_TCD_ (II) A second
collection
of poems in the same MS.
John Donne
, belonging to Captain C.
Shirley Harris.
_Q_ Queen's College MS. , Queen's College, Oxford.
_RP31_ Rawlinson Poetical MS. 31, Bodleian Library, Oxford.
_RP61_ " " " 61 " " "
_S_ Stephens MS. , Harvard College.
_S96_ Stowe MS. 961, British Museum.
_TCC_ Trinity College, Cambridge, MS.
_TCD_ Trinity College, Dublin, MS. G. 2. 21.
_TCD_ (II) A second collection of poems in the same MS.
_W_ Westmoreland MS. , belonging to Mr. Edmund Gosse.
The following groups are important:--
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
and
_A18_, _N_, _TC_, where _TC_ represents _TCC_ and _TCD_
THE PRINTER
TO THE
UNDERSTANDERS.
For this time I must speake only to you: at another, _Readers_ may
perchance serve my turne; and I thinke this a way very free from
exception, in hope that very few will have a minde to confesse
themselves ignorant.
If you looke for an Epistle, as you have before ordinary publications,
I am sory that I must deceive you; but you will not lay it to my
charge, when you shall consider that this is not ordinary, for if I
should say it were the best in this kinde, that ever this Kingdome
hath yet seene; he that would doubt of it must goe out of the Kingdome
to enforme himselfe, for the best judgments, within it, take it for
granted.
You may imagine (if it please you) that I could endeare it unto
you, by saying, that importunity drew it on; that had it not beene
presented here, it would have come to us from beyond the Seas; (which
perhaps is true enough,) That my charge and paines in procuring of
it hath beene such, and such. I could adde hereto, a promise of more
correctnesse, or enlargement in the next Edition, if you shall in the
meane time content you with this. But these things are so common, as
that I should profane this Peece by applying them to it; A Peece
which who so takes not as he findes it, in what manner soever, he
is unworthy of it, sith a scattered limbe of this Author, hath more
amiablenesse in it, in the eye of a discerner, then a whole body of
some other; Or, (to expresse him best by himselfe)
[Sidenote: _In the Storme. _]
--_A hand, or eye,
By_ Hilyard _drawne, is worth a history
By a worse Painter made_;--
If any man (thinking I speake this to enflame him for the vent of
the Impression) be of another opinion, I shall as willingly spare his
money as his judgement. I cannot lose so much by him as hee will by
himselfe. For I shall satisfie my selfe with the conscience of well
doing, in making so much good common.
Howsoever it may appeare to you, it shall suffice mee to enforme you,
that it hath the best warrant that can bee, publique authority, and
private friends.
There is one thing more wherein I will make you of my counsell, and
that is, That whereas it hath pleased some, who had studyed and did
admire him, to offer to the memory of the Author, not long after his
decease, I have thought I should do you service in presenting them
unto you now; onely whereas, had I placed them in the beginning, they
might have serv'd for so many Encomiums of the Author (as is usuall
in other workes, where perhaps there is need of it, to prepare men to
digest such stuffe as follows after,) you shall here finde them in the
end, for whosoever reades the rest so farre, shall perceive that there
is no occasion to use them to that purpose; yet there they are, as an
attestation for their sakes that knew not so much before, to let them
see how much honour was attributed to this worthy man, by those that
are capable to give it. _Farewell.
_Q_ Queen's College MS. , Queen's College, Oxford.
_RP31_ Rawlinson Poetical MS. 31, Bodleian Library, Oxford.
_RP61_ " " " 61 " " "
_S_ Stephens MS. , Harvard College.
_S96_ Stowe MS. 961, British Museum.
_TCC_ Trinity College, Cambridge, MS.
_TCD_ Trinity College, Dublin, MS. G. 2. 21.
_TCD_ (II) A second collection of poems in the same MS.
_W_ Westmoreland MS. , belonging to Mr. Edmund Gosse.
The following groups are important:--
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
and
_A18_, _N_, _TC_, where _TC_ represents _TCC_ and _TCD_
THE PRINTER
TO THE
UNDERSTANDERS.
For this time I must speake only to you: at another, _Readers_ may
perchance serve my turne; and I thinke this a way very free from
exception, in hope that very few will have a minde to confesse
themselves ignorant.
If you looke for an Epistle, as you have before ordinary publications,
I am sory that I must deceive you; but you will not lay it to my
charge, when you shall consider that this is not ordinary, for if I
should say it were the best in this kinde, that ever this Kingdome
hath yet seene; he that would doubt of it must goe out of the Kingdome
to enforme himselfe, for the best judgments, within it, take it for
granted.
You may imagine (if it please you) that I could endeare it unto
you, by saying, that importunity drew it on; that had it not beene
presented here, it would have come to us from beyond the Seas; (which
perhaps is true enough,) That my charge and paines in procuring of
it hath beene such, and such. I could adde hereto, a promise of more
correctnesse, or enlargement in the next Edition, if you shall in the
meane time content you with this. But these things are so common, as
that I should profane this Peece by applying them to it; A Peece
which who so takes not as he findes it, in what manner soever, he
is unworthy of it, sith a scattered limbe of this Author, hath more
amiablenesse in it, in the eye of a discerner, then a whole body of
some other; Or, (to expresse him best by himselfe)
[Sidenote: _In the Storme. _]
--_A hand, or eye,
By_ Hilyard _drawne, is worth a history
By a worse Painter made_;--
If any man (thinking I speake this to enflame him for the vent of
the Impression) be of another opinion, I shall as willingly spare his
money as his judgement. I cannot lose so much by him as hee will by
himselfe. For I shall satisfie my selfe with the conscience of well
doing, in making so much good common.
Howsoever it may appeare to you, it shall suffice mee to enforme you,
that it hath the best warrant that can bee, publique authority, and
private friends.
There is one thing more wherein I will make you of my counsell, and
that is, That whereas it hath pleased some, who had studyed and did
admire him, to offer to the memory of the Author, not long after his
decease, I have thought I should do you service in presenting them
unto you now; onely whereas, had I placed them in the beginning, they
might have serv'd for so many Encomiums of the Author (as is usuall
in other workes, where perhaps there is need of it, to prepare men to
digest such stuffe as follows after,) you shall here finde them in the
end, for whosoever reades the rest so farre, shall perceive that there
is no occasion to use them to that purpose; yet there they are, as an
attestation for their sakes that knew not so much before, to let them
see how much honour was attributed to this worthy man, by those that
are capable to give it. _Farewell.
