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4. Fair Em*, 1631, for John Wright. 5. Locrine, 1595 †, Thomas Creede. 6. London Prodigal, 1605.

7. Merry

*Fair Em.] In Mr. Garrick's Collection, is a volume, formerly belonging to King Charles I. which is lettered on the back, SHAKSPERE, vol. I. This vol. consists of Fair Em, The Merry Devil, &c. Mucedorus, &c. no authority for ascribing Fair Em to our author.

There is

The title-page of this play offers no sufficient evidence to convict Shakspere of having been its author, as it only says, "newly set foorth, overseene and corrected by W. S." Supposing W. S. to have been meant for W. Shakspere; as the manager of a theatre, or as a friend to the author, he might have condescended to correct what his genius could not have stooped to write. This piece likewise exhibits several antiquated and affected words never used by Shakspere; as lore for lesson, stoure for tumult, virent for green, and occision for slaughter; besides equalize, rosiall, mavortial, Eos, Fames (a personification of Hunger), Puriphlegeton, macerate, venerean, suspires (for sighs subst.) frumps, arcane for secret, feer for wife, exequies for obsequies, &c. It contains also a Spanish quotation and many Latin verses; and is full of those inexplicable dumb shews which Shakspere 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 conclusion of it is the following prayer for her Majesty:

"So let us pray for that renowned Maid,

"That eight and thirty years the sceptre sway'd, &c.

The

7. Merry Devil of Edmonton *, 1608, Henry Ballard for Arthur Johnson. 2. 1617, G. Eld. for Do. 3. 1626, A. M. for Francis Falkner. 4.1631, T. P. for Do. 5. 1655, for W. Gilbertson.

for John

8. Mucedorus †, 1598, for William Jones. 2.1610. for Do. 3. 1615, N. O. for Do. 4. 1639, Wright. 5. No Date, for Francis Coles. E. O. for Do.

9. Pericles, 1609, for Henry Gosson.

6. 1668,

2. 1619,

for T. P. 3. 1630, J. N. for R. B. 4. 1635, Thomas Cotes.

10. Puritan §, 1600, and 1607, G. Eld.

11. Sir John Oldcastle, 1600, for T. P.

12. Thomas Lord Cromwell, 1613, Thomas Snodham.

The story of this play is taken from Gower, or in part from the ancient romance of Kynge Appolyn of Thyre, which was translated from the French by Robert Copland, who had worked under Caxton. I have a copy of it printed by Wynkyn de Wode, in 1510.

*See the following Extracts from the books at Stationers' Hall.

+ See, &c.

Ben Johnson, in an ode published at the end of his New Inn, has the following scarcasm on this piece:

"No doubt some mouldy tale

"Like Pericles, and stale

"As the shrieves crusts, &c."

§ See, &c.

13. Two

13. Two Noble Kinsmen, 1634, Tho. Cotes, for John Waterson.

14. Yorkshire Tragedy, 1608*, R. B. for T. Pavyer. Do. 1619, for T. P.

LIST OF PLAYS ALTERED FROM SHAKSPere.

INVENIES ETIAM DISJECTI MEMBRA POËTAÉ.

TEMPEST.

The Tempest, or The Enchanted Island. A Comedy, acted in Dorset-Garden. By Sir. W. Davenant and Dryden. 4to. 1669.

The Tempest, made into an Opera, by Shadwell, in 1673. See Downes, p. 34.

The Tempest, an Opera taken from Shakspere. 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 Shakspere, with alterations and additions, as it is performed at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. By Mr. Victor. 8vo. 1763.

MERRY WIVES of WINDSOR.

The Comical Gallant, or The Amours of Sir John Falstaff. A Comedy, as it is acted at the Theatre

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Royal in Drury-Lane, by his Majesty's Servants. By Mr. Dennis. 4to. 1702.

MEASURE 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 Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; written originally by Mr. Shakspere, and now very much altered: with additions of several Entertainments of Musick. By Mr. Gildon. 4to. 1700.

COMEDY of ERRORS.

An alteration of this play, under the title of Every Body mistaken, was acted at Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1716, but was never printed.

The Comedy of Errors, altered by Mr. Hull, was acted at Covent-Garden 1779, is now printed.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

The Law against Lovers. By Sir W. Davenant. Fol. 1673.

The Universal Passion. A Comedy, as it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane, by his Majesty's Servants. By James Miller. 8vo. 1737.

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST.

The Students, a Comedy altered from Shakspere's. Love's Labour's Lost, and adapted to the stage. 8vo.

1762.

MIDSUMMER

MIDSUMMER NIGHT's DREAM.

The Humours of Bottom the Weaver, by Robert Cox. 4to.

The Fairy Queen, an Opera, represented at the Queen's Theatre by their Majesty's Servants. 1692.

4to.

Pyramus and Thisbe, a Comick Masque, by Richard Leveridge, performed at Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. 8vo. 1716.

Pyramus and Thisbe, a Mock Opera, written by Shakspere. Set to musick by Mr. Lampe. Performed at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden. 8vo. 1745.

The Fairies, an Opera, taken from a Midsummer Night's Dream, written by Shakspere, as it is performed at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. By Mr. Garrick. 8vo. 1755.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, written by Shakspere, with Alterations and Additions, and several 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 Shakspere. As it is performed at the Theatre-Royal in DruryLane. By the same. 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, Esq. afterwards Lord Lansdowne. 4to. 1701.

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