FOOTNOTES:

Iamque opus exegi, quod nec Iovis ira, nec ignis,Nec poterit ferrum, nec edax abolere vetustas.

Extracts from MeresAnd asHoracesaith of his;Exegi monumentum ære perennius; Regalique; situ pyramidum altius; Quod non imber edax; Non Aquilo impotens possit diruere; aut innumerabilis annorum feries &c. fuga temporum: so say I severally of sirPhilip Sidneys,Spencers,Daniels,Draytons,Shakespeares, andWarners workes;

AsPindarus,AnacreonandCallimachusamong the Greekes; andHoraceandCatullusamong the Latines are the best Lyrick Poets: so in this faculty the best among our Poets areSpencer(who excelleth in all kinds)Daniel,Drayton,Shakespeare,Bretton.

As ... so these are our best for Tragedie, the LordeBuckhurst, DoctorLegof Cambridge, DoctorEdesof Oxforde, maisterEdward Ferris, the Authour of theMirrour for Magistrates,Marlow,Peele,Watson,Kid,Shakespeare,Drayton,Chapman,Decker, andBenjamin Johnson.

... so the best for Comedy amongst us bee,EdwardEarle of Oxforde, DoctorGagerof Oxforde, MaisterRowleyonce a rare Scholler of learned Pembroke Hall in Cambridge, MaisterEdwardesone of her Maiesties Chappell, eloquent and wittieJohn Lilly,Lodge,Gascoyne,Greene,Shakespeare,Thomas Nash,Thomas Heywood,Anthony Mundyeour best plotter,Chapman,Porter,Wilson,Hathway, andHenry Chettle.

... so these are the most passionate among us to bewaile and bemoane the perplexities of Love,Henrie HowardEarle of Surrey, sirThomas Wyatthe elder, sirFrancis Brian, sirPhilip Sidney, sirWalter Rawley, sirEdward Dyer,Spencer,Daniel,Drayton,Shakespeare,Whetstone,Gascoyne,Samuell Pagesometimes fellowe ofCorpus ChristiColledge in Oxford,Churchyard, Bretton.

Judicio Pylium, genio Socratem, arte MaronemTerra tegit, populus mæret, Olympus habet.Stay, passenger, why goest thou by so fast?Read, if thou canst, whom envious death hath plastWithin this monument: Shakespeare with whomeQuick nature dide; whose name doth deck ys tombeFar more than cost; sith all yt he hath writtLeaves living art but page to serve his witt.Obiit ano. doi 1616. Ætatis 53. Die 23 Ap.

Judicio Pylium, genio Socratem, arte MaronemTerra tegit, populus mæret, Olympus habet.

Stay, passenger, why goest thou by so fast?Read, if thou canst, whom envious death hath plastWithin this monument: Shakespeare with whomeQuick nature dide; whose name doth deck ys tombeFar more than cost; sith all yt he hath writtLeaves living art but page to serve his witt.

Obiit ano. doi 1616. Ætatis 53. Die 23 Ap.

TO THE MOST NOBLEandINCOMPARABLE PAIRE OF BRETHREN.WILLIAMEarle of Pembroke, &c. Lord Chamberlaine to theKings most Excellent Maiesty.andPHILIPEarle of Montgomery, &c. Gentleman of his Maiesties Bed-Chamber.Both Knights of the most Noble Order of the Garter,and our singular goodLords.

Right Honourable,

Whilstwe 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 mingle two the most diuerse things that can bee, feare, and rashnesse; rashnesse in the enterprize, and feare of the successe. For, when we valew theThe First Folioplaces 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. haue beene pleas'd to thinke these trifles some-thing, heeretofore; and haue prosequuted both them, and their Authour liuing, with so much fauour: we hope, that (they out-liuing him, and he not hauing 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 haue 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 aliue, as was ourShakespeare, by humble offer of his playes, to your most noble patronage. Wherein, as we haue iustly obserued, no man to come neere your L. L. 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. by the perfection. But, there we must also craue our abilities to be considerd, 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 & incense, obtained their requests with a leauened Cake. It was no fault to approch their Gods, by what meanes they could: And the most, though meanest, of things are made more precious, when they are dedicated to Temples. In that name therefore, we most humbly consecrate to your H. H. these remaines of yourseruantShakespeare; 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 so carefull to shew their gratitude both to the liuing, and the dead, as is

Your Lordshippes most bounden,Iohn Heminge.Henry Condell.

To the Great Variety of Readers.—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 upon your capacities, and not of your heads alone, but of your purses. Well! It is now publique, and you will stand for your privileges wee know; to read and censure. Do so, but buy it first. That doth best commend a booke, the stationer saies. Then, how odde soever your braines be, or your wisedomes, make your licence the same and spare not. Judge your sixe-pen'orth, your shillings worth, your five shillings worth at a time, or higher, so you rise to the just rates, and welcome. But, whatever you do, buy. Censure will not drive a trade or make the jacke 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 have had their triall alreadie, and stood out all appeales, and do now come forth quitted rather by a Decree of Court than any purchas'd letters of commendation.

It had bene a thing, we confesse, worthie to have bene wished, that the author himselfe had liv'd to have set forth and overseen his owne writings; but since it hath bin ordain'd otherwise, and he by death departed from that right, we pray you do not envie his friends the office of their care and paine to have collected and publish'd them; and so to have publish'dThe First Foliothem, as where (before) you were abus'd with diverse stolne and surreptitious copies, maimed and deformed by the frauds and stealthes of injurious 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 conceived them; 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 uttered with that easinesse that wee have scarse received from him a blot in his papers. But it is not our province, who onely gather his works and give them you, to praise him. It is yours that reade him. And there we hope, to your divers 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 leave you to other of his friends, whom, if you need, can bee your guides. If you neede them not, you can leade yourselves and others; and such readers we wish him.—Iohn Heminge.—Henrie Condell.

TO THE MEMORY OF MY BELOUED,THE AVTHORMR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE:ANDwhat he hath left vs.

To draw no enuy (Shakespeare) on thy name,Am I thus ample to thy Booke, and Fame:While I confesse thy writings to be such,As neitherMan, norMuse, can praise too much.'Tis true, and all mens suffrage. But these wayesWere not the paths I meant vnto thy praise:For seeliest Ignorance on these may light,Which, when it sounds at best, but eccho's right;Or blinde Affection, which doth ne're aduanceThe truth, but gropes, and vrgeth all by chance;Or crafty Malice, might pretend this praise,And thinke to ruine, where it seem'd to raise.These are, as some infamous Baud, or Whore,Should praise a Matron. What could hurt her more?But thou art proofe against them, and indeedAboue th' ill fortune of them, or the need.I, therefore will begin. Soule of the Age!The applause! delight! the wonder of our Stage!MyShakespeare, rise; I will not lodge thee byChaucer, orSpenser, or bidBeaumontlyeA little further, to make thee a roome:Thou art a Moniment, without a tombe,And art aliue still, while thy Booke doth liue,And we haue wits to read, and praise to giue.That I not mixe thee so, my braine excuses;I meane with great, but disproportion'dMuses:For, if I thought my iudgement were of yeeres,I should commit thee surely with thy peeres,And tell, how farre thou didstst ourLilyout-shine,Or sportingKid, orMarlowesmighty line.And though thou hadst smallLatine, and lesseGreeke,From thence to honour thee, I would not seekeFor names; but call forth thund'ringÆschilus,Euripides, andSophoclesto vs,Paccuuius,Accius, him ofCordouadead,To life againe, to heare thy Buskin tread,Ben Jonson's EulogyAnd shake a Stage: Or, when thy Sockes were on,Leaue thee alone, for the comparisonOf all, that insolentGreece, or haughtieRomeSent forth, or since did from their ashes come.Triumph, myBritaine, thou hast one to showe,To whom all Scenes ofEuropehomage owe.He was not of an age, but for all time!And all theMusesstill were in their prime,When likeApollohe came forth to warmeOur eares, or like aMercuryto charme!Nature her selfe was proud of his designes,And ioy'd to weare the dressing of his lines!Which were so richly spun, and wouen so fit,As, since, she will vouchsafe no other Wit.The merryGreeke, tartAristophanes,NeatTerence, wittyPlautus, now not please;But antiquated, and deserted lyeAs they were not of Natures family.Yet must I not giue Nature all: Thy Art,My gentleShakespeare, must enioy a part.For though thePoetsmatter, Nature be,His Art doth giue the fashion. And, that he,Who casts to write a liuing line, must sweat,(Such as thine are) and strike the second heatVpon theMusesanuile: turne the same,(And himselfe with it) that he thinkes to frame;Or for the lawrell, he may gaine a scorne,For a goodPoet'smade, as well as borne.And such wert thou. Looke how the fathers faceLiues in his issue, euen so, the raceOfShakespearesminde, and manners brightly shinesIn his well torned, and true-filed lines:In each of which, he seemes to shake a Lance,As brandish't at the eyes of Ignorance.Sweet Swan ofAuon! what a sight it wereTo see thee in our waters yet appeare,And make those flights vpon the bankes ofThames,That so did takeEliza, and ourIames!But stay, I see thee in theHemisphereAduanc'd, and made a Constellation there!Shine forth, thou Starre ofPoets, and with rage,Or influence, chide, or cheere the drooping Stage;Which, since thy flight fro hence, hath mourn'd like night,And despaires day, but for thy Volumes light.Ben: Ionson.

Ben: Ionson.

VPON THE LINES AND LIFE OF THE FAMOUS

Scenicke Poet, MasterWilliam Shakespeare

Those hands, which you so clapt, go now, and wringYouBritainesbraue; for done areShakespearesdayes:His dayes are done, that made the dainty Playes,Which made the Globe of heau'n and earth to ring.Dry'de is that veine, dry'd is theThespianSpring,Turn'd all to teares, andPhœbusclouds his rayes:That corp's, that coffin now besticke those bayes,Which crown'd himPoetfirst, thenPoetsKing.IfTragediesmight anyProloguehaue,All those he made, would scarse make one to this:WhereFame, now that he gone is to the graue(Deaths publique tyring-house) theNunciusis.For though his line of life went soone about,The life yet of his lines shall neuer out.Hvgh Holland.

Hvgh Holland.

The First Folio

TO THE MEMORIE

of the deceased Authour MaisterW. SHAKESPEARE

Shake-speare, at length thy pious fellowes giueThe world thy Workes: thy Workes, by which, out-liueThy Tombe, thy name must: when that stone is rent,And Time dissolues thyStratfordMoniment,Here we aliue shall view thee still. This Booke,When Brasse and Marble fade, shall make thee lookeFresh to all Ages: when PosteritieShall loath what's new, thinke all is prodegieThat is notShake-speareseu'ry Line, each VerseHere shall reuiue, redeeme thee from thy Herse.Nor Fire, nor cankring Age, asNasosaid,Of his, thy wit-fraught Booke shall once inuade.Nor shall I e're beleeue, or thinke thee dead(Though mist) vntill our bankrout Stage be sped(Jmpossible) with some new straine t'out-doPassions ofIuliet, and herRomeo;Or till J heare a Scene more nobly take,Then when thy half-Sword parlyingRomansspake.Till these, till any of thy Volumes restShall with more fire, more feeling be exprest,Be sure, ourShake-speare, thou canst neuer dye,But crown'd with Lawrell, liue eternally.L. Digges.

L. Digges.

To the memorie of M.W. Shake-speare.

Weewondred (Shake-speare) that thou went'st so sooneFrom the Worlds-Stage, to the Graues-Tyring-roome.Wee thought thee dead, but this thy printed worth,Tels thy Spectators, that thou went'st but forthTo enter with applause. An Actors Art,Can dye, and liue, to acte a second part.That's but anExitof Mortalitie;This, a Re-entrance to a Plaudite.I. M.

I. M.

The Workes of William Shakespeare, containing all his Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies; truely set forth according to their first Originall.—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; Samuel Gilburne; Robert Armin; William Ostler; Nathan Field; John Underwood; Nicholas Tooley; William Ecclestone; Joseph Taylor; Robert Benfeld; Robert Goughe; Richard Robinson; John Shancke; John Rice.

A Catalogue of the severall Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies contained in this Volume.—Comedies.The Tempest, folio 1; The Two Gentlemen of Verona, 20; The Merry Wives of Windsor, 38; Measure for Measure, 61; The Comedy of Errours, 85; Much adoo about Nothing, 101; Loves Labour lost, 122; Midsommer Nights Dreame, 145; The Merchant of Venice, 163; As You Like it, 185; The Taming of the Shrew, 208; All is well that Ends well, 230; Twelfe-Night, or what you will, 255; The Winters Tale, 304.—Histories.The Life and Death of King John, fol. 1; The Life and Death of Richard the Second, 23; The First Part of King Henry the Fourth, 46; The Second Part of K. Henry the fourth, 74; The Life of King Henry the Fift, 69; The First part of King Henry the Sixt, 96; The Second part of King Hen. the Sixt, 120; The Third part of King Henry the Sixt, 147; The Life and Death of Richard the Third, 173; The Life of KingTraditional MaterialHenry the Eight, 205.—Tragedies. The Tragedy of Coriolanus, fol. 1; Titus Andronicus, 31; Romeo and Juliet, 53; Timon of Athens, 80; The Life and death of Julius Cæsar, 109; The Tragedy of Macbeth, 131; The Tragedy of Hamlet, 152; King Lear, 283; Othello, the Moore of Venice, 310; Anthony and Cleopater, 346; Cymbeline King of Britaine, 369.

Fuller's Worthies of England. 1662.

Aubrey's Lives of Eminent Men, 2 vols. Ed. A. Clark. Oxford, 1895.

Diary of Rev. John Ward (1661-1663). Ed. C. A. Severn, 1839.

Rev. William Fulman's and Rev. Richard Davies's Mss. Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

John Dowdall's Travels in Warwickshire (1693). London, 1838.

William Hall (1694), Letter in Bodleian Mss. London, 1884.

William Oldys, Ms. Adversaria in British Museum, printed in Appendix to Yeowell's Memoir of Oldys, 1862.

Archdeacon Plume's Ms. memoranda at Maldon, Essex. See Lee,Nineteenth Century, May, 1906, and Preface to New Edition (1909) ofLife.

For the anecdote of the Bidford Drinkers, see H.-P. and Greene's Legend of the Crab Tree, 1857.

Antony Wood. Athenæ Oxonienses, 1692.

FOOTNOTES:[10]The words which have been erased are put between brackets; those which have been interlined are printed in italics.[11]So Lambert, Halliwell-Phillipps reads "sonne in L."[12]Francis Collyns was the lawyer at Warwick who prepared the will, of which the draft only was executed, no time being possible for an engrossed copy.—Note by Lambert.

[10]The words which have been erased are put between brackets; those which have been interlined are printed in italics.

[11]So Lambert, Halliwell-Phillipps reads "sonne in L."

[12]Francis Collyns was the lawyer at Warwick who prepared the will, of which the draft only was executed, no time being possible for an engrossed copy.—Note by Lambert.

This Index records the act and scene in which each character first speaks, not necessarily the same as that in which he first appears. Only persons who speak are included, except a few marked with asterisk.

Back to Index Next