Author: William ShakespeareEditor: William GodshalkPeer Reviewed
Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)
0.261A neuer writer, to an euer
0.283E
Ternall reader, you haue heere a new 0.294play, neuer stal'd with the Stage, 0.305neuer clapper-clawd with the palmes 0.316of the vulger, and yet passing full of 0.327the palme comicall; for it is a birth of 0.338your braine, that neuer vnder-tooke 0.349any thing commicall, vainely: And 0.3510were but the vaine names of commedies changde for the 0.3611titles of Commodities, or of Playes for Pleas; you should 0.3712see all those grand censors, that now stile them such 0.3813vanities, flock to them for the maine grace of their 0.3914grauities:
especially this authors Commedies, that are 0.4015so fram'd to the life, that they serue for the most com- 0.4116monCommentaries, of all the actions of our liues, shew- 0.4217ingsuch a dexteritie, and power of witte, that the most 0.4318displeased with Playes, are pleasd with his Commedies. 0.4419And all such dull and heauy-witted worldlings, as were 0.4520neuer capable of the witte of a Commedie, comming by 0.4621report of them to his representations, haue found that 0.4722witte there, that they neuer found in them-selues, and 0.4823haue parted better wittied then they came: feeling an 0.4924edge of witte set vpon them, more then euer they 0.5025dreamd they had braine to grinde it on. So much and 0.5126such sauored salt of witte is in his Commedies, that they 0.5227seeme (for their height of pleasure) to be borne in that 0.5328sea that brought forth Venus.
Amongst all there is 0.5429none more witty then this: And had I time I would 0.5530comment vpon it, though I know it needs not, (for so ¶2
THE EPISTLE.
0.5631much as will make you thinke your testerne well be- 0.5732stowd)
but for so much worth, as euen poore I know to be 0.5833stuft in it. It deserues such a labour, as well as the best 0.5934Commedy in Terence
or Plautus.
And beleeue this, 0.6035that when hee is gone, and his Commedies out of sale, 0.6136you will scramble for them, and set vp a new English 0.6237Inquisition. Take this for a warning, and at the perrill 0.6338of your pleasures losse, and Iudgements, refuse not, nor 0.6439like this the lesse, for not being sullied, with the smoaky 0.6540breath of the multitude;
but thanke fortune for the 0.6641scape it hath made amongst you. Since by the grand 0.6742possessors wills I beleeue you should haue prayd for them 0.6843rather then beene prayd. And so I leaue all such to bee 0.6944prayd for (for the states of their wits healths) 0.7045that will not praise it.