Comedies, Histories & Tragedies

2018 | Fiction & Poetry | History & Politics

Paflions he is endu'd with, are more largely and fine ly pencil'd out, and with higher colouring, than can cite be met with in the writings of any age or na tion whatfocver: a knowledge no ways unfuitable to the many high employments your Grace is em bark'd in; yet from the attaining of which your fia tion in life does in fome degree exclude you, other wise than in books. But if this idea of a benefit of (0 high a nature accruing to your Grace from the perusal of this work, flaould prove only the vision of an editor, - who is, in his affecftions, commonly idolatrous; worlhipping himfelf, and expeéting wor fhip from others towards the image he fets up, - yet of this little good at leaft he has hopes of being the inflrument; that is, of having furniflg'd you with a noble and rational amusement for fome of your lei sure hours, and (perhaps) a relief for fome anxious ones; which are the lot of allthumanity, and parti cularly of perfons in your Grace's elevated condi tion: To have reach'd no Farther than this, and, by his labours, contributed only to your entertainment, will fill all the wifhes of him, who is,with the great pit refpeét, your Grace's.

William Shakespeare (Author)