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J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101]. To look up a word in a dictionary, select the word with your mouse and press 'd' on your keyboard.
16231 note
. To the most Noble2 note and Incomparable Paire of Brethren. William Earle of Pembroke, &c. Lord Chamberlaine to the Kings most Excellent Maiesty. And Philip Earle of Montgomery, &c. Gentleman of his Maiesties Bed-Chamber. Both Knights of the most Noble Order of the Garter, and our singular good Lords. Right Honourable, Whilst we studie to be thankful in our particular, for the many fauors we haue receiued from your L. L we are falne
vpon the ill fortune, to migle two the most diuerse things
that can bee, feare, and rashnesse; rashnesse in the enterprize,
and feare of the successe. For, when we valew the places
your H. H. sustaine, we cannot but know their dignity greater,
then to descend to the reading of these trifles: and, while we
name them trifles, we haue depriu'd our selues of the defence
of our Dedication. But since your L. L. have beene pleas'd
to thinke these trifles some-thing, heeretofore; and have prosequuted
both them, and their Author liuing, with so much
fauour: we hope, that (they out-liuing him, and he not having
the fate, common with some, to be exequutor to his owne
writings) you will vse the like indulgence toward them, you
haue done vnto their parent. There is a great difference,
whether any booke choose his Patrones, or finde them: This
hath done both. For, so much were your L. L. likings of the
seuerall parts, when they were acted, as before they were
published, the Volume ask'd to be yours. We have but collected
them, and done an office to the dead, to procure his
Orphanes, Guardians; without ambition either of selfe-profit,
or fame: onely to keepe the memory of so worhty a Friend,
and Fellow aliue, as was our Your Lordshippes most bounden, Iohn Heminge. Henry Condell.
TO THE GREAT VARIETY OF READERS1 note,
From the most able, to him that can but spell: There you
are number'd. We had rather you were weighd. Especially,
when the fate of all Bookes depends vpon your capacities: and
not your heads alone, but of your purses. Well! It is
now publique, and you wil stand for your priviledges wee know:
to read, and censure. Do so, but buy it first. That doth
best commend a Booke, the Stationer saies. Then, how
odde soeuer your braines be, or your wisedomes, make your
licence the same, and spare not. Iudge your sixe-pen'orth,
your shillings worth, your fiue shillings worth at a time, or
higher, so as you rise to the iust rates, and welcome. But,
whatever you do, Buy. Censure will not drive a Trade, or
make the Iacke go. And though you be a Magistrate of wit,
and sit on the Stage at Black-Friers, or the Cock-pit, to
arraigne Playes dailie, know, these Playes haue had their triall
alreadie, and stood out all Appeales; and do now come forth
quitted rather by a Decree of Court, then any purchas'd Letters
of commendation. It had bene a thing, we confesse, worthie to haue bene
wished, that the Author himselfe had liu'd to haue set forth,
and ouerseen his owne writings; But since it hath bin ordain'd
otherwise, and he by death departed from that right, we pray
you doe not envie his Friends, the office of their care, and
paine, to have collected and publish'd them; and so to haue
publish'd them, as where (before) you were abus'd with divers
stolne, and surreptitious copies, maimed, and deformed by the
frauds and stealthes of iniurious impostors, that expos'd them:
even those, are now offer'd to your view cur'd, and perfect of
their limbes; and all the rest, absolute in their numbers, as he
conceiued th&ebar;: Who, as he was a happie imitator of Nature,
was a most gentle expresser of it. His mind and hand went
together: And what he thought, he vttered with that easinesse,
that wee haue scarse receiued from him a blot in his
papaers. But it is not our prouince, who onely gather his
woeks, and give them you, to praise him. It is yours that
reade him. And there we hope, to your diuers capacities, you
will finde enough, both to draw, and hold you: for his wit can
no more lie hid, then it could be lost. Reade him, therefore;
and againe, and againe: And if then you doe not like him,
surely you are in some manifest danger, not to understand him.
And so we leaue you to other of his Friends, whom if you
need, can bee your guides: if you neede them not, you can
leade your selues, and others. And such Readers we wish
him. Iohn Heminge. Henrie Condell. THE WORKES OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE,
Containing all his Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies: Truely
set forth, according to their first Originall1 note.
THE NAMES OF THE PRINCIPALL ACTORS IN ALL THESE PLAYES. William Shakespeare. Richard Burbadge. John Hemmings. Augustine Phillips. William Kempt. Thomas Poope. George Bryan. Henry Condell. William Slye. Richard Cowly. John Lowine. Samuell Crosse. Alexander Cooke. Samuell Gilburne. Robert Armyn. William Ostler. Nathan Field. John Vnderwood. Nicholas Tooley. William Ecclestone. Joseph Taylor. Robert Benfield. Robert Goughe. Richard Robinson. Iohn Shancke. Iohn Rice.
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