The Jew of Malta | Page 3

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This E-text was prepared by Gary R. Young using an IBM compatible
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Gary Young [email protected] or [email protected]

THE JEW OF MALTA.
BY CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE
EDITED BY THE REV. ALEXANDER DYCE.

The Famous Tragedy of The Rich Iew of Malta. As it was playd before
the King and Qveene, 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.

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 Cock-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<1> 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.<2>

THE PROLOGUE SPOKEN AT COURT.
Gracious and great, that we so boldly dare ('Mongst other plays that
now in fashion are) To present this, writ many years agone, And in that
age thought second unto none, We humbly crave your pardon. We
pursue The story of a rich and famous Jew Who liv'd in Malta: you
shall find him still, In all his projects, a sound Machiavill; And that's
his character. He that hath past So many censures<3> is now come at
last To have your princely ears: grace you him; then You crown the
action, and renown the pen.

EPILOGUE SPOKEN AT COURT.
It is our fear, dread sovereign, we have bin<4> Too tedious; neither
can't be less than sin To wrong your princely patience: if we have, Thus
low dejected, we your pardon crave; And, if aught here offend your ear
or sight, We only act and speak what others write.

THE PROLOGUE TO THE STAGE, AT THE COCK-PIT.
We know not how our play may pass this stage, But by the best of
poets<5> in that age THE MALTA-JEW had being and was made; And
he then by the best of actors<6> play'd: In HERO AND LEANDER<7>
one did gain A lasting memory; in Tamburlaine, This Jew, with others
many, th' other wan The attribute of peerless, being a man Whom we

may rank with (doing no one wrong) Proteus for shapes, and Roscius
for a tongue,-- So could he speak, so vary; nor is't hate To merit in
him<8> who doth personate Our Jew this day; nor is it his ambition To
exceed or equal, being of condition More modest: this is all that he
intends, (And that too at the urgence of some friends,) To prove his
best, and, if none here gainsay it, The part he hath studied, and intends
to play it.

EPILOGUE TO THE STAGE, AT THE COCK-PIT.
In graving with Pygmalion to contend, Or painting with Apelles,
doubtless the end Must be disgrace: our actor did not so,-- He only
aim'd to go, but not out-go. Nor think