Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- PREFACE
- SOME ACCOUNT OR THE LIFE OF SHAKESPEARE
- SHAKESPEARE'S WILL
- PRELIMINARY MATTER IN THE FOLIO OF 1623
- THE ADDRESS TO THE READER
- COMMENDATORY VERSES
- ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA
- THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
- LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST
- THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
- ROMEO AND JULIET
- THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
- KING JOHN
- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
- KING RICHARD THE SECOND
- THE FIRST PART OF KING HENRY THE FOURTH
- THE SECOND PART OF KING HENRY THE FOURTH
- THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
- MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
THE ADDRESS TO THE READER
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- PREFACE
- SOME ACCOUNT OR THE LIFE OF SHAKESPEARE
- SHAKESPEARE'S WILL
- PRELIMINARY MATTER IN THE FOLIO OF 1623
- THE ADDRESS TO THE READER
- COMMENDATORY VERSES
- ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA
- THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
- LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST
- THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
- ROMEO AND JULIET
- THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
- KING JOHN
- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
- KING RICHARD THE SECOND
- THE FIRST PART OF KING HENRY THE FOURTH
- THE SECOND PART OF KING HENRY THE FOURTH
- THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
- MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Summary
To the great Variety of Readers
From the most able, to him that can but spell: There you are number'd. We had rather you were weighd. Especially, when the fate of all Bookes depends upon your capacities: and not of your heads alone, but of your purses. Well! It is now publique, & you wil stand for your priviledges wee know: to read and censure. Do so, but buy it first. That doth best commend a Booke, the Stationer saies. Then, how odde soever your braines be, or your wisedomes, make your licence the same, and spare not. Judge your sixe-pen'orth, your shillings worth, your five shillings worth at a time, or higher, so you rise to the just rates, and welcome. But, whatever you do, Buy. Censure will not drive a Trade, or make the Jacke go. And though you be a Magistrate of wit, and sit on the Stage at Black-Friers, or the Cock-pit to arraigne Playes dailie, know, these Playes have had their triall alreadie, and stood out all Appeales; and do now come forth quitted rather by a Decree of Court, then any purchas'd Letters of commendation.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Staunton Shakespeare , pp. lxPublisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1858