ADDRESS PREFIXED TO THE QUARTO

EDITION OF THIS PLAY, 1609.

A never writer, to an ever reader. News.

:

TERNAL reader, you have here a new play, never staled with the stage, never clapper-clawed with the palms of the vulgar, and yet passing full of the palm comical; for it is a birth of that1 brain, that never undertook any thing comical vainly and were but the vain names of comedies changed for the titles of commodities, or of plays for pleas, you should see all those grand censors, that now style them such vanities, flock to them for the main grace of their gravities; especially this author's comedies, that are so framed to the life, that they serve from the most common commentaries of all the actions of our lives, shewing such a dexterity, and power of wit, that the most displeased with plays are pleased with his comedies. And all such dull and heavy-witted worldlings, as were never capable of the wit of a comedy, coming by report of them to his representations, have found that wit there, that they never found in themselves, and have parted better-witted than they came; feeling an edge of wit set upon them, more than ever they dreamed they had brain to grind it on. So much and such savoured salt of wit is in his comedies, that they seem, for their height of pleasure, to be born in that sea that brought forth Venus. Amongst all there is none more witty than this: and had I time I

would comment upon it; though I know it needs not, for so much as will make you think your testern well bestowed, but for so much worth, as even poor I know to be stuffed in it. It deserves such a labour, as well as the best comedy in Terence or Plautus. And believe this, that when he is gone, and his comedies out of sale, you will scramble for them, and set up a new English Inquisition. Take this for a warning, and at the peril of your pleasure's loss, and judgement's, refuse not, nor like this the less, for not being sullied with the smoky breath of the multitude;' but thank Fortune for the scape it hath made amongst you. Since by the grand possessors' wills 1 believe you should have prayed for them rather than been prayed. And so leave all such to be prayed for, for the states of their wits' healths, that will not praise it. Vale.

ANTENOR,

his Sons.

Trojan Commanders.

CALCHAS, a Trojan Priest taking part with the Greeks.

PANDARUS, Uncle to Cressida.

MARGARELON, a bastard Son of PRIAM.

AGAMEMNON, the Grecian General,

MENELAUS, his Brother.

ACHILLES,

AJAX,

ULYSSES,

NESTOR,

Grecian Commanders.

DIOMEDES,

PATROCLUS,

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 the Grecian Camp before it.

Spoken by one in Armour.

N Troy, there lies the scene. From isles of
Greece

The princes orgulous, their high blood
chaf'd,

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 the 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 unbruis'd 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 vaunt 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.