MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

Pt. I. Act II. Sc. 5, meant to take breath while drinking.
P. 650, note (a). The emendation of “physician" for | See Taylor's (The Water Poet, “ Drinke and welcome, or
precisian is really Theobald's. (See Nichols's Illustrations, the famous history of the most part of Drinkes in use in
Vol. II. p. 274.)

Greate Britaine and Ireland ; with an especial Declaration

of the Potency, Vertue, and Operation of our English Ale :
P. 653, note (e). An antithesis was possibly intended
between firmly and frailty. The meaning being ,-“Who

with a description of all sorts of Waters," &c.
thinks himself so secure on what is a most brittle found.

HENRY THE SIXTH. Part I.
ation."
P. 665, note (a). Add: The meaning being-I see what

P. 288, note (c). Add: which he took from Theobald.
you would be if Fortune were as bountiful to you as

See Nichols's Illustrations, Vol. II. p. 452.
Nature has been.

P. 289, note (a). Add: which we owe, not to Mr. Col-

lier's annotator, but to Theobald. See Nichols's Nlustra-
VOL. II.

tions, Vol. II. p. 414...

P. 320, note (a). Lither indisputably signified lazy, slug.
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.

gish. See North's Plutarch, (Life of Sertorius) * — he

saw that Octavius was but a slow and lither man." See
P. 18. " Where hope is coldest, and despair most fits." also Florio in voce “ Badalone.” And compare “ Why then

Mr. Collier assigns the emendation“ fits” for shifts to al give way, dull clouds, to my quick curses.” “Richard
MS. correction in Lord Ellesmere's folio, 1623, but it is due the Third,” Act I. Sc. 2.
to Theobald. (See Nichols's Illustrations, Vol. II. p. 343.) | P. 325, note (a). But yet see “ Richard the Third,”

P. 23, note (a). For “ Act V. Sc. 2,” read “ Act V. Act I. Sc. 3 :-
&c. 5."

“O princely Buckingham, I'll kiss thy hand,
P. 40, note (a). I believe now the old text is correct;

In sign of league and amity with thee.”
made, in the sense of being fortunate, is a very common

HENRY THE SIXTH. PART II.
expression, even at this day.

P. 362, note (a). So in “Julius Cæsar," Act I. Sc. 2:-
KING HENRY THE FIFTH.

“ Brutus had rather be a villager,
P. 87. note (a). “Nook-shotten isle," means, in fact,

Than to repute himself a son of Rome
an isle sparned in a corner. Shotten-herring is a herring

Under these hard conditions.”
that has spawned his roe. “Here comes Romeo without

TIMON OF ATHENS.
his roe."-"Romeo and Juliet,” Act II. Sc. 4.

Ibid. note (f). So in the “Taming of the Shrew,” P. 500, note (a). For "own ault,” read “own fault.”
Act I, Sc. 1 :-

P. 502, note (a). I now prefer, “let him make his
“Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio,

haste."
If I achieve not this young modest girl.”

P. 507, note (4). For, “writers of his period,” Read:
Again in “The Malcontent," Act V. Sc. 4:--

“poriters of Shakespeare's period.” And at the end of the
“ Slave take thy life:

note add :-compare, too, the Water Poet's poem, called
Wert thou de fenc'd, through blood and wounds

“A Thief,” fol. 1630, p. 116.
The sternest horror of a civil fight,

KING RICHARD THE THIRD.
Would I atchieve thee.”
P. 92. Prefix “ Cho," to the first line.

P. 575. " Abate the eilge of traitors," Mr. Collier, upon

the authority of his MS, annotator, changes “ Abate" to
P. 108. Prefix “Cho," to the first line.

Rebate, and lauds the “emendation" as indisputable.
PERICLES.

This, however, is only one of innumerable instances where

the “old corrector,” by the needless ejection of an ancient
P. 183. “Her face the book of praiess," Read : “Her and appropriate word, betrays the modern character of
face the book of praises.”

his handy-work. “Abate" here means, to blunt, to dis-
P. 187. “His seal'd commision," Read : “ His seald edge. So Florio, in voce, “Spontare," " to abate the edge
commission."

or point of any thing or weapon, to Blunt, to unpoint.”
P. 192. “If it be a day fits you, scratch out of the

See also, “Love's Labour's Lost,” Act I. Sc.1:-
calendar," &c. “ Fits you," possibly means disorders you,

“ That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen edge."
puts yoa out of sorts, wrenches you. So in “Sonnet cxix,”
“How have mine eyes out of their spheres been fitted,"

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
i.e. been started, wrenched.

P. 612, note (a). The following extract from Markham's
P. 213, note (a). So in “Measure for Measure,” Act “Hunger's Prevention, or the whole Arte of Fowling,
IV. Sc. 2:-“And indeed, kis fact, till now in the govern &c." 1621, substantiates the explanation given in this
ment of lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof.”

note. “For a Fowle is so wonderfully fearefull of a man,

that albeit a Hawke were turning over her to keepe her in
TWELFTH NIGHT; OR, WHAT YOU WILL.

aue, yet upon the least show of a man she will rise and

trust to her winges and fortune."
P. 233. (Introduction.) In speaking of the Manning.

P. 637. “Hark how the villain would close now."
ham Diary, I erred in attributing to Mr. Collier any

To
share in the discovery of this interesting MS. I have

the note (b) on the word “close,” add: but most im-
before me now unquestionable evidence that the credit of

properly ; for “close” and not gloze, despite of all Mr.
its detection, as well as of determining its authorship, is

Collier can adduce in favour of the latter, is the genuine
solely due to the Rev. Joseph Hunter.

word. In proof of this take the following unanswerable
P. 249. “Ass, I doubt not.”

quotations :-
This feeble pun upon

“ It would become me better than to close
the words as and ass, was an old joke. It occurs in a rare

In terms of friendship with thine enemies."
tract called, “A Pil to purge Melancholy," supposed to

Julius Cæsar, Act III. Sc. 1.
have been printed about 1599:-

“ This closing with him fits his lunacy."
“And for bidding me, come up asse into a higher roome.”

Titus Andronicus, Act V. Sc. 2.
P. 268, note (b). The literal meaning of “ I am for all “ I will close with this country peasant very lovingly."
waters," was, undoubtedly, “I am ready for any drink."

WEBSTER'S Works, Dyce's ed. p. 281.
The cant term for potations, in Shakespeare's time, was “ Thus cunningly she clos'd with him, and he conceaves
iraters, and to “ breathe in your watering,” “ Henry IV.” | her thoughts."-WARNER'S Albion's England,

sit

P. 637, note (2). For“ £6 138. 4d.,” read “ £16 13s. 4d." | happen; if the prince of the light of heaven, which now and for “ £33 6s. 8d.," read “ £133 6s. 81."

as a giant doth run his unwearied course should, a

were, through a languishing faintness begin to stand and King HENRY THE EIGHTH.

to rest bimself; if the moon should wander from her

beaten way, the times and seasons of the year blend P. 650. “ Things, that are known alike, &c. Mr. Collier

themselves by disorders and confused mixtures, the winds claims for his “corrector" the merit of reading here,

breathe out their last gasp," &c. &c. “ Things, that are known belike, &c. but the substitution was made first by Theobald. See Nichols's Mustrations, Vol. II. p. 459.

HAMLET. P. 654, note (a). “As first good company.” We should, P. 335. For, “pray thee stay with us,” Read : “I pray I think, read : “ As feast, good company."

thee stay with us." P. 693, note (a). The reading of culpable, for “ capable,"

P. 341, note (a). Add: So in Spenser's Faerie Queene, which Mr. Collier assigns to his annotator, was I find

b. i. c. iii. s. 30 :originally proposed by Theobald. See Nichols's Ilustrations, Vol. II. p. 468.,

“A dram of sweete is worth a pound of sowre." CYMBELINE.

P. 358, note (b). Another example of the phrase occurs P. 712. After, “Pays dear for my offences,” insert

for my offences " insert | in a letter from Thomas Wilkes to the Earl of Leicester, [E.cit.

under the date 1586 (Egerton MS. 1694, British Mus

seum);"I am arrived here in such a time and sea of P. 719, note (b). For “number'd in the sense,” Read ;

troubles ; ” and it is employed by Spenser in the Faerie “cumber'd in the sense."

Queene, b. vi. c. ix. s. 31 :

“ With storms of fortune and tempestuous fate, VOL. III.

In seas of troubles, and of toylesome paine."
KING LEAR.

P. 396, note (a). For “ no lory :" read “no glory." P.58, note (b). For, “misprint for but,'” Read : “misprint for "not.?"

JULIUS CÆSAR. P. 69, note (d). I now believe “sovereignty," a misprint for “sovereignty."

P. 416, note (a). If the old text required further con

firmation it would be supplied by the following couplet P. 90, note (e). I should prefer, “Wantonizeth thou at

from Daniel's “Vanity of Fame :"trial Madam?"

“ Is this the walke of all your wide renowne, P. 114. For, “se'st thou this object, Kent?” Read :

This little point, this scarce discerned ile?" “ see'st thou this object, Kent ?"

P. 418, note (b). Compare likewise (which put this CORIOLANUS.

interpretation beyond doubt) the following lines of Sir

Philip Sydney, quoted by Harington in his "Ariosto P. 136, note (a). “ Take only the following eramples, (Orlando Furioso) :from plays which that gentleman must be familiar with." “ Not toying kynd, nor causlesly unkynd, Read: "'- must be acquainted with.”

Not stirring thoughts, nor yet denying right: P. 146. For “scarts and handkerchitf,” Read : “scarfs

Not spying faults, nor in plain errors blynd, and handkerchiefs."

Never hurd hand, nor ever rains to light." P. 156, note (b). See Shirley's “Bird in a Cage,” for a P. 436, note (b). So also in the Faerie Queene, b. i. similar obscure use of the word :

| c. i., ii., s. 20. “ Or for some woman's lenity accuse

"_ the thirsty land
That fair creation.'

Dronke up his lije."
P. 161. After “my unbarbed,” insert (f).
P. 169. For, “think our fellows are asleep,” Read : “I

MACBETH. think our fellores are asleep."

P. 476. “Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair." WINTER'S TALE.

Query, uprir? That temptation whose horrid image fires

my unstable hair, and shakes my seated heart. P. 209, note (a). After “ Pliny,” add: Natural History.

P. 477. “ The striftest ring of recompence is slow,", &c. P. 229, note.(b). So in “Antony and Cleopatra,” Act The substitution of irind for “wing" in this line, which IV. Sc. 15 :

Mr. Collier credits his " annotator” with, was first proposed "- gentle, hear me.”

by Pope. P. 241, note (a). Add : Sometimes this state was called handling : thus in the “ London Prodigal ;"_“Ay, but he

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. is now in hucster's handling for (i.e. for fear of) running

P. 543. For, “Enthron'd’n the market-place:"— Read : away.”

“Entrond i' the market-place." P. 250. In the line “ Would I were dead, but that,” &c.

P. 547. For, “and there fore have:"-Read: "and there. Dele the first comma.

fore hace we." Note (a). In addition to the examples given in this

P.580. For, “My country's high pyramids my gibbet :"note, the following from Florio's “ World of Words ". deserves to be quoted. “ Poss'io morire, an oath much

Read : “My country's high pyramides my gibbet." used, as we say, I would I were dead, I pray God I dye,

TITUS ANDRONICUS.
TROILUS AND CRESSIDA,

P. 609. For, “ The snake ies rolled :"-Read: “ The P. 272. “but, when the planets

snake lies rolled." In evil mixture, to disorder wander," dc.

OTHELLO. Was Shakespear in this place thinking of a passage in Hooker's book “ Concerning Laws, &c."? “If celestial spheres should forget their wonted motions, and by 1 P. 687, line 35. For, “ Oth. What? what” Read : irregular volubility turn themselves any way as it might “ Oth. What? what?”

THE

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.

Tuis play, indisputably one of the earliest complete productions of Shakespeare's mind, was first printed in the folio of 1623, where, owing to the arbitrary manner in which the dramas are disposed, it is preceded by The Tempest, assuredly one of the poet's latest creations. Some of the incidents in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Steevens conjectures, were taken from Sidney's Arcadia (Book I. Chapter vi.), where Pyrocles consents to lead the Helots; but the amount of Shakespeare's obligations to this source does not appear to be considerable. For a portion of the plot he was unquestionably indebted to the episode of Felismena, in the Diana of George of Montemayor, a work very popular in Spain towards the end of the seventeenth century, and which exhibits several incidents, and even some expressions, in common with that part of the present play, which treats of the loves of Proteus and Julia. Of this work there were two translations, one by Bartholomew Yong, the other by Thomas Wilson.* There is a strong probability, however, that Shakespeare derived his knowledge of Felismena's story from another source, namely: “ The History of Felix and Philiomena,” which was played before the Queen at Greenwich in 1584. Be this as it may, the story of Proteus and Julia so closely corresponds with that of Felix and Felismena, that no one who has read the two can doubt his familiarity with that portion of the Spanish romance.

Mr. Malone, in his “ Attempt to ascertain the Order in which The Plays of Shakespeare were Written," originally assigned The Two Gentlemen of Verona to the year 1595; but he subsequently fixed the date of its production as 1591; a change which he has thus explained: “ The following lines in Act I. Scene 3, had formerly induced me to ascribe this play to the year 1595:

- He wonder'd that your lordship
Would suffer him to spend his youth at home;
While other men, of slender reputation,
Put forth their sons to seek preferment out:
Some, to the wars, to try their fortune there;

Some, to discover islands far away.' “ Shakespeare, as has been often observed, gives to almost every country the manners of his own ; and though the speaker is here a Veronese, the poet, when he wrote the last two lines,

• The translation by Yong was not published until 1598; 1 parts of Diana; the which, for his travell in that countrey, and but from his “ Preface to divers learned gentlemen," we great knowledge in that language, accompanied with other learn that it was written many years before. “It hath lyen learned and good parts in him, had of all others that ever I by me finished," he remarks, "Horace's ten, and six yeeres | heard translate these Bookes, prooved the rarest and worthiest more." He further observes :-“Well might I have excused to be embraced." Thomas Wilson's version, Dr. Farmer informs these paines, if onely Edward Paston, Esquier, who heere and us, was published two or three years before that of Yong. there for his own pleasure, as I understood, hath aptly turned “ But," he adds, “this work, I am persuaded, was never out of Spanish into English some leaves that liked him best, published entirely." had also made an absolute and complete translation of all the 1 See Cunningham's "Revels at Court," p. 189.