literary world, which is not possible without some acquaintance with the history of dramatic writing in England before his time. Among the many critics of Shakespeare, few have been so generally accepted as belonging to the first class as Schlegel, whose Lectures on Dramatic Literature were, upon their delivery in Vienna, hailed throughout Europe with marked approbation. His introductions to the separate Plays of Shakespeare are both descriptive and critical, and put the reader in a position to enjoy the Plays, if read before them, or give him an entertaining epitome of them, if read afterwards. Few readers who have not specially studied the subject, are aware of the extent of Shakespeare's familiarity with the Bible, and his debt to it. The brief essay on that subject, with its accompanying quotations, gives suggestive help in reading the plays with this thought in view. Recognizing the importance of careful indexes, lists of the Noteworthy Scenes are given, and of all the Characters, showing just where each can be found in the text. Indexes of the Songs, which are scattered through the plays, and of the "Familiar Quotations" are also given. For the use of students, there are lists of books useful for their purposes, and of early editions of the Dramas. A carefully prepared Glossary completes the list of the illustrative apparatus with which the volume is furnished, which, it is hoped, will be found to fulfil the intentions of the publishers. BOSTON, June 17, 1881. CONTENTS. PAGE LIFE OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. By William M. Rossetti DOUBTFUL PLAYS. By Prof. Edward Dowden, LL. D. . LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. WARD'S STATUE OF SHAKESPEARE, IN THE CENTRAL Park, SHAKESPEARE'S BUST IN THE CHURCH AT STRATFORD A PLAY IN AN INN YARD IN THE OLDEN TIME xi XV xvi xlii |