The Epiſtle Dedicatorie.
vnto their parent. There is a great difference, vvhether any Booke chooſ his Patrones, or fine them: This hath done both. For, ſ much were your L. L. Likings of the ſeuerall parts, vven they were acted, as before they vvere publiſed, 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 ſelfe-profit, or fame: onely to keepe the memory of ſo worthy a Friend, & Fellow aliue, as was our Shakespeare, 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 vvith a kind of religious addreſſe; it hath bin the height of our care, vvho 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 vvas 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 moſ humbly conſecrate to your H.H. theſe remaines of your ſeruant Shakeſpeare; 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 Heming.
Henry Condell.
