the smallest degree of skill either in the manners or language. of the time of Shakespeare; and as the names of their refpective editors are prudently concealed, it were useless to commemorate the number of their volumes, or the diftinct date of each publication. Some of our legitimate editions will afford a fufficient fpecimen of the fluctuation of price in books.--An ancient quarto was fold for fix pence; and the folios 1623 and 1632, when first printed, could not have been rated higher than at ten fhillings each.-Very lately, one, and two guineas, have been paid for a quarto; the first folio is ufually valued at feven or eight: but what price may be expected for it hereafter, is not very eafy to be determined, the confcience of Mr. Fox, bookfeller in Holborn, having lately permitted him to ask no less than two guineas for two leaves out of a mutilated copy of that impreffion, though he had several, almost equally defective, in his fhop. The second folio is commonly rated at two or three guineas. At the late Mr. Jacob Tonfon's fale, in the year 1767, one hundred and forty copies of Mr. Pope's edition of Shakespeare, in fix volumes quarto (for which the subfcribers paid fix guineas) were difpofed of among the bookfellers at fixteen fhillings per fet. Seven hundred and fifty of this edition were printed. At the fame fale, the remainder of Dr. Warburton's edi tion, in eight volumes 8vo. printed in 1747 (of which the original price was two pounds eight fhillings, and the number printed 1000) was fold off: viz. 178 copies, at eighteen fhillings each. On the contrary, Sir Thomas Hanmer's edition, printed at Oxford in 1744, which was firft fold for three guineas, had arisen to nine or ten, before it was reprinted. It appears however from the foregoing catalogue (when all reiterations of legitimate editions are taken into the account, together with five fpurious ones printed in Ireland, one in Scotland, one at Birmingham, and four in London, making in the whole thirty-five impreffions) that not less than 35,000 copies of our author's works have been difperfed, exclufive of the quartos, fingle plays, and fuch as have been altered for the stage. Of the latter, as exact a lift as I have been able to form, with the affiftance of Mr. Reed of Staple Inn, (than whom no man is more converfant with English publications both ancient and modern, or more willing to affift the literary undertakings of others) will be found in the course of the following pages. VOL. I. OLD OLD EDITIONS of SHAKESPEARE'S POEMS, II. D°. 1640. 8vo. Tho. Cotes, fold by John Benson. III. Paffionate Pilgrim, Poems by Do. 1599, 8vo. small, for W. Jaggard, fold by W. Leake. IV. Rape of Lucrece, a Poem, 1594, 4to, Richard Field, for John Harrison. V. Do. 1598, 8vo. P. S. for Do. VI. Do. 1607, 8vo. N. O. for Do. VII. Do. 12mo. (Newly revifed) T. S. for Roger Jackfon, 1616. VIII. Venus and Adonis, a Poem, 1620, 8vo. for J. P.* IX. D. 12mo. by J. H. fold by Francis Coules, 1636. X. The Rape of Lucrece, whereunto is annexed the Banifhment of Tarquin, by John Quarles, 12mo, 1665. MODERN EDITIONS. Shakespeare's Poems, 8vo. for Bernard Lintot, no date. 8vo. by Gildon, 1710, 4to. and 12mo. by Sewell, 1728. PLAYS afcribed to SHAKSPEARE, either by the Editors of the Two later Folios, or by the Compilers of ancient Catalogues. 1. Arraignment of Paris, 1584 t, Henry Marsh. 2. Birth of Merlin, 1662, Tho. Johnfon, for Francis Kirkman and Henry Marth. 3. Edward II. 1596, for Cuthbert Burby. 2. 1599, Simon Stafford, for Do. 4. Fair Em§, 1631, for John Wright. 5. Locrine, 1595, Thomas Creede. 6. London *See the following Extract of Entries in the books of the Stationers' Company. It appears from an epiftle prefixed to Greene's Arcadia, that the Arraignment of Paris was written by George Peele, the author of King David and Fair Bethfabe, &c. 1599. See the following extracts from the books at Stationers' hall. § Fair Em] In Mr. Garrick's Collection, is a volume, formerly belonging to King Charles I. which is lettered on the back, SHAKESPEARE, vol. I. This vol. confifts of Fair Em, The Merry Devil, &c. Mucedorus, &c. There is no other authority for afcribing Fair Em to our author, The title-page of this play offers no fufficient evidence to convict Shakespeare of having been its author, as it only fays, "newly fet foorth, overfeene and corrected by W. S." Suppofing W. 5. to have been meant for W. Shakespeare; as the manager of a theatre, 6. London Prodigal, 1605. 7. Merry Devil of Edmonton*, 1608, Henry Ballard, for Arthur Johnfon. 2. 1617. G. Eld, for D°. 3. 1626, A. M. for Francis Falkner. 4. 1631. T. P. for D. 5. 1655, for W. Gilbertfon. 8. Mucedorus t. 1598, for William Jones. 2. 1610, for D°. 3. 1615. N. O. for D°. 4. 1639, for John Wright. 5. No Date, for Francis Coles. 6. 1668, E. O. for D°. 9. Pericles 1, 1609, for Henry Goffon. 2. 1619, for T. P. 3. 1630. J. N. for R. B. 4. 1635. Tho. Cotes. 10. Puritan, 1600 §, and 1607. G. Eld. 11. Sir John Oldcastle, 1600, for T. P. 12. Thomas Lord Cromwell, 1613. Tho. Snodham. 13. Two Noble Kinfmen, 1634, Tho. Cotes, for John Waterfon. 14. Yorkshire Tragedy, 1608 . R. B. for T. Pavyer. D. 1619. for T. P. theatre, or as a friend to the author, he might have condefcended to correct what his genius could not have ftoop'd to write. This piece likewife exhibits feveral antiquated and affected words never ufed by Shakespeare; as lore for leffon, floure for tumult, virent for green, and occifion for flaughter; befides equalize, rofiall, ma vortial, Eos, Fames (a perfonification of Hunger,) Puriphlegeton, macerate, venerean, fufpires (for fighs fubft.) frumps, arcane for Tecret, feer for wife, exequies for obfequies, &c. It contains alfo a Spanish quotation and many Latin verfes; and is full of thofe inexplicable dumb fhews which Shakespeare has ridiculed in Hamlet. Whoever was the author of Locrine, it could not have been printed till after the 17th of November 1595, when Queen Elizabeth entered into the 38th year of her reign, as at the conclufion of it is the following prayer for her Majesty : "So let us pray for that renowned Maid "That eight and thirty years the fceptre fway'd, &c." The ftory of this play is taken from Gower, or in part from the ancient romance of Kynge Appolyn of Thyre, which was tranflated from the French by Robert Copland, who had worked under Caxton. I have a copy of it printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1510. * See the following extracts from the books at Stationers' hall. + See, &c. Ben Jonfon, in an ode published at the end of his New Inn, has the following farcafm on this piece: "No doubt fome mouldy tale "Like Pericles, and ftale "As the fhrieves crufts, &c." § See, &c. VOL. I. I See, &c. [Q] LIST LIST of PLAYS alter'd from SHAKESPEARE INVENIES ETIAM DISJECTI MEMBRA POETAE. Tempeft. The Tempeft, or the Enchanted Ifland. A Comedy, acted in Dorfet Garden. By Sir W. Davenant and Dryden-4to.-1669. The Tempeft, an Opera taken from Shakespeare. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. By Mr. Garrick.-8vo.-1756. Two Gentlemen of Verona. The Two Gentlemen of Verona. A Comedy written by Shakespeare, with alterations and additions, as it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, By Mr. Victor.-8vo.-1763. Merry Wives of Windfor. The Comical Gallant, or the Amours of Sir John Falftaffe. A Comedy, as it is acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, by his Majefties Servants. By Mr. Dennis. 4to. — 1702. Meafure for Measure. The Law against Lovers, by Sir William Davenant.Fol.-1673. Measure for Measure, or Beauty the best Advocate. As it is acted at the Theatre in Lincolns Inn Fields; written originally by Mr. Shakespeare, and now very much altered: with additions of feveral Entertainments of Mufick. By Mr. Gildon.-4to.-1700. Much Ado about Nothing. The Law against Lovers. By Sir W. Davenant.-Fol.1673. The Univerfal Paflion. A Comedy as it is acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, by his Majefties Servants. By James Miller. -8vo.-1737. Love's Labour's Loft. The Students, a Comedy altered from Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Loft, and adapted to the ftage.-8vo.1762. Midfummer Night's Dream. The Humours of Bottom the Weaver, by Robert Cox. 4to. The Fairy Queen, an Opera, reprefented at the Queen's Theatre by their Majefties Servants.-4to.-1692. Pyramus and hisbe, a Mock Opera, written by Shakefpeare. Set to mufick by Mr. Lampe. Performed at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden.-8vo. - 1745. The Fairies, an Opera, taken from a Midfummer Night's Dream written by Shakespeare, as it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. By Mr. Garrick.-8vo.— 1755. A Midfummer Night's Dream, written by Shakespeare, with Alterations and Additions, and feveral new Songs. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. By Mr. Colman.-8vo.-1763. A Fairy Tale, in two acts, taken from Shakespeare. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. By Mr. Colman.-8vo. — 1763. Merchant of Venice. The Jew of Venice, a Comedy. As it is acted at the Theatre in Little Lincoln's Inn Fields, by his Majesty's Servants. By George Granville, Efq. afterwards Lord Lanfdowne.-4to.-1701. As you like it. Love in a Foreft, a Comedy. As it is acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, by his Majefty's Servants. By C. Johnfon.-8vo.-1723. The Modern Receipt, or a Cure for Love. A Comedy altered from Shakefpeare. The Dedication is figned J. C. 12mo.-1739. Taming of the Shrew. Sawny the Scott, or the Taming of the Shrew; a Comedy, as it is now acted at the Theatre Royal, and never before printed. By John Lacy.-4to. — 1698. |