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.