Page:Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (1623).djvu/10

The Epitle Dedicatorie. vnto their parent. There is a great difference whether any Booke chooe his Patrones, or finde them : This hath done both. For, o much were your L L. likings of the, euerall parts, when they were acted, as before they were publihed, the Volume ask'd to be yours. We haue but collected them, and done an office to the dead, to procure his Orphanes, Guardians; without ambition ei- ther of elfe-profit, or fame: onely to keepe the memory of f worthy a Friend, & Fellow aliue, as was our Shakespeare ,by hum- ble offer of his playes, to your mot noble patronage. Wherein, as me haue jutly oberued, no man to come neere your L.L. but with a kind of religious addree; it hath bin the height of our care, who are the Preenters o make the preent worthy of your H.H.by the perfection. But,there me mut alo crane our abilities to be coniderd, my Lords. We cannot go beyond our owne powers. Country hands reach foorth milke, creame, fruites, or what they haue : and many Nations (we haue heard) that had not gummes & incene, obtai- ned their requets with a leauened Cake. It was no fault to approch their Gods, by what meanes they could: And the mot, though meanet, of things are made more precious, when they are dedicated to Temples. In that name therefore, me mot humbly conecrate, to your H.H. thee, remaines of your eruant Shakepeare; that what delight is in them, may be euer your L.L. the, reputation his, & the faults ours ,if any be committed, by a payre, o carefull to hew their gratitude both to the liuing, and the dead, as is

Your Lordhippes mot bounden,

Iohn Heminge

Henry Condell