THE SHAKESPEARE CYCLOPÆDIA.

PART I.-ZOOLOGY.

"It is incumbent on every Lover of Science to attempt placing the labours of ancient authors in a just light; to mark those errors that owe their origin to the darkness of the times; and to evince that many of their allusions are strictly true; many founded on truth; while many others contain a mixture of fable and reality, which certainly merit the trouble of separation."-PENNANT's British Zoology, 1768, vol. I, p. 192.

"All the images of Nature were ever present to Shakespeare, and he drew them not laboriously, but luckily.”—Dryden.

“It is plain that Shakespeare had much reading at least, if they will not call it learning. **** Nothing is more evident than that he had a taste for Natural Philosophy, Mechanics, &c. * * * * Whatever object of Nature, or branch of Science, he either speaks of or describes, it is always with competent, if not extensive knowledge; his descriptions are still exact; all his metaphors appropriate, and remarkably drawn from the true nature and inherent qualities of each subject."-POPE, in the Preface to his Edition of Shakespeare's Works, 1725-8.

"It is certain that Shakespeare had a general knowledge of all the Sciences. **** Nothing in Philosophy was unknown to him; but everything in it had the grace and force of novelty. **** He has perpetual allusions to the most recondite parts of the Sciences; not so much out of affectation, as admiration." -THEOBALD, in the Preface to his Second Edition of Shakespeare's Works, 1740.

"Such is Shakespeare's merit, that the more just and refined the taste of the nation has become, the more he has increased in reputation. He was approved by his own age, admired by the next, and is revered, and almost adored by the present. His merit is disputed by little wits, and his errors are the jests of little critics; but there has not been a great poet, or great critic, since his time, who has not spoken of him with the highest veneration."-MRS. MONTAGUE'S Essay on Shakespeare, 1769, Introduction, p. 10.

"Shakespeare seems to have been as well acquainted with rare phenomena, as with the ordinary appearances of Nature."-MALONE.

"The instruction which may be drawn from Shakespeare is equal to the entertainment which his writings afford. We cannot peruse his works without having our understandings considerably enlarged. To promote, therefore, the knowledge of him, is to contribute to general improvement."-Prospectus to STOCKDALE'S Edition, 8vo., 1784.

"Almost every sentence of our Bard gives us reason to conclude that if he had not acquired any great depth of classical learning (a point which has given rise to controversy), he possessed a fund of useful knowledge."- Universal Magazine, April, 1791, p. 284.

Shakespeare was a most original creator, and most accurate observer."SIR UVEDALE PRICE's Essays on the Picturesque, 1794–1798.

"Shakespeare commonly derived his knowledge of Nature from his own observation."-DR. JOHNSON.

"However much black-letter books may be necessary to elucidate some parts of Shakespeare's works, there are other parts which require some acquaintance with the pages of the Book of Nature."-PYE's Comments, &c., 1807.

"It appears from every line of Shakespeare's writings that he had studied with attention the works of Nature, and was an accurate observer of any object that fell within his notice."-MONCK MASON.

"Shakespeare frequently makes the most insignificant animals become great in metaphor, and figures of consequence in similitude."-JACKSON'S Restorations to Shakespeare, 1819.

"Of all poets, perhaps, Shakespeare alone has portrayed the mental diseases, -melancholy, delirium, lunacy-with such inexpressible, and, in every respect, definite truth, that the physician may enrich his observations from them in the same manner as from real cases."-SCHLEGEL.

"Look at the variety and richness of Shakespeare's images derived from Natural History-from quadrupeds, birds, insects, flowers, &c."-CHARLES KNIGHT'S Prospectus to the Pictorial Edition of Shakespeare, 1838.

"Shakespeare's power of describing natural objects is unequalled."-CHARLES KNIGHT, in the Pictorial Edition of Romeo and Juliet, p. 57.

THE SHAKESPEARE CYCLOPÆDIA.

PART I. ZOOLOGY.

"That Shakespeare was a practical farmer we have little doubt. In 1605, he bought a moiety of the tithes of Stratford, which he would then collect in kind. He occupied the best house of the place; he had there his 'curious knotted garden' to amuse him; and his orchard had many a pippin of his 'own graffing. James the First recommended the cultivation of mulberry trees in England; and who has not heard of Shakespeare's mulberry tree?''-CHARLES KNIGHT in Shakespeare's Biography.

"If Shakespeare is worth reading, he is worth explaining; and the researches used for so valuable a purpose, merit the thanks of genius and candour, not the satire of prejudice and ignorance."-WARTON in his Remarks on Spenser's Faery Queene.

"Many instances may be cited in proof of the exquisite accuracy and exactness, with which Shakespeare observed objects of Natural History."-The REV. W. T. BREE, in The Magazine of Natural History, vol. VII., 1834,, p. 593. Shakespeare was a most accurate observer of Nature."—JESSE's Gleanings, 1834, vol. II., p. 100.

"The more the works of Shakespeare are studied, the more will their beauties become apparent, and the more wisdom we shall imbibe."-SHERIDAN KNOWLES, in his Oration at Shakespeare's Natal Anniversary Dinner at the Town Hall, Stratford-upon-Avon, in 1837.

"Some people suppose that philosophy and imagination are incompatible; but there is more true philosophy in the writings of Shakespeare than in those of all the metaphysicians that ever existed."-FRASER'S Magazine, No. 144.

"The only man that Nature ever took into partnership was Shakespeare; for he never on any single occasion went beyond her patterns, but copied them so closely that it would puzzle her to know his work from her own."-LADY LYTTON BULWER'S Budget, 1840, p. 83.

"To the great and benevolent intellectual spirits who instruct, soothe, and enlighten us, we owe a filial veneration; but to Shakespeare's memory above all, our chiefest affection is due."-The Times.

"Without a complete inquiry into Shakespeare's allusions, the spirit of his writings can never be fully understood or appreciated."-HALLIWELL in his Introductory Essay on the Midsummer Night's Dream, 1841.

"An identification of the particular objects in Natural History, to which Shakespeare has alluded, with the species of modern systematic naturalists, would form a welcome addition to British Literature."-Magazine of Natural History, vol. IV. p. 425.

"Mr. Fennell's subject is a delightful one, and when finished in the manner that portion of it is treated which I have seen, cannot fail to make a very popular work. It is an appendix to the text which many readers of Shakespeare must have felt the want of."-WILLIAM YARRELL, Esq., Author of A History of British Fishes, &c.

"I consider Mr. Fennell's papers on Shakespeare ingenious illustrations of passages in our great Bard."—The Rev. JOHN MITFORD, Editor of the Gentleman's Magazine.

"Mr. Fennell's Work illustrative of Shakespeare's knowledge of Natural Philosophy will be a mine of entertaining research to every admirer of our great Dramatist, and present opportunities for the correction of many misconceptions of Shakespeare's writings, and many errors in the several branches of natural knowledge. Mr. Fennell brings to his task a good acquaintance with the works of the best naturalists, and untiring aptitude for literary enquiry, with an enthusiasm moderated by judgment; all of which qualifications fit him eminently for his difficult, but pleasing labour."—JOHN TIMBS, Esq., Editor of the Year Book of Facts.

"A series of notes such as Mr. Fennell's on Shakespeare, do really elucidate an author. They are in that style which Voss, one of the first of critics, recommends and, indeed, adopts. His first object, he says, is to learn accurately and minutely, the subject on which the author treats. Most critics are content with talking about it, in ignorance; repeating what others think or say, and blundering accordingly. Mr. Fennell's work is very commendable, and I doubt not that it will meet with success.-T. QUAYLE, Esq., Editor of an Edition of Virgil.