When Learning's triumph o'er her barbarous foes
First rear'd the stage, immortal Shakspeare rose ;
Each change of many-color'd life he drew,
Exhausted worlds, and then imagined new :
Existence saw him spurn her bounded reign,
And panting Time toil'd after him in vain.
His powerful strokes presiding Truth impress'd,
And unresisted Passion storm'd the breast.

JOHNSON.

A loose he gave to his unbounded soul,
And taught new lands to rise, new seas to roll;
Call'd into being scenes unknown before,

And, passing Nature's bounds, was something more.

CHURCHILL.

ADVERTISEMENT.

IN presenting the first volume of this edition of the Works of Shakspeare to the notice of the Public, the Editor deems it expedient to point out the leading features by which it is distinguished.

The text of Malone, as published in 1821, in twenty-one volumes, is scrupulously followed; and a brief Historical Sketch and Argument are affixed to each Play.

Dr. Johnson has observed in his excellent Preface, that notes are often necessary, 6 but a necessary evil:' such only are inserted as may serve to elucidate obscure passages, or to explain obsolete words and phrases; by which the Editor hopes to obtain for his work the

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ADVERTISEMENT.

appellation of 'a legible edition of Shakspeare,'

uniform with the most popular productions of

the present day, and suited to the taste of the

age.

The attention of the youthful reader will be

directed to the most striking and brilliant pas-

sages by the Index, which is intended to form

a complete reference to the Beauties of Shak-

speare.

The Illustrations are drawn from the one
hundred and seventy plates in Boydell's Edition,
and executed on steel, in the first style of out-
line engraving.

The number and quality of the Illustrations,
the convenience and portability of the form
adopted, and the general execution of the whole
work, will it is hoped merit the approbation of
the public, as the most useful, ornamental, and
economical edition of Shakspeare.

ILLUSTRATIONS

TO THE

FIRST VOLUME.

1. Portrait of Shakspeare. Frontispiece.

2. Shakspeare nursed by Tragedy and Comedy, from a

3. Infant Shakspeare attended by Nature and the Passions.-Romney.

4. The Monument of Shakspeare in Stratford Church.

-Boydell.

5. Shakspeare between Poetry and Painting.-Banks.

PAGE.

viii

xiii

xli

lvii

THE TEMPEST.

6. Prospero and Miranda before the cell of Prospero.

-Romney.

7. Prospero, Miranda, and Ariel.-Hamilton.

1

13

8. Prospero, Miranda, Caliban, and Ariel.-Fuseli.
9. Trinculo, Stephano, and Caliban.—Smirke.
10. Ferdinand and Miranda.-Hamilton.

70

87

11. Prospero, Ferdinand, Miranda, Mask, &c.-Wright. 12. Ferdinand and Miranda playing at Chess.-Wheatley

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.

13. Valentine, Proteus, Silvia, and Julia.-Angelica

Kauffman.

14. Valentine, Proteus, Silvia, and Julia.—Stothard.