the reputation his, & the faults ours, if any be committed, by a payre so carefull to shew their gratitude both to the living, and the dead, as is.įrom the most able, to him that can but spell: there you are number'd. these remaines of your servant Shakespeare that what delight is in them, may be ever your L.L. In that name therefore, we most humbly consecrate to your H.H. It was no fault to approach their Gods, by what meanes they could: And the most, though meanest, of thins are made more precious, when they are dedicated to Temples. Country hands reach foorth milke, creame, fruites, or what they have : and many Nations (we have heard) that had not gummes & incense, obtained their requests with a leavened Cake. by the perfection.īut, there we must also crave our abilities to be considerd, my Lords. but with a kind of religious addresse it hath bin the height of our care, who are the Presenters, to make the present worthy of your H.H. Wherein, as we have justly observed, no man to come neere your L.L. 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 worthy a Friend, & Fellow alive, as was our S H A K E S P E A R E, by humble offer of his playes, to your most noble patronage. likings of the severall parts, when they were acted, as before they were published, the Volume ask'd to be yours. There is a great difference, whether any Booke choose his Patrones, or finde them: This hath done both. have beene pleas'd to thinke these trifles some-thing, heeretofore and have prosequuted both them, and their Authour living, with so much favour: we hope, that (they out-living him, and he not having the fate, common with some, to be exequutor to his owne writings) you will use the like indulgence toward them, you have done unto their parent. sustaine, we cannot but know their dignity greater, then to descend to the reading of these trifles: and, while we name them trifles, we have depriv'd our selves of the defence of our Dedication. ( Lordships), we are fallen upon the ill fortune, to mingle two the most diverse things that can be: feare, and rashnesse - rashnesse in the enterprize, and feare of the successe. Whilst we studie to be thankful in our particular for the many favors we have received from your L.L. Of the Garter, and our singular good L O R D S. Lord Chamberlaine to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. TO THE MOST NOBLE AND INCOMPARABLE PAIRE OF BRETHREN Published according to the True Original Copies Preface to The First Folio (1623) Original spelling with explanatory comments in William Shakespeare's First Folio: The Preface to the First Folio

First folio