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<The Epistle Dedicatory)1

ΤΟ

MY WORTHY

FRIEND, MR THOMAS

HAMMON, OF GRAYES

INNE, &c.

This Play, composed by so worthy an Authour as Mr. Marlo; and the part of the Jew presented by so vnimitable an Actor as Mr. Allin, being in this later Age commended to the Stage: As I vsher'd it unto the Court, and presented it to the Cock-pit, with these Prologues 5 and Epilogues here inserted, so now being newly brought to the Presse, I was loath it should be published without the ornament of an Epistle; making choyce of you vnto whom to deuote it; then whom (of all those Gentlemen and acquaintance, within the compasse of my long know- 10 ledge) there is none more able to taxe Ignorance, or attribute right to merit. Sir, you haue bin pleased to grace some of mine owne workes with your curteous patronage; I hope this will not be the worse accepted, because commended by mee; ouer whom none can clayme more power or 15 priuilege than your selfe. I had no better a New-yeares gift to present you with; receiue it therefore as a continuance of that inuiolable obliegement, by which he rests still ingaged; who as he euer hath, shall alwayes remaine,

Tuissimus :

THO. HEYWOOD.

From the top of page A 3.

20

The Prologue spoken at Court.
Gracious and Great, that we so boldly dare,
('Mongst other Playes that now in fashion are)
To present this; writ many yeares agone,
And in that Age, thought second vnto none;
We humbly crave your pardon: we pursue
The story of a rich and famous Jew

Who liu'd in Malta: you shall find him still,
In all his proiects, a sound Macheuill;
And that's his Character: He that hath past
So many Censures, is now come at last

To haue your princely Eares: grace you him; then
You crowne the Action, and renowne the pen.

Epilogue.

It is our feare (dread Soueraigne) we haue bin
Too tedious; neither can't be lesse than sinne
To wrong your Princely patience: If we haue,
(Thus low deiected) we your pardon craue:
And if ought here offend your eare or sight,
We onely Act, and Speake, what others write.

5

IO

5

239

The Prologue to the Stage, at the Cocke-pit.

We know not how our Play may passe this Stage,
But by the best of* Poets in that age
The Malta Jew had being, and was made;
And He, then by the best of* Actors play'd:
In Hero and Leander, one did gaine
A lasting memorie; in Tamberlaine,
This Jew, with others many th' other wan
The Attribute of peerelesse, being a man
Whom we may ranke with (doing no one wrong)
Proteus for shapes, and Roscius for a tongue,
So could he speake, so vary; nor is't hate
To merit in him who doth personate
Our Jew this day, nor is it his ambition
To exceed, or equall, being of condition
More modest; this is all that he intends,
(And that too, at the vrgence of some friends)
To proue his best, and if none here gaine-say it,
The part he hath studied, and intends to play it.

Epilogue.

In Graving, with Pigmalion to contend;
Or Painting, with Apelles; doubtlesse the end
Must be disgrace: our Actor did not so,
He onely aym'd to goe, but not out-goe.
Nor thinke that this day any prize was plaid,
Here were no betts at all, no wagers laid;
All the ambition that his mind doth swell,
Is but to heare from you, (by me) 'twas well.

* Marlo.

* Allin.

5

IO

* Perkins.

15

5

[blocks in formation]

Martin Del bosco, a spanish Abegal the Jews daughter.

[blocks in formation]

1 Add. in hand of about 1750 on the back of title-page of a copy of ed. 1633 (Bodleian: Malone 915).

2 Philia Borzo Reed

add. Reed.

Add. Coll.

Dramatis Personae

THE

IEW OF

MALTA

Macheuil.

Albeit the world thinke Macheuill is dead,
Yet was his soule but flowne beyond the Alpes,
And now the Guize is dead, is come from France
To view this Land, and frolicke with his friends.
To some perhaps my name is odious,

But such as loue me, gard me from their tongues,
And let them know that I am Macheuill,
And weigh not men, and therefore not mens words:
Admir'd I am of those that hate me most.
Though some speake openly against my bookes,
Yet will they reade me, and thereby attaine

To Peters Chayre: And when they cast me off,
Are poyson'd by my climing followers.

I count Religion but a childish Toy,
And hold there is no sinne but Ignorance.
Birds of the Aire will tell of murders past;
I am asham'd to heare such fooleries:

Many will talke of Title to a Crowne.

What right had Cæsar to the Empire ?

5

ΙΟ

15

Might first made Kings, and Lawes were then most sure When like the Dracos they were writ in blood.

21

Hence comes it, that a strong built Citadell

Commands much more then letters can import :

Which maxime had Phaleris obseru'd,

H' had neuer bellowed in a brasen Bull

S.D. Act I. Enter Machiavel Reed to Coll. Enter Machiavel Dyce to Bull. The Prologue. Enter Machiavel Ellis

25

19 Empire]

empery Reed etc. exc. Cunn.

21 Dracos] Drancus 1633

24 had]

had but conj. Dyce, Cunn. etc.

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