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vnto their parent. There is a great differenc, vvhether any Booke chooſe his Patrones, or finde them: This hat done both. For, ſo much were your L L. likings of the ſeuerall parts, vvhen they were acted, as before they vvere publiſhed, the Volume ask'd to be yours. We haue but collected them, and done an office to the dead, to procure his Orphanes, Guardians; vvithout ambition either of ſelfe-profit, or fame: onely to keepe the memory of ſo worthy a Friend, & Fellow aliue, as was our S h a k e s p e a r e, by humble offer of his playes, to your moſt nobl patronage. Wherein, as we haue 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 bands reach foorth milke, creame, fruites, or what they haue: and many Nations (we haue heard) that had not gummes & incenſe, obtained their requeſt, 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 moſt humbly conſecrate to your H.H. theſe remaines of your ſeruant Shakeſpeare; that what delight is in them, may be eyer your L.L. the reputation his, & the faults ours, if any be committed, by a payre ſo varfull to ſhew their gratitude both to the liuing, and the dead, as is