Preface to the quarto edition of this play, 1609. Eternall reader, you have heere a new play, never stal'd with the stage, never clapper-claw'd 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, vainley: and were but the vaine names of commedies changde for the titles of commodities, or of playes of 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 common commentaries of all the actions of our lives, shewing 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 grind 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 than this: and had I time I would comment upon it, though I know it needs not, (for so much as will make you think your testerne well bestowd) 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 perill 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 believe 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.

Persons Represented. Priam, Trojan. Hector, Trojan. Troilus, Trojan. Paris, Trojan. Deiphobus, Trojan. Helenus, Trojan. Æneas [Aeneas], Trojan. Pandarus, Trojan. Calchas Trojan. Antenor, Trojan. Margarelon, a bastard son of Priam. Agamemnon, Greek. Achilles, Greek. Ajax, Greek. Menelaus, Greek. Ulysses, Greek. Nestor, Greek. Diomedes, Greek. Patroclus, Greek. Thersites, Greek. Helen, wife to Menelaus. Andromache, wife to Hector. Cassandra, daughter to Priam, a prophetess. Cressida, daughter to Calchas. Alexander, Cressida's servant. Boy, page to Troilus. Servant to Diomed [Servant 3]. Trojan and Greek Soldiers, with other attendants. [Servant 1], [Servant 2], [Myrmidon], [Soldier], [Trojans] SCENE, Troy, and the Grecian Camp before it.

1 ^note

PROLOGUE.
In Troy, there lies the scene. From isles of Greece
The princes^{1 note}
orgillous, their high blood chaf'd,
Have to the port of Athens sent their ships
Fraught with the ministers and instruments
Of cruel war: Sixty and nine, that wore
Their crownets regal, from the Athenian bay
Put forth toward Phrygia: and their vow is made,
To ransack Troy; within whose strong immures
The ravish'd Helen, Menelaus' queen,
With wanton Paris sleeps; And that's the quarrel.
To Tenedos they come;
And the deep-drawing barks do there disgorge
Their warlike fraughtage: Now on Dardan plains
The fresh and yet unbruised Greeks do pitch
Their brave pavilions: ^{2 note}

And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts^{3 note}