speeches, and scenes, was not originally his, but proceeded from some inferior playwright, who was capable of reading the Menæchmi without the help of a translation, or, at least, did not make use of Warner's. And this I take to have been the case, not only with the three Parts of King Henry VI. as I think a late editor (O si sic omnia!) has satisfactorily proved, but with The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Love's Labour's Lost, and King Richard II., in all which pieces Shakspeare's new work is as apparent as the brightest touches of Titian would be on the poorest performance of the veriest canvasspoiler that ever handled a brush. The originals of these plays, (except The Second and Third Parts of King Henry VI.) were never printed, and may be thought to have been put into his hands by the manager, for the purpose of alteration and improvement, which we find to have been an ordinary practice of the theatre in his time. We are therefore no longer to look upon the above "pleasant and fine conceited comedie," as entitled to a situation among the "six plays on which Shakspeare founded his Measure for Measure," &c. of which I should hope to see a new and improved edition. RITSON. This comedy, I believe, was written in 1592. MALONE. PERSONS REPRESENTED. SOLINUS, Duke of Ephesus. ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, DROMIO of Ephesus, DROMIO of Syracuse, S Twin BALTHAZAR, a Merchant. ANGELO, a Goldsmith. Twin brothers, and sons to Ægeon and Emilia, but unknown to each other. brothers, and attendants on the two Antipholus's. A Merchant, friend to Antipholus of Syracuse. ÆMILIA, Wife to Ægeon, an Abbess at Ephesus. LUCIANA, her Sister. LUCE, her Servant. A Courtezan. Gaoler, Officers, and other Attendants. SCENE, EPHESUS. |