Prologue
Not out of confidence that none but wee
Are able to present this tragedie,
Nor out of envie at the grace of late
It did receive, nor yet to derogate
From their deserts, who give out boldly that5
They move with equall feet on the same flat;
Neither for all, nor any of such ends,
We offer it, gracious and noble friends,
To your review; wee, farre from emulation,
And (charitably judge) from imitation,10
With this work entertaine you, a peece knowne,
And still beleev’d, in Court to be our owne.
To quit our claime, doubting our right or merit,
Would argue in us poverty of spirit
Which we must not subscribe to: Field is gone,15
Whose action first did give it name, and one
Who came the neerest to him, is denide
By his gray beard to shew the height and pride
Of D’Ambois youth and braverie; yet to hold
Our title still a foot, and not grow cold20
By giving it o’re, a third man with his best
Of care and paines defends our interest;
As Richard he was lik’d, nor doe wee feare,
In personating D’Ambois, hee’le appeare
To faint, or goe lesse, so your free consent,25
As heretofore, give him encouragement.
Linenotes
Prologue. The Prologue does not appear in A.
To your review, we farre from emulation
(And charitably judge from imitation)
With this work entertaine you, a peece knowne
And still beleev’d in Court to be our owne,
To quit our claime, doubting our right or merit,
Would argue in us poverty of spirit
Which we must not subscribe to.
Notes
10 (charitably judge). So punctuated by ed. B has:—
13 doubting. In some copies of B this is misprinted oubting.