had not gummes & incense, obtai-ned
65: their requests with a leauened Cake. It was no fault to approch
66: their Gods, by what meanes they could: And the most, though
67: meanest, of things are made more precious, when they are dedicated
68: to Temples. In that name therefore, we most humbly consecrate to
69: your H.H. these remaines of your seruant Shakespeare; that
70: what delight is in them, may be euer your L.L. the reputation
71: his, & the faults ours, if any be committed, by a payre so carefull to
72: shew their gratitude both to the liuing, and the dead, as is
73: Your Lordshippes most bounden,
74: IOHN HEMINGE.
75: HENRY CONDELL.
76: To the great Variety of Readers.
77: From the most able, to him that can but spell: There
78: you are number'd. We had rather you were weighd.
79: Especially, when the fate of all Bookes depends vp-on
80: your capacities: and not of your heads alone,
81: but of your purses. Well! It is now publique, & you
82: wil stand for your priuiledges wee know: to read,
83: and censure. Do so, but buy it first. That doth best
84: commend a Booke, the Stationer saies. Then, how odde soeuer your
85: braines be, or your wisedomes, make your licence the same, and spare
86: not. Iudge your sixe-pen'orth, your shillings worth, your fiue shil-lings
87: worth at a time, or higher, so you rise to the iust rates, and wel-come.
88: But, what euer you do, Buy. Censure will not driue a Trade,
89: or make the Iacke go. And though you be a Magistrate of wit, and sit
90: on the Stage at Black-Friers, or the Cock-pit, to arraigne Playes dailie,
91: know, these Playes haue had their triall alreadie, and stood out all Ap-peales;
92: and do now come forth quitted rather by a Decree of Court,
93: then any purchas'd Letters of commendation.
94: It had bene a thing, we confesse, worthie to haue bene wished, that
95: the Author himselfe had liu'd to haue set forth, and ouerseen his owne
96: writings; But since it hath bin ordain'd otherwise, and he by death de-parted
97: from that right, we pray you do not envie his Friends, the office
98: of their care, and paine, to haue collected & publish'd them; and so to
99: haue publish'd them, as where (before) you were abus'd with diuerse
100: stolne, and surreptitious copies, maimed, and deformed by the frauds
101: and stealthes of iniurious impostors, that expos'd them: euen those,
102: are now offer'd to your view cur'd, and perfect of their limbes; and all
103: the rest, absolute in their numbers, as he conceiued the[m]. Who, as he was
104: a happie imitator of Nature, was a most gentle expresser of it. His mind
105: and hand went together: And what he thought, he vttered with that
106: easinesse, that wee haue scarse receiued from him a blot in his papers.
107: But it is not our prouince, who onely gather his works, and giue them
108: you, to praise him. It is yours that reade him. And there we hope, to
109: your diuers capacities, you will finde enough, both to draw, and hold
110: you: for his wit can no more lie hid, then it could be lost. Reade him,
111: therefore; and againe, and againe: And if then you doe not like him,
112: surely you are in some manifest danger, not to vnderstand him. And so
113: we leaue you to other of his Friends, whom if you need, can bee your
114: guides: if you neede them not, you can leade your selues, and others.
115: And such Readers we wish him.
116: Iohn Heminge.
117: Henrie Condell.
118: To the memory of my beloued,
119: The AVTHOR
120: MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE:
121: AND
122: what he hath left vs.
123: To draw no enuy (Shakespeare) on thy name,
124: Am I thus ample to thy Booke, and Fame:
125: While I confesse thy writings to be such,
126: As neither Man, nor Muse, can praise too much.
127: 'Tis true, and all mens suffrage. But these wayes
128: Were not the paths I meant vnto thy praise:
129: For seeliest Ignorance on these may light,
130: Which, when it sounds at best, but eccho's right;
131: Or blinde Affection, which doth ne're aduance
132: The truth, but gropes, and vrgeth all by chance;
133: Or crafty Malice, might pretend this praise,
134: And thinke to ruine, where it seem'd to raise.
135: These are, as some infamous Baud, or Whore,
136: Should praise a Matron. What could hurt her more?
137: But thou art proofe against them, and indeed
138: Aboue the ill fortune of them, or the need.
139: I, therefore will begin. Soule of the Age!
140: The applause! delight! the wonder of our Stage!
141: My Shakespeare, rise; I will not lodge thee by
142: Chaucer, or Spenser, or bid Beaumont lye
143: A little further, to make thee a roome:
144: Thou art a Moniment, without a tombe,
145: And art aliue still, while thy Booke doth liue,
146: And we haue wits to read, and praise to giue.
147: That I not mixe thee so, my braine excuses;
148: I meane with great, but disproportion'd Muses:
149: For, if I thought my iudgement were of yeeres,
150: I should commit thee surely with thy peeres,
151: And tell, how farre thou didst our Lily out-shine,
152: Or sporting Kid, or Marlowes mighty line.
153: And though thou hadst small Latine, and lesse Greeke,
154: From thence to honour thee, I would not seeke
155: For names; but call forth thund'ring Aeschilus,
156: Euripides, and Sophocles to vs,
157: Paccuuius, Accius, him of Cordoua dead,
158: To life againe, to heare thy Buskin tread,
159: And shake a Stage: Or, when thy Sockes were on,
160: Leaue thee alone, for the comparison
161: Of all, that insolent Greece, or haughtie Rome
162: sent forth, or since did from their ashes come.
163: Triumph, my Britaine, thou hast one to showe,
164: To whom all Scenes of Europe homage owe.
165: He was not of an age, but for all time!
166: And all the Muses still were in their prime,
167: When like Apollo he came forth to warme
168: Our eares, or like a Mercury to charme!
169: Nature herselfe was proud of his designes,
170: And ioy'd to weare the dressing of his lines!
171: Which were so richly spun, and wouen so fit,
172: As, since, she will vouchsafe no other Wit.
173: The merry Greeke, tart Aristophanes,
174: Neat Terence, witty Plautus, now not please;
175: But antiquated, and deserted lye
176: As they were not of Natures family.
177: Yet must I not giue Nature all: Thy Art,
178: My gentle Shakespeare, must enioy a part.
179: For though the Poets matter, Nature be,
180: His Art doth giue the fashion. And, that he,
181: Who casts to write a liuing line, must sweat,
182: (such as thine are) and strike the second heat
183: Vpon the Muses anuile: turne the same,
184: (And himselfe with it) that he thinkes to frame;
185: Or for the lawrell, he may gaine a scorne,
186: For a good Poet's made, as well as borne.
187: And such wert thou. Looke how the fathers face
188: Liues in his issue, euen so, the race
189: Of Shakespeares minde, and manners brightly shines
190: In his well torned, and true-filed lines:
191: In each of which, he seemes to shake a Lance,
192: As brandish't at the eyes of Ignorance.
193: Sweet Swan of Auon! what a sight it were
194: To see thee in our waters yet appeare,
195: And make those flights vpon the bankes of Thames,
196: That so did take Eliza, and our Iames!
197: But stay, I see thee in the Hemisphere
198: Aduanc'd, and made a Constellation there!
199: Shine forth, thou Starre of Poets, and with rage,
200: Or influence, chide, or cheere the drooping Stage;
201: Which, since thy flight fro[m] hence, hath mourn'd like night,
202: And despaires day, but for thy Volumes light.
203: BEN: IONSON.
204: Vpon the Lines and Life of the Famous
205: Scenicke Poet, Master WILLIAM
206: SHAKESPEARE.
207: Those hands, which you so clapt, go now, and wring
208: You Britaines braue; for done are Shakespeares dayes;
209: His dayes are done, that made the dainty Playes,
210: Which made the Globe of heau'n and earth to ring.
211: Dry'de is that veine, dry'd is the Thespian Spring,
212: Turn'd all to teares, and Phoebus clouds his rayes:
213: That corp's, that coffin now besticke those bayes,
214: Which crown'd him Poet first, then Poets King.
215: If Tragedies might any Prologue haue,
216: All those he made, would scarse make one to this:
217: Where Fame, now that he gone is to the graue
218: (Deaths publique tyring-house) the Nuncius is.
219: For though his line of life went soone about,
220: The life yet of his lines shall neuer out.
221: HVGH HOLLAND.
222: A CATALOGVE
223: of the seuerall Comedies, Histories, and Tra-gedies
224: contained in this Volume.
225: COMEDIES.
226: The Tempest. Folio 1.
227: The two Gentlemen of Verona. 20
228: The Merry Wiues of Windsor. 38
229: Measure for Measure. 61
230: The Comedy of Errours. 85
231: Much adoo about Nothing. 101
232: Loues Labour lost. 122
233: Midsommer Nights Dreame. 145
234: The Merchant of Venice. 163
235: As you Like it. 185
236: The Taming of the Shrew. 208
237: All is well, that Ends well. 230
238: Twelfe-Night, or what you will. 255
239: The Winters Tale. 304
240: HISTORIES.
241: The Life and Death of King Iohn. Fol. 1.
242: The Life & death of Richard the second. 23
243: The First part of King Henry the fourth. 46
244: The Second part of K[ing]. Henry the fourth. 74
245: The Life of King Henry the Fift. 69
246: The First part of King Henry the Sixt. 96
247: The Second part of King Hen[ry]. the Sixt. 120
248: The Third part of King Henry the Sixt. 147
249: The Life & Death of Richard the Third. 173
250: The Life of King Henry the Eight. 205
251: TRAGEDIES.
252: The Tragedy of Coriolanus. Fol. 1.
253: Titus Andronicus. 31
254: Romeo and Iuliet. 53
255: Timon of Athens. 80
256: The Life and death of Iulius Caesar. 109
257: The Tragedy of Macbeth. 131
258: The Tragedy of Hamlet. 152
259: King Lear. 283
260: Othello, the Moore of Venice. 310
261: Anthony and Cleopater. 346
262: Cymbeline King of Britaine. 369
263: TO THE MEMORIE
264: of the deceased Authour Maister
265: W. SHAKESPEARE.
266: Shake-speare, at length thy pious fellowes giue
267: The world thy Workes: thy Workes, by which, out-liue
268: Thy Tombe, thy name must; when that stone is rent,
269: And Time dissolues thy Stratford Moniment,
270: Here we aliue shall view thee still. This Booke,
271: When Brasse and Marble fade, shall make thee looke
272: Fresh to all Ages: when Posteritie
273: Shall loath what's new, thinke all is prodegie
274: That is not Shake-speares; eu'ry Line, each Verse
275: Here shall reuiue, redeeme thee from thy Herse.
276: Nor Fire, nor cankring Age, as Naso said,
277: Of his, thy wit-fraught Booke shall once inuade.
278: Nor shall I e're beleeue, or thinke thee dead
279: (Though mist) vntill our bankrout Stage be sped
280: (Impossible) with some new straine t' out-do
281: Passions of Iuliet, and her Romeo;
282: Or till I heare a Scene more nobly take,
283: Then when thy half-Sword parlying Romans spake.
284: Till these, till any of thy Volumes rest
285: Shall with more fire, more feeling be exprest,
286: Be sure, our Shake-speare, thou canst neuer dye,
287: But crown'd with Lawrell, liue eternally.
288: L. Digges.
289: To the memorie of M[aister]. W. Shake-speare.
290: Wee wondred (Shake-speare) that thou went'st so soone
291: From the Worlds-Stage, to the Graues-Tyring-roome.
292: Wee thought thee dead, but this thy printed worth,
293: Tels thy Spectators, that thou went'st but forth
294: To enter with applause. An Actors Art,
295: Can dye, and liue, to acte a second part.
296: That's but an Exit of Mortalitie;
297: This, a Re-entrance to a Plaudite.
298: I.M.
299: The Workes of William Shakespeare,
300: containing all his Comedies, Histories, and
301: Tragedies: Truely set forth, according to their first
302: ORIGINALL.
303: The Names of the Principall Actors
304: in all these Playes.
305: William Shakespeare.
306: Richard Burbadge.
307: Iohn Hemmings.
308: Augustine Phillips.
309: William Kempe.
310: Thomas Poope.
311: George Bryan.
312: Henry Condell.
313: William Slye.
314: Richard Cowly.
315: Iohn Lowine.
316: Samuell Crosse.
317: Alexander Cooke.
318: Samuel Gilburne.
319: Robert Armin.
320: William Ostler.
321: Nathan Field.
322: Iohn Vnderwood.
323: Nicholas Tooley.
324: William Ecclestone.
325: Ioseph Taylor.
326: Robert Benfield.
327: Robert Goughe.
328: Richard Robinson.
329: Iohn Shancke.
330: Iohn Rice.