Your sweet desires depriv'd my company,
For Tamburlaine, the scourge of God, must die..

[He dies. AMY. Meet heaven and earth, and here let all

things end,

For earth hath spent the pride of all her fruit,
And Heav'n consum'd his choicest living fire.
Let earth and Heav'n his timeless death deplore,
For both their worths will equal him no more.

THE

JEW OF MALTA.

The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta. As it was played before the King and Queene, in His Majesties theatre at White-Hall, by Her Majesties Servants at the Cock-pit. Written by Christopher Marlo. London: Printed by I. B. for Nicholas Vavasour, and are to be sold at his Shop in the Inner-Temple, neere the Church. 1633. 4to.

[This play was acted, as appears by Henslowe's MS. on the 26 February, 1591; was entered at Stationers' Hall, in May * 1594, but was not printed until 1683; when Thomas Heywood, the dramatic poet, having produced it both before the court, and at the cock-pit, published it with the prologues and epilogues, spoken on those occasions. It was also revived on the stage, a few years ago, for the purpose of exhibiting the powers of a celebrated actor, in the character of Barabas, the Jew.]

MY WORTHY FRIEND,

MR. THOMAS HAMMON,

Of Gray's Inn, &c.

THIS play, composed by so worthy an author as Mr. Marlowe; and the part of the Jew presented by so unimitable an actor as Mr. Allen, being in this later age commended to the stage; as I usher'd it unto the court, and presented it to the cock-pit, with these prologues and epilogues here inserted, so now being newly brought to the press, I was loth it should be published without the ornament of an epistle; making choice of you unto whom to devote it; than whom (of all those gentlemen and acquaintance, within the compass of my long knowledge) there is none more able to tax ignorance, or attribute right to merit. Sir, you have been pleased to grace some of mine own works with your courteous patronage; I hope this will not be the worse accepted, because commended by me; over whom, none can claim more power or privilege than yourself. I had no better a new-year's gift to present you with; receive it therefore as a continuance of that inviolable obligement, by which, he rests still engaged; who as he ever hath, shall always remain, Tuissimus :

THO. HEYWOOD.