Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. The Historie of Troylus and Cresseida (1609 Edition)
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[Preface]
A never writer, to an ever
reader. Newes.
Eternall reader, you have heere a new
play, never stal'd with the Stage,
never clapper-clawd with the palmes
of the vulger, and yet passing full of
the palme comicall; for it is a birth of
your braine, that never under-tooke
any thing commicall, vainely: And
were but the vaine names of commedies changde for the
titles of Commodities, or of Playes for Pleas; you should
see all those grand censors, that now stile them such
vanities, flock to them for the maine grace of their
gravities: especially this authors Commedies, that are
so fram'd to the life, that they serve for the most com-mon
Commentaries, of all the actions of our lives, shew-ing
such a dexteritie, and power of witte, that the most
displeased with Playes, are pleasd with his Commedies.
And all such dull and heavy-witted worldlings, as were
never capable of the witte of a Commedie, comming by
report of them to his representations, have found that
witte there, that they never found in them-selves, and
have parted better wittied then they came: feeling an
edge of witte set upon them, more then ever they
dreamd they had braine to grinde it on. So much and
such savored salt of witte is in his Commedies, that they
seeme (for their height of pleasure) to be borne in that
sea that brought forth Venus. Amongst all there is
none more witty then this: And had I time I would
comment upon it, though I know it needs not, (for so
much as will make you thinke your testerne well be-stowd)
but for so much worth, as even poore I know to be
stuft in it. It deserves such a labour, as well as the best
Commedy in Terence or Plautus. And beleeve this,
That when hee is gone, and his Commedies out of sale,
you will scramble for them, and set up a new English
Inquisition. Take this for a warning, and at the perrill
of your pleasures losse and Judgements, refuse not, nor
like this the lesse, for not being sullied, with the smoaky
breath of the multitude; but thanke fortune for the
scape it hath made amongst you. Since by the grand
possessors wills I beleeve you should have prayd for them
rather then beene prayd. And so I leave all such to bee
prayd for (for the states of their wits healths)
that will not praise it.
Vale.