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 vnto their parent. There is a great difference, vvhether any Booke choo his Patrones, or fine them: This hath done both. For, much were your L. L. Likings of the euerall parts, vven they were acted, as before they vvere publied, the Volume ask'd to be yours. We haue but collected them, and done an office to the dead, to procure his Orhphanes, Guardians; vvithout ambition either of elfe-profit, or fame: onely to keepe the memory of o worthy a Friend, & Fellow aliue, as was our by humble offer of his playes, to your mot noble patronage. Wherein, as we haue iutly oberued, no man to come neere your L.L. but vvith a kind of religious addree; it hath bin the height of our care, vvho are the Preenters, to make the preent worthy of your H.H. by the perfection. But, there we mut alo craue 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, obtained their requets with a leauened Cake. It vvas 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, we mo 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,