A neuer writer, to an euer reader.

E

Newes.

TERNALL reader, you have beere a new play, neuer ftal'd with the ftage, neuer clapper-clawd with the palmes of the vulger, and yet paffing full of the palme comicall; for it is a birth of your braine, that neuer under-tooke any thing commicall, vainely: and were but the vaine names of commedies changde for the titles of commodities, or of playes for pleas; you should fee all those grand cenfors, that now ftile them fuch vanities, flock to them for the maine grace of their grauities: especially this authors commedies, that are fo fram'd to the life, that they ferue for the most common commentaries, of all the actions of our liues, fhewing fuch a dexteritie, and power of witte, that the most difpleafed with playes, are pleafd with his commedies. And all fuch dull and beauy-witted worldlings, as were neuer capable of the witte of a commedie, comming by report of them to his reprefentations, haue found that witte there, that they neuer found in them-felues, and haue parted better wittied then they came: feeling an edge of witte Set upon them, more then euer they dreamd they had braine to grinde it on. So much and fuch fauored falt of witte is in his commedies, that they feeme (for their height of pleasure) to be borne in that fea that brought forth Venus. Amongst all there is none more witty then this: and bad I time I would comment pon it, though I know it needs not, (for fo much as

will make you thinke your tefterne well beftowd) but for fo much worth, as euen poore I know to be fuft

in it. It deferues fuch a labour, as well as the best commedy in Terence or Plautus. And beleeue this, that when hee is gone, and his commedies out of fale, you will fcramble for them, and fet up a new English inquifition. Take this for a warning, and at the perrill of your pleasures losse, and iudgements, refuse not, nor like this the leffe, for not being fullied, with the fmoaky breath of the multitude; but thanke fortune for the feape it hath made amongst you. Since by the grand poffeffors wills I beleeue you should haue prayd for them rather then beene prayd. And fo I leaue all fuch to bee prayd for (for the ftates of their wits healths) that will not praife it. Vale.

THE

THE

HISTORY

O F

TROYLUS and CRESSEIDA.

C

Enter Pandarus and Troylus.

Troy.

ALL heere my varlet, Ile vnarme againe,

Why should I warre without the walls of Troy:
That finde fuch cruell battell here within,

Each Troyan that is maifter of his heart,

Let him to field Troylus alas hath none.

Pan. Will this geere nere be mended?

Troy. The Greeks are strong and skilfull to their strength Fierce to their skill, and to their fierceneffe valiant.

But I am weaker then a womans teare;
Tamer then fleepe; fonder then ignorance,
Leffe valiant then the virgin in the night,
And skilleffe as vnpractiz'd infancy.

Pan. Well, I haue told you enough of this; for my part Ile not meddle nor make no farther; hee that will haue a cake out of the wheate must tarry the grynding.

Tro. Haue I not tarried?

Pan. I the grinding; but you must tarry the boulting.
Troy. Haue I not tarried?

Pande. I the boulting; but you must tarry the leauening.

Troy. Still haue I tarried.

Cc4

Fan.

Pan. I, to the leauening, but heares yet in the word here after, the kneading, the making of the cake, the heating the ouen, and the baking, nay you must stay the cooling too or yea may chance burne your lippes.

Troy Pacience herfelfe, what goddesse ere she be, Doth lesser blench at fuffrance then I do.

At Priams royall table do I fit

And when faire Creffid comes into my thoughts,
So traitor then fhe comes when she is thence.

Pand. Well fhee lookt yesternight fairer then euer I faw her looke, or any woman els.

Troy. I was about to tell thee when my heart,
As wedged with a figh would riue in twaine,
Leaft Hector or my father fhould perceiue mee:
I haue (as when the funne doth light a scorne)
Buried this figh in wrincle of a fmyle,

But forrow that is coucht in feeming gladneffe,
Is like that mirth fate turnes to fuddaine fadneffe.

Pan. And her haire were not fome-what darker then Hel- lens, well go to, there were no more comparison betweene the women! but for my part fhe is my kinfwoman, I would not as they tearme it praise her, but I would fom-body had heard her talke yefter-day as I did, I will not difpraise your Caffandras wit, but-------

Troy. Oh Pandarus I tell thee Pandarus, When I do tell thee there my hopes lie drown'd

Reply not in how many fadomes deepe,

They lie indrench'd I tell thee I am madde:

In Creffids loue? thou anfwerft fhe is faire,
Powreft in the open ulcer of my heart:

Her eyes, her haire her cheeke, her gate, her voice,
Handleft in thy difcourfe: O that her hand
In whofe comparifon all whites are ynke

Writing their owne reproch; to whofe foft feifure,

fifter

The

The cignets downe is harsh, and fpirit of fence:
Hard as the palme of plow-man; this thou telft me;
As true thou telft me, when I fay I loue her,
But faying thus in fteed of oyle and balme,

Thou layst in euery gash that loue hath giuen mee.
The knife that made it.

Pan. I fpeake no more then truth.

Troy. Thou doft not fpeake fo much.

Pan. Faith Ile not meddle in it, let her bee as thee is, if fhe bee faire tis the better for her, and fhee bee not, she has the mends in her owne hands.

Troy. Good Pandarus, how now Pandarus?

Pan. I haue had my labour for my trauell, ill thought on of her, and ill thought of you, gon betweene and betweene, but fmall thanks for my labour.

Troy. What art thou angry Pandarus? what with me?

Pan. Because fhee's kin to me therefore shee's not so faire as Hellen, and fhe were kin to me, fhe would be as faire a Friday as Hellen, is on Sunday, but what I? I care not and shee were a blackeamore, tis all one to mee.

Troy. Say I fhe is not faire ?

Pan. I do not care whether you do or no, she's a foole to ftay behinde her father let her to the Greekes, and fo Ile tell her the next time I fee her for my part Ile meddle nor make no more ith' matter.

Troy. Pandarus.

Pan. Not I.

Troy. Sweete Pandarus.

Pan. Pray you fpeake no more to mee I will leaue all as I found it and there an end.

Exit.

Sound alarum.

Troy. Peace you vngracious clamors, peace rude founds,

Fooles on both fides, Hellen muft needes be faire,

When