The Jew of Malta

Prologue

TO MY WORTHY FRIEND, MASTER THOMAS HAMMON, of GRAY'S INN, ETC.

This play, composed by so worthy an author as Master Marlowe,

and the part of the Jew presented by so unimitable an actor as

Master Alleyn, being in this later age commended to the stage;

as I ushered it unto the court, and presented it to the c**k-pit,

with these Prologues and Epilogues here inserted, so now being

newly brought to the press, I was loath 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,