The true Tragedy of Herod and Antipater With the Death of faire Marriam. According to Iosephvs, the learned and famous Iewe |
The Printers Epigrammaticall Epistle, to the vnderstanding Readers.
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 | The true Tragedy of Herod and Antipater |  |
The Printers Epigrammaticall Epistle, to the vnderstanding Readers.
Reader's: whose hearts haue sparkled with DesireTo be inflamed with Promethian Fire,
Fetcht from Pernassus Shrine (the Muses Mount)
To You I write, that make so deare account
Eu'n of Arts meerest Shadowes; You contemne
The drossy Substance, highly priz'd by Men
Of Earthy breeding; who can neuer gleane
The least Content from a true Tragicke Scœne
Of high and noble Nature; nor care they
To heare, or vnderstand; but see a Play:
For Tragœdy or History, you shall
Neuer finde these at any Stationers Stall
Bestow one Six-pence: but, for bald Discourses
Of Commicke Ribaldry, they'l draw their Purses.
Hence is the cause, that Stories (like to This)
Shall lie in darke Obscurity, and misse
The Printers Presse, t'adorne and set them forth
In the true Glories of their Natiue Worth;
When Catrion-Comedies (not worth an Hayre)
Must be set out with Excellent and Rare,
Strange vndeseruing Titles: but, let these
Merit such liking as their Readers please.
Heere I haue sent and Printed to your view,
A Story; which I dare be bold is true;
Now newly writ, and truely worth your reading,
Gather'd from learn'd Iosephvs: all my pleading
Is, that it may your kinde Acceptance gaine:
I then shall count my Care, my Cost, and Paine,
So happily bestow'd; that Ile be Prest
For your Contentments, futurely to rest;
Yours obsequious, in what's vertuous,
Math: Rhodes.
| The true Tragedy of Herod and Antipater | |