Death, in the passionate and weighty Nuntius: yet after all this divine
rapture, O dura messorum ilia, the breath that comes from the incapable
multitude is able to poison it; and, ere it be acted, let the author
resolve to fix to every scene this of Horace:


--Hæc hodie porcis comedenda relinques.


To those who report I was a long time in finishing this tragedy, I
confess I do not write with a goose-quill winged with two feathers; and
if they will need make it my fault, I must answer them with that of
Euripides to Alcestides, a tragic writer: Alcestides objecting that
Euripides had only, in three days composed three verses, whereas himself
had written three hundred: Thou tallest truth (quoth he), but here 's the
difference, thine shall only be read for three days, whereas mine shall
continue for three ages.


Detraction is the sworn friend to ignorance: for mine own part, I have
ever truly cherished my good opinion of other men's worthy labours,
especially of that full and heightened style of Mr. Chapman, the laboured
and understanding works of Mr. Johnson, the no less worthy composures of
the both worthily excellent Mr. Beaumont and Mr. Fletcher; and lastly
(without wrong last to be named), the right happy and copious industry of
Mr. Shakespeare, Mr. Dekker, and Mr. Heywood, wishing what I write may be
read by their light: protesting that, in the strength of mine own
judgment, I know them so worthy, that though I rest silent in my own
work, yet to most of theirs I dare (without flattery) fix that of
Martial: