2 Again, Feb. 18, 1582. Vol. B. M. Tottell.] Romeo and Juletta. -p. 193. C. p. 12. b. 5 Again, Aug. 5, 1596,-as a newe ballad, for Edward White. April 3, 1592. Edw. White.] The tragedy of Arden of April 18, 1593. Rich. Feild.] A booke entitled Venus and Adonis." 286 297 b. This and the foregoing are perhaps the original works on which Shakspeare founded his play of Romeo and Juliet. STEEVENS. This play was reprinted in 1770 at Feversham, with a preface attributing it to Shakspeare. The collection of parallel passages which the editor has brought forward to justify his supposition, is such as will make the reader smile. The following is a specimen: Arden of Feversham, p. 74: "Fling down Endimion, and snatch him up." Merchant of Venice, Act V. sc. i: "Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion." Arden of Feversham, p. 87: "Let my death make amends for all my sin." Much Ado about Nothing, Act IV. sc. ii: "Death is the fairest cover for her shame." STEEVEns. 7 The last stanza of a poem entitled Mirrha the Mother of Adonis; or Lustes Prodegies, by William Barksted, 1607, has the following praise of Shakspeare's Venus and Adonis: "But stay, my muse, in thy own confines keepe, "And wage not warre with so deere-lov'd a neighbor; "But, having sung thy day song, rest and sleepe, "Preserve thy small fame and his greater favor. "His song was worthie merit, (Shakspeare hee) "Sung the faire blossome, thou the withered tree: "Laurel is due to him; his art and wit "Hath purchas'd it; cypres thy brow will fit." STEEVENS. Afterwards entered by Harrison, sen. June 23, 1594: by Symon Waterson.] A booke entitled the Feb. 6, 1593. John Danter.] A booke entitled a noble Roman Historye of Tytus Andronicus. Entered also unto him by warrant from Mr. Woodcock, the ballad thereof. March 12, 1593. Tho. Millington.] A booke intituled the firste Part of the Contention of the twoo famous Houses of Yorke and Lancaster, with the Deathe of the good Duke Humphrey, and the Banishment and Deathe of the Duke of Sufk, and the tragical Ende of the prowd Cardinall of Winchester, with the notable Rebellion of Jacke Cade, and the Duke of York's first Claime unto the Crown. 301 b. 304 b. 305 b. I suppose this to be Daniel's tragedy of Cleopatra. Simon Waterson was one of the printers of his other works. STEEVENS. Daniel's Cleopatra was published by Waterson in 1594, this entry therefore undoubtedly related to it. MALOne. May 2, 1594. Peter Shorte.] A plesant conceyted hystorie called the Tayminge of a Shrowe.9 May 9, 1594. Mr. Harrison Sen.] A booke entitled the May 14, 1594. Tho. Creede.] A booke intitled the famous May 14, 1594. Edw. White.] A booke entituled the moste Leire Kinge of England and his May 22, 1594. Edw. White.] A booke entituled a Wynters Nightes Pastime.3 306 b. 306 b. 306 b. 307 307 b. 9 I conceive it to be the play that furnished Shakspeare with the materials which he afterwards worked up into another with the same title. STEEVENS. 1 This might have been the very displeasing play mentioned in the epilogue to the second part of King Henry IV. STEEVENS. The earliest edition of this play now known to be extant, was printed in 1598. Of that edition I have a copy. This piece furnished Shakspeare with the outline of the two parts of King Henry IV. as well as with that of King Henry V. ̈ ̄Malone. I suppose this to be the play on the same subject as that of our author, but written before it. STEEVENS. STEEVENS. June 19, 1594. Tho. Creede.] An enterlude intitled the Tragedie of Richard the Third, wherein is showen the Death of Edward the Fourthe, with the Smotheringe of the twoo Princes in the Tower, with a lamentable End of Shore's Wife, and the Conjunction of the twoo Houses of Lancaster and York.4 July 20, 1594. Tho. Creede.] The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine, the eldest Sonne of K. Brutus, discoursinge the Warres of the Britans, &c. Before the beginning of this volume are placed two leaves containing irregular entries, prohibitions, notes, &c. Among these are the following: Aug. 4th. As You like it, a book. Comedy of Much Ado about Nothing. 309 b. 310 b. Vol. C. to be staied. This could not have been the work of Shakspeare, as the death of Jane Shore makes no part of his drama. STEEVENS. • Probably the play before that of Shakspeare. STEEVENS. Surely this must have been Shakspeare's Henry V. which, as well as Much Ado about Nothing, was printed in 1600, when this entry appears to have been made. See the Essay on the chronological order of Shakspeare's plays; article, As you like it. MALONE. The dates scattered over these pages are from 1596 to 1615. Dec. 1, 1595. Cuthbert Burby.] A book entituled Edward the Third and the black prince, their warres with Kinge John of Fraunce. Aug. 5, 1596. Edw. White.] A newe ballad of Romeo and Juliett." Aug. 15, 1597. Rich. Jones.] Two ballads, beinge the ffirste and second parts of the Widowe of Watling-streete. 8 Aug. 29, 1597. Andrew Wise.] The tragedye of Richard the Seconde. Oct. 20, 1597. Andrew Wise.] The tragedie of Kinge Richard the Third, with the Death of the Duke of Clarence. 6 12 b. 22 b. 23 25 • This is ascribed to Shakspeare by the compilers of ancient catalogues. STeevens. 7 Query, if Shakspeare's play, the first edition of which appeared in 1597. STEEVENS. • Perhaps the songs on which the play with the same title was founded. It may, however, be the play itself. It was not uncommon to divide one dramatick piece, though designed for a single exhibition, into two parts. See the King John before that of Shakspeare. STEEVENS. |