TO
THE
RIGHT
HONOURABLE
THE
LADY
Katherine
Herbert
.
MADAM
,
NEver
till
this
time
could
I
suspect
that
it
was
an
easier
thing
for
me
to
be
the
Author
of
a
Play
,
than
to
write
this
Dedication
to
my
mind
;
but
now
I
confesse
,
so
awful
is
my
Patronesse
,
and
so
humble
and
zealous
my
pretensions
in
this
kind
,
that
unlesse
I
could
bring
an
offering
that
might
far
surpasse
whatever
has
went
before
it
,
I
should
think
it
too
mean
for
your
acceptance
;
and
for
the
reason
that
having
been
allow'd
,
and
pass'd
the
sufferages
of
the
most
curious
Criticks
in
the
Theatre
,
I
should
be
the
more
unfortunate
to
be
at
last
Shipwrack'd
in
the
Haven
,
by
an
opinion
of
my
Dedication
,
whereof
some
of
the
leading
Wits
in
these
times
have
been
censur'd
;
how
hard
is
it
then
for
a
young
Writer
to
please
this
delicate
Age
,
wherein
every
year
the
Wits
study
the
fashion
of
Language
to
refine
,
and
alter
it
,
as
they
do
their
Cloathes
;
and
true
it
is
,
that
't
is
another
thing
to
write
the
sence
and
speeches
of
Heroes
that
are
dead
,
and
make
'em
speak
as
we
please
,
govern'd
by
our
fancy
,
then
it
is
to
reach
the
minds
of
those
illustrious
Persons
that
Poetry
is
●orc'd
to
choose
to
be
above
its
Iudges
,
the
Patrons
of
Wit
:
For
in
our
Playes
you
read
your
own
Characters
,
and
they
are
at
best
but
what
we
have
gathered
from
you
,
who
daily
act
among
yourselves
in
conversation
,
(
in
a
lighter
Orb
)
what
none
of
the
greatest
,
and
indeed
barbarous
Courts
could
ever
attain
to
;
and
good
Poets
are
at
the
best
but
like
bad
Painters
,
that
only
shew
you
the
shadowes
of
your selves
,
grosly
daub'd
,
without
imitating
the
least
spark
of
the
bright
original
▪
With
what
reverence
and
caution
then
ought
I
to
approach
you
,
Madam
,
whose
Nobility
and
Vertue
are
in
the
Sanctuary
of
so
divine
a
shape
,
that
't
is
an
excuse
for
all
that
see
you
to
give
their
Souls
no
liberty
to
speak
or
think
prophanely
of
you
,
but
justly
to
be
confin'd
to
admiration
,
and
the
whole
World
will
say
as
well
as
I
,
that
all
that
it
has
heard
of
Angels
,
are
to
be
seen
in
you
,
and
likethem
too
,
you
are
adorn'd
with
so
heavenly
a
Spring
of
Youth
,
as
if
you
were
to
blossome
to
Eternity
,
or
as
if
you
were
indeed
the
secret
Goddesse
of
Divine
Nature
discloss'd
,
that
every
year
makes
Vegetables
grow
,
and
all
the
Living
receive
a
hidden
and
diffusive
pleasure
from
her
influence
.
You
are
the
greatest
blessing
the
Almighty
has
design'd
to
that
incomparable
Person
your
Father
as
a
Reward
for
his
Iustice
and
Loyalty
in
that
most
eminent
Place
,
wherein
Heaven
,
and
the
wisest
Prince
has
set
him
,
as
the
richest
and
most
adorning
Iewel
of
his
Crown
,
and
a
continual
and
faithful
Steward
to
this
Nation
,
and
no
doubt
,
for
its
preservation
and
welfare
,
all
England
as
well
as
my self
,
does
pray
,
that
he
may
long
live
the
worthy
and
indeared
Servant
of
such
a
grateful
and
Royal
Master
.
To
you
,
Madam
,
therefore
,
before
I
conclude
,
I
am
to
beg
a
protection
for
this
worthlesse
Poem
,
the
product
of
some
melancholly
hours
,
and
not
of
my
businesse
:
And
if
perhaps
I
have
in
this
my
first
undertaking
,
like
a
raw
and
unpractic'd
Magician
in
his
Art
,
rais'd
to
my self
the
envy
of
some
malicious
and
troublesome
Spirits
,
which
I
have
not
the
skill
nor
courage
to
lay
,
I
have
therefore
wisely
invok'd
you
for
my
Deitie
:
for
neither
Criticks
nor
Devils
,
I
am
sure
,
can
presume
to
hurt
me
in
that
Circle
,
which
your
Name
has
guarded
and
made
sacred
.
Let
the
modesty
of
the
Stilemake
an
atonement
for
the
meannesse
of
the
Language
,
and
if
your
throughly
discerning
judgement
,
and
beauteous
Eyes
,
like
the
Sun
,
discover
motes
and
spots
in
what
you
read
,
you
have
clemency
and
goodnesse
in
abundance
to
forgive
them
,
and
impute
'em
to
the
inartificial
dresse
of
a
Virgin
Muse
;
in
my
next
she
may
appear
more
curious
.
I
bring
in
my
behalf
too
the
Conqueror
of
the
VVorld
,
to
lay
before
your
feet
,
the
greatest
Man
that
ever
was
,
who
,
were
he
living
,
wou'd
become
a
Rival
to
his
dear
Ephestion
,
and
behold
in
your
Person
,
as
well
the
sweet
,
serene
,
and
obliging
Innocence
of
Parisatis
,
as
the
more
lofty
and
Imperial
Graces
of
his
Statira
.
This
great
Man
,
Madam
,
the
Author
of
the
famous
Cassandra
thought
never
to
be
equall'd
,
but
in
the
person
of
the
most
exquisite
of
Lovers
,
him
therefore
he
has
rais'd
in
the
Character
of
Oroondates
,
to
be
a
Rival
to
the
mighty
Alexander
in
the
Romance
,
and
here
I
have
brought
him
to
be
so
in
you
,
and
the
rather
,
because
I
prefer
him
to
the
likenesse
of
the
young
,
hopeful
,
and
gallant
Partner
of
your self
,
which
I
pray
he
may
never
cease
to
be
,
but
early
anticipate
the
extraordinary
expectations
of
Mankind
,
and
crown
you
with
greater
happinesse
then
Fame
and
Fancy
have
yet
created
in
the
minds
of
the
most
Heroick
Lovers
.
This
,
and
whatever
increases
your
felicity
shall
be
the
perpetual
wishes
of
,
Madam
,
Your
most
Humble
and
Obedient
Servant
JOHN
BANKES
.
Persons
Represented
.
-
Alexander
the
Great
-
Ephestion
a
Youth
extreamly
belov'd
by
him
.
-
Great
Captains
.
-
Lysimachus
-
Cassander
-
Phillip
-
Oroondates
King
of
Scythia
.
-
Araxis
his
Confident
.
-
Bagistanes
a
Persian
left
Governour
of
Babilon
by
Alexander
.
-
Darius
Daughters
.
-
Statira
-
Parisatis
-
Melanthe
,
Woman
to
Statira
.
-
Women
and
Attendants
.
-
Anbassadours
.
-
Priests
.
-
Guards
.
-
Captains
.
The
Scene
Babylon
.
THe
Reader
is
desir'd
to
take
notice
of
,
and
pardon
the
Errata's
of
the
Printer
in
this
Play
,
the
reason
was
that
the
Author
going
into
the
Country
,
and
leaving
no
other
than
a
foul
Copy
in
the
Stationers
hands
did
order
every
Sheet
to
be
sent
down
to
him
to
correct
before
it
went
further
in
the
Press
,
which
was
promis'd
to
be
done
.
PAg.
2.
l.
1.
r.
treason
.
l.
28.
r.
stream
.
p.
3.
l.
34.
r.
one
.
p.
4.
l.
2.
r.
f●te
.
l.
●lt
.
swoone
.
p.
8.
l.
36.
r.
hast
.
p.
11.
l.
24.
r.
wondring
.
p.
16.
l.
35.
r.
●el
.
p.
17.
l.
2.
r.
relume
.
p
,
10.
l.
7.
lonely
.
l.
12.
Spheres
.
l.
26.
me
.
p.
20.
l.
11.
Cassandra
.
l.
22.
just
flying
.
l.
24.
say
.
p.
25.
l.
7.
had
.
p.
26.
l.
19.
adorn
.
l.
23.
unbridle
.
l.
26.
cosnjeal'd
.
l.
27.
large
.
p.
27.
l.
8.
O.
p.
28.
l.
7.
bird
.
l.
22.
he
.
l.
32.
debts
.
p.
30.
l.
13.
pour
.
p
,
32.
l.
23.
Sir
▪
2.
l.
of
the
Act
concern
.
p.
33.
l.
25.
nightly
.
p.
35.
l.
4.
and.
l.
33
,
bodies
.
l.
36.
Stars
,
for
the
r.
i
th'
.
p.
36.
l.
2
1
like
.
p.
39.
l.
ulr
.
sunk
.
p.
40.
l.
15.
and.
l.
44.
pry
.
p.
41.
l.
31.
dares
.
p.
42.
l.
16.
forsakes
.
p.
43.
l.
34.
Cydnus
.
p
,
45.
l.
19.
they
'l
not
.
p.
48.
l.
38.
thou
.
p.
50.
l.
5.
one
.
l.
43.
proud
.
p.
51.
l.
16.
for
two
r.
the.
l.
36.
us
.
p.
52.
l.
20.
through
.