My LORD,

F the Application of too great a Part of my Time to the unprofitable Love and Study of

Poetry, has been an Impucation, perhaps, justly enough charg'd upon me; am bound, by the first Principles of Duty and Gracitude, to own, that it is by Your Grace's immediate Goodness that I have .

A

I

at

at length an Opportunity of turning my Thoughts a better and more useful Way. The Honour of Your Grace's Protection and Favour, has something in it which distinguishes it self from that of other Great Men; the Benefit of it is extensive, and to have a share in Your Grace's good Opinion, is to be entitled, at least, to some Esteem and Regard from Your Grace's illustrious Friends, that is, from those who fill up the first and best Rank of Mankind." Whatever I am or can be, (if I am ever to be any thing) is all Your Grace's. It is an Acknowledge ment that I make, with as much SatisfaCtion as Pride; and I don't know whether the Obligation I lye under, or the Benefit I receive from it, be capable of giving me the greater Pleasure. Some Dependances are indeed a Pain, tho’ they bring considerable Advantages along with them; but where there is a gracious Temper, an easie Condescension, and a Readiness to do Good equal to the Magnificence of the Giver, the Value of that Gift must certainly be very much enhanc'd. 'Tis my particular Happiness, that Your Grace is the best Benefactor I could have; for as I am capable

of

1

3

of making no Return, Your Grace never 19

thinks of receiving oner. I have indeed one y. d thing still:to beg, That as Your Grace re

ceiv'd ime' into Your favourable Opinion, without any Pretension that could be made on my side, I may have the Honour to continue there, by my first Title, Your Grace's meer Goodness.

Tho' it be high time to disclaim those Scudies, with which I have amus'd my self and other People; yet I could not take

leave of an Art I have long lov’d, without 1

commending the best of our Poets to the Protection of the best Patron. I have some

times had the Honour to hear Your Grace 1

express the particular Pleasure you have taken in that Greatness of Thought, those natural Images, those Passions finely touch’d, and that beautiful Expression which is even . ry where to be met with in Shakespear. And that he may still have the Honour to entertaim Your Grace, I have taken some Care to redeem him from the Injuries of former Impressions. I must not pretend to have restor'd this work to the Exactness of the Author's Original Manuscripts : Those are loft, or, at least, are gone beyond any Inquiry !

A 2

could

er

could make ; so that there was nothing left, but to compare the several Editions, and give the true Reading as well as I could from thence. This I have endeavour'd to do pretty carefully, and render'd very : many Places Intelligible, chat were not so before. In some of the Editions, especially the last, there were many Lines, (and in Hamlet one whole Scene) left out together; these are now all supply’d. 1 fear Your Grace will still find some Faults, but I hope they are mostly litteral, and the Errors of the Press. Such as it is, ir is the best Present of English Poetry I am capable of making Your Grace. And I believe I shall be thought no unjust Disposer of this, the Author's Etate in Wit, by humbly Offering it where he would have been proud to have Bequeach'd ir.

The Present Age is indeed an unfortunate one for Dramatick Poetry ; she has been perfecuted by Fanaticism, forsaken by her Friends, and oppress'd even by Musick, her Sister and confederate Art, that was formerly employ'd in her Defence and Support. In such perillous Times, I know no Protection for Shakespear, more Safe nor more Honourable than Your Grace's: 'Tis the best

Security

!