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PLINY JUN'.

Some select Epiftles of Pliny the Younger into Eng. by Abr. Flemming, 4to. Lond.

POMPONIUS MELA.

Pomponius Mela, by A. Golding, 4to.

PLINY.

Pliny's Nat. Hift. by Dr. Phil. Holland, fol.

SOLINUS.

1576

1590

1601

Julius Solinus Polyhiftor, by A. Golding, 4to. 1587

VEGETIUS.

The four Bookes of Flavius Vegetius, concerning martial Policye, by John Sadler, 4to.

RUTILIUS RUFUS.

1572

A View of Valiaunce, tranflated from Rutilius Rufus, by Tho. Newton, 8vo.

1580

DARES PHR. and DICTYS Cret.

Dares and Dictys's Trojan War, in Verse

CATO and P. SYRUS.

1555

Caton*, tranflatid into Englysfhe by Mayfter Benet Burgh, &c. mentioned by Caxton.

Cathon [Parvus and Magnus] tranfl. &c. by Caxton

1483

Precepts of Cato, with Annotations of Erafmus, &c. 24mo. Lond.

1560 and 1562

• Probably this was never printed.

Ames

Ames mentions a Discourse of Human Nature, translated from Hippocrates, p. 428; an Extract from Pliny, tranflated from the French, p. 312; fop, &c. by Caxton and others, and there is no doubt, but many Translations at prefent unknown, may be gradually recovered, either by Industry or Accident.

то

MOST NOBLE AND INCOMPARABLE PAIRE OF BRETHREN,

WILLIAM

Earle of PEMBROKE, &c. Lord Chamberlaine to the Kings most Excellent Majeftie,

AND

PHILIP

Earle of MONTGOMERY, &c. Gentleman of his Majefties Bed-chamber.

Both Knights of the Moft Noble Order of the Garter, and our fingular good LORDS.

RIGHT HONOURABLE,

W

WHILST we ftudy to be thankefull in our particular, for the many favours we have received from your L. L. we are falne upon the ill fortune to mingle two the most divers things that can be, feare, and rafhneffe; rafhneffe in the enterprize, and feare of the fucceffe. For, when we value the places your H. H. fuftaine, wee cannot but know their dignity greater, than to defcend to the reading of these trifles: and, while we name them trifles, we have deprived ourselves of the defence of our dedication. But fince your L. L. have been pleased to thinke thefe trifles fomething, heretofore; and have profequuted both them, and their author living, with fo much favour: we hope (that they out-living him, and he not having the fate, common VOL. I.

[F]

with

with fome, to be exequutor to his owne writings) you will use the fame indulgence toward them, you have done unto their parent. There is a great difference, whether any booke choose his patrones, or finde them this hath done both. For, fo much were your L. L. likings of the severall parts, when they were acted, as before they were published, the volumne asked to be yours. We have but collected them, and done an office to the dead, to procure his orphanes, guardians; without ambition either of felfe-profit, or fame: onely to keepe the memory of fo worthy a friend, and fellow alive, as was our SHAKESPEARE, by humble offer of his playes, to your most noble patronage. Wherein, as we have justly obferved, no man to come neere your L. L. but with a kind of religious addreffe; it hath been the height of our care, who are the prefenters, to make the prefent worthy of your H. H. by the perfection. But, there we muft alfo crave our abilities to be confidered, my Lords. We cannot goe beyond our owne powers. Countrey hands reach forth milke, creame, fruits, or what they have: and many nations (we have heard) that had not gummes and incense, obtained their requests with a leavened cake; it was no fault to approach their gods by what meanes they could and the moft, though meaneft, of things, are made more precious, when they are dedicated to temples. In that name therefore, we moft humbly confecrate to your H. H. these remaines of your fervant SHAKESPEARE; that what delight is in them may be ever your L. L. the reputation his, and the faults ours, if any be committed, by a paire fo carefull to fhew their gratitude both to the living, and the dead, as is

Your Lordships most bounden

JOHN HEMINGE,

HENRY CONDELL.

THE

PREFACE

OF THE

PLAYERS.

To the great Variety of READER s.

F

ROM the moft able, to him that can but spell: there you are numbered, we had rather you were weighed. Efpecially, when the fate of all bookes depends upon your capacities: and not of your heads alone, but of your purfes. Well, it is now publike, and you will ftand for your priviledges, we know to reade, and cenfure. Doe fo, but buy it firft. That doth beft. commend a booke, the ftationer fayes. Then, how odde foever your braines be, or your wifdomes, make your licence the fame, and fpare not. Judge your fixe-penny'orth, your fhillings worth, your five fhillings worth at a time, or higher, fo you rife to the juft rates, and welcome. But, whatever you doe, buy. Cenfure will not drive a trade, or make the jacke goe. And though you be a magiftrate of wit, and fit on the ftage at Blackfriars, or the Cock-pit, to arraigne playes dayly, know, these playes have had their triall already, and ftood out all appeales; and doe now come forth quitted rather by a decree of court, than any purchafed letters of commendation.

It had been a thing, we confeffe, worthy to have been wished, that the author himfelfe had lived to have fet forth, and overfeene his owne writings; but fince [F 2]

it

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