In five minutes the story flew over the village; before morning was talked of for fifty miles around; and, O bitterer than all, chronicled in the County Express before noon.

This was

more than Miss Everbloom's nerves could endure: she disposed of her freehold immediately; and, with her cat, dog, canary, and parrot, and a huge pile of trunks, bonnet-boxes, portmanteaus, and packing-cases, under the escort of the indignant and indomitable Biddy, bade a final adieu to a neighbourhood, which the latter declared “wasn't fit for a brute-baste to live in, let alone a gintlewoman and a Gineral's daughter."

As for the little schoolmaster, less affected by ridicule, he tranquilly slipped into his Welsh wig and spenser, with a wise resolution to adhere to his classics, his school-room, and his "sowins ;" and to never more go wooing fair lady in a rose-coloured coat: a resolution which, on the authority of deaf Deborah, we are enabled to state he prudently kept to the day of his death.

Of Miss Angelina Everbloom, we find it recorded by her most intimate friend, that after leaving the Grove, she never failed to exhibit an increase of asperity on-the First of April.

Upon which day, thenceforth Larry O'Leary's widow also betrayed symptoms of belligerent excitement not out of harmony with the professional antecedents of the old campaigner.

LADY GERTRUDE.

BY S. H. BRADBURY (QUALLON).

LADY Gertrude is a young brunette,
With a pair of dazzling eyes;
Whose likeness in stars is only met,
When the moon begins to rise.
Lady Gertrude has two clusters of curls,
Whose hue is a lustrous brown;
And sprung from a line of wealthy earls,
Has a brow to grace a crown.

Lady Gertrude in the garden strays,
And walks by the placid lake;
And sees it kissed by the morning's rays,
And green leaves over it shake.
Lady Gertrude has a fair white hand,
Her cheek has a wild-rose hue;
Lightly she'll kiss the lilies that stand,
In a morning dream of dew!

Lady Gertrude has no haughty pride,
Her voice has a silvery tone;
What would I give to call her my bride,
And she to call me her own!
Violets hidden in dew-laden dell,
So shy did never appear;

And footsteps lighter never yet fell,
On a listening lover's ear.

Lady Gertrude never heeds my looks,
I worship her but in vain ;

Were I but one of her treasured books,
What glances then I would gain.
Lady Gertrude with her harp in the morn,
In a vine-bower plays and sings;
As the sun fails her form to adorn,
It burns on her jewelled rings !

Lady Gertrude is the dearest to me,
In summer and autumn eves;
With her in the twilight I would be,
By the whispering laurel leaves.
Lady Gertrude has a nameless grace,
And music in every speech;
Beauty and love in her looks I trace,
And see that she's queen of each!

The Lady's Literary Circular.

EDITIONS OF SHAKESPEARE.

FOREMOST and unique, among the efforts of the present year to do honour to Shakespeare's memory, is the undertaking of Messrs. Day & Son, the eminent lithographers, who have commenced issuing an edition; which, as a valuable curiosity, the possessors of good libraries must highly esteem. It is a fac-simile reprint of that famous Shakespearian folio, which few persons, besides those who can spare over 200 guineas for a single copy, can hope to possess. The editor selected for the anxious task of collating the new lamps with the old lamp, is Mr. Howard Staunton, in whose critical knowledge and judgment the public may rely-in fact, although not in reality, subscribers to this edition will possess a reproduction of the rare folio, which at all book-sales commands universal interest. For them the work is brought out, and they will know how to appreciate the joint production of the antiquarian scholar and the artistic lithographic copyist. To others, this edition will be wearisome with its literal fidelity, and such readers will turn with satisfaction to the clean plain pages that commentators have eliminated of all perplexities.

In one royal volume, decked in green bevelled boards, backed with gold, "THE DRAMATIC WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE, with a LIFE, by THOMAS CAMPBELL," once more claim public patronage. Whatever opinion there may be as to the earliest and latest editors of the Poet, the possessors of Campbell's edition may rest satisfied, they own some of the choicest notes and criticism which have ever been written about "gentle Shakespeare." Free from the stumbling-blocks of foot-notes, the text, printed in the smallest readable type, occupies nearly a thousand pages; prefaced by "Remarks on the Life and Writings of William Shakespeare :" the imposing volume is concluded by a very complete Glossary, and an Index of the characters, their appearances, and Thoughts and Sentiments. We may mention, by the bye, that this last idea has been lately carried out, in a current edition, as if it were new and original. Judged either by its appearance, by its convenience, or by the value of the editor's Life and comments, this edition, published by Messrs. Routledge, is really one of the cheapest, as it is one of the handsomest, of the many editions now submitted to the fastidious public. A "Chandos Portrait" of Shakespeare, a view of the house in which he was born, and ten page illustations, marked by the strength and grandeur of John Gilbert's pencil, add their interest to the work.

That the lover of Shakespeare, and of books, may have every opportunity this year of choice, Messrs. Chapman and Hall have brought out a new edition (to be published every alternate month), by the Rev. ALEXANDER DYCE, whose name has become, throughout the world, honourably associated with the dramatist's great works. The one drawback to Mr. Dyce's former editions, may now be considered as removed; for, from being the head Tory of Shakespeare's texts, the editor has yielded to the spirit of Liberal Conservatism, and the result promises to be an admission of the last ten years' emendations. Such being the plan of the present edition, it will be, and deservedly, a standard authority of what Shakespeare really wrote, as much so as life study and scholarship can make it. The work is to be completed in eight ten-shilling volumes.

ROUTLEDGE'S LIBRARY SHAKESPEARE is intended to be a student's book-in form, size, elegance of getting up, and in moderateness of price (two guineas for the four volumes). The notes, and text, revised by MR. STAUNTON, will, so to speak, thrust Shakespeare home with all critical readers, and the absence of all illustration will be a relief to those fastidious admirers whose pampered and powerful imaginations feel that artistic effort, must be abortive to draw the scenes which the Wizard Dramatist has conjured up. These readers may be compared to those persons who cannot enjoy sunset without going to sea, where, the Day-god sinks upon the crimsoned waters in solitary magnificence. There are many such lovers of Shakespeare, we respect them, and they ought to be studied with an edition suited to their wishes. As there should be in all library editions, the present will contain copious critical, glossarial, and archæological notes, with comments and Memoir of the Poet's Life.

Intending purchasers of "A SHAKESPEARE" truly have a difficulty in choosing the book, that is ultimately to adorn their book-shelves. In size, type, portability, illustration, and explanation, rival editions demand consideration. The CAMBRIDGE SHAKESPEARE, issued by Messrs. Macmillan & Co., in its large type and careful text, claims notice and approval. The taste of many book-buyers will lead them to prefer these volumes, which are of a size that must suit every library, whilst their literary value recommend them to the connoisseur. Without any prominent feature this Cambridge edition is a good and cheap one.

The PICTORIAL SHAKESPEARE of Mr. CHARLES KNIGHT is widely and deservedly known. A new edition is announced by Messrs. Routledge & Co. It is one that will receive the support of those who wish for handsome and learned volumes, enriched with illustrations of costume, places, and scenery, which are both interesting and instructive. Copious explanatory notes, and various readings of doubtful passages, give additional value to this edition.

The STRATFORD SHAKESPEARE rejoices in a good title. It is issued in Sixpenny Numbers, each containing a Play, is printed in the pocket form, and being in type of a good readable size, it has a chance of becoming a popular favourite with those lovers of Shakespeare who want his words without the illustrations of the artists who came after him, and who at least think they understand him, if they don't. Where is the book illustrator, who would shrink from Shakespeare's Dramas ? Do not all of them come forward, pencil in hand, and complacently accept the task, whether or not they be fitted for the effort? Let those who can trust to the pictures of their own imagination, obtain this Stratford edition, and they will have a number of portable, well printed volumes, full of the thoughts that breathe and words that burn in the Forty Dramas of Shakespeare.

COMMEMORATION EDITION.-The view taken by MR. HARRISON in preparing this edition is, that the public would rather have Shakespeare's text printed in good-sized type and let the sense take care of itself. Nor will there be many serious misunderstandings by the readers of this Commemoration Shakespeare; for although, the scholar and literary man, must have their criticism and "cavil upon the ninth part of a hair," yet the great mass of Englishmen are not hair-splitters, nor word-splitters, nor etymologists, nor archæologists, and, for them, fortunately, Shakespeare abounds in passages which do not want helping with explanation or glossary. There are, however, at the end of each play, two or three pages of notes, which, occurring in such a place, the reader may read or skip as he chooses. Each play has four page illustrations, one of which is a coloured picture; and it is this feature which may be expected to make the work attractive and popular. "Yet, she must die," is the moment of Othello's passion which Mr. PINWELL has selected for illustration ! and, by the help of colour, it is made very effective; the Moor, dagger in hand, pausing before sleeping Desdemona. This edition is issued serially in twopenny numbers.

Besides the above editions, each of which have an affinity to the other, although distinct, Mr. Marsh has brought out a REFERENCE SHAKESPEARE, which, in the plan carried out, is quite a new effort to illustrate the Poet's meaning. The same labour has often been bestowed upon the Bible, printing at the side of the page reference-notes to other parts bearing the same sentiment or interpretation; and in the CAMPBELL SHAKESPEARE, before noticed, there is an Index referring to the same characters and sentiments; nevertheless this edition, published by Simpkin & Marshall, may strictly be considered, what its title claims, a REFERENCE SHAKESPEARE, and those who study the myriad-minded man, may find rational. pleasure in following out those sentiments which the author most petted with his epithets and imagination.