A neuer writer to an euer reader.

E

TERNALL reader, you have heere a new play, neuer ftal'd with the stage, neuer clapper-clawd with the palmes of the vulger, and yet passing full of the palme comicall; for it is a birth of your braine, that neuer vnder-tooke any thing commicall vainely: and were but the vaine names of commedies changde for the titles of commodities, or of playes for pleas, you should see all thofe grand cenfors, that now stile them fuch vanities, flock to them for the maine grace of their grauities; especially this authors commedies, that are so fram'd to the life, that they ferue for the mofi common commentaries of all the actions of our liues, showing fuch a dexteritie, and power of witte, that the most displeased with playes are pleafd with his commedies. And all fuch dull and beauy-witted worldlings, as were neuer capable of the witte of a commedie, comming by report of them to his reprefentations, haue found that witte there, that they neuer found in them-selues, and haue parted better-wittied then they came; feeling an edge of witte set upon them, more then ever they dreamd they had braine to grinde it on. So much ana Such fauord salt of witte is in his commedies, that they Seeme (for their height of pleasure) to be borne in that jea

* Address Prefixed to those Copies of the Edition of 1609, the title pages of which do not state that it " was acted by the King's Majesty's Servants, at the Globe."

that brought forth Venus. Amongst all there is none more witty then this; and had I time I would comment vpon it, though I know it needs not, (for so much as will make you thinke your testern well bestowd,) but for so much worth, as euen poore I know to be stuft in it. It deferves fuch a labour, as well as the best commedy in Terence or Plautus: and beleeue this, that when hee is gone, and his commedies out of fale, you will fcramble for them, and fet up a new English inquisition. Take this for a warning, and at the perill of your pleasures losse, and iudgments, refuje not, nor like this the leffe for not being fullied, with the fmoaky breath of the multitude; but thanke fortune for the 'Scape it hath made amongst you. Since by the grand possessors' wills, I believe, you should have prayd for them, rather then beene prayd. And so I leaue all such to bee prayd for (for the states of their wits healths) that will not praise it. — Vale.

B

CALCHAS, a Trojan Priest, taking part with the Greeks.

PANDARUS, Uncle to Cressida.

AGAMEMNON, the Grecian General.

MENELAUS, his Brother.

THERSITES, a deformed and scurrilous Grecian.

ALEXANDER, Servant to Cressida; Servant to Troilus; Servant to Paris; Servant to Diomedes.

HELEN, Wife to Menelaus.

ANDROMACHE, Wife to Hector.

CASSANDRA, Daughter to Priam; a Prophetess.
CRESSIDA, Daughter to Calchas.

Trojan and Greek Soldiers, and Attendants.

SCENE: Troy, and a Grecian Camp before it.

THE PROLOGUE.

IN Troy, there lies the scene.

I

From isles of Greece high blood chaf'd,

From isles of Gre

The princes orgulous, their Have to the port of Athens sent their ships, Fraught with the ministers and instruments Of cruel war: sixty and nine, that wore Their crownets regal, from th' Athenian bay Put forth toward Phrygia; and their vow is made To ransack Troy, within whose strong immures The ravish'd Helen, Menelaus' queen,

With wanton Paris sleeps; and that's the quarrel.
To Tenedos they come;

And the deep-drawing barks do there disgorge
Their warlike fraughtage: now on Dardan plains
The fresh and yet unbruised Greeks do pitch
Their brave pavilions: Priam's six-gated city,
Dardan, and Tymbria, Helias, Chetas, Trojan,
And Antenorides, with massy staples
And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts,
Sperr up the sons of Troy.

Now expectation, tickling skittish spirits
On one and other side, Trojan and Greek,
Sets all on hazard. - And hither am I come
A prologue arm'd, — but not in confidence
Of author's pen, or actor's voice, but suited
In like conditions as our argument

To tell you, fair beholders, that our play
Leaps o'er the vant and firstlings of those broils,
Beginning in the middle; starting thence away
To what may be digested in a play.

Like, or find fault; do as your pleasures are;
Now good, or bad, 'tis but the chance of war.