of making up one's mind upon disputed passages,—where frequently so much is to be said on both sides of the question, and where such cogent arguments arise in favour of each different reading,-can only be estimated by those who undertake the task of decision. This difficulty amounts in some cases to the actual retaining of what has been formerly rejected, or rejecting what has been formerly retained; for frequently, that which has struck the mind as bearing an opposite sense, an incompatible sense, or even no sense at all, at one time of consideration, will, at another period, assume a consistent and perfectly distinct meaning, and will therefore be ultimately adopted in preference to the sentence previously taken. As a single instance of what we mean, we would refer to the word "love-feat" in Love's L. L., v. 2; for which we at one time substituted the suggested alteration of "lovesuit;" but now we perceive the congruity of the term “feat,” with the preceding line:

"Their purpose is, to parle, to court, and dance;"

and, accordingly, we retain the original Folio expression, "love-feat."

These anxious deliberations, these conscientious cares on the part of Editors in selecting what they conceive to be the genuine Shakespearian reading in disputed passages,—leading to occasional variance even in their own individual opinions, and to differing actually with themselves,-ought surely to teach diffidence in maintaining their own decisions, and temperance in censuring those of others. Let ShakespeareEditors but take to heart what is taught in every page of the great master they serve, and they will become more and more worthy to be his ushers and exponents.

To read Shakespeare's works even superficially, is entertainment; to linger over them lovingly and admiringly, is enjoyment; to study them profoundly, is wisdom moral and intellectual.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF

SHAKESPEARE'S LIFE.

Eldest son of John
The father was of

1564. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE born April 23.
Shakespeare, and Mary Arden his wife.
yeoman rank, and held various offices in the corporation :
the mother inherited a small landed estate called Asbyes,
and some property in land at Snitterfield. Plague in Strat-
ford from June to December.

1 year old, 1565. John Shakespeare elected one of the fourteen aldermen of

Stratford-upon-Avon.

1566. William's brother Gilbert baptized October 13. Here was an early-sent object to awaken ideas of protecting love in

the two-year-old child.

1567. John Shakespeare in good circumstances; owner of a copyhold tenement in Henley Street since 1556. Contributed, with others of his borough, towards the relief of the poor during the visitation of the plague in Stratford in 1564.

1568. John Shakespeare received the highest distinction in the power of his fellow-townsmen to bestow; being elected Bailiff of Stratford-upon-Avon. He held the office, as was usual, from Michaelmas to Michaelmas; and was, ex officio, a magistrate.

1569. William's sister Joan baptized April 15; an aunt Joan standing godmother. This was a sister of Mary (Arden) Shakespeare; and had married Edward Lambert. Theatrical performances in Stratford by "the Queen's Players."

1570. John Shakespeare was in possession of a field called Ingon Meadow. Here may Shakespeare have first run about to gather "daisies pied and violets blue," '-a "boy pursuing summer butterflies."

1571

William's sister Anne baptized September 28. Probably his commencement as "schoolboy, with satchel and shining morning face;" but hardly "creeping like snail unwillingly to school."

8 years old, 1572. The masters of the free grammar-school at Stratford between

1570 and 1578, were, successively, Walter Roche, Thomas Hunt, and Thomas Jenkins. The two former may have been the prototypes of Pinch and Holofernes; the latter, of Sir Hugh Evans.

1573. William's brother Richard baptized March 11. As his family increased, so increased John Shakespeare's means of supporting them, up to this time.

1574. John Shakespeare purchased of Edmund and Emma Hall, two freehold houses, with gardens and orchards, in Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, for the sum of £40.

Gradual declension of John Shakespeare's circumstances in the course of these three years.

1578. John Shakespeare, at a borough hall meeting, permitted to pay but 3s. 4d. as his share of a levied contribution. Mortgaged his wife's estate of Asbyes. Unable to afford poor. rates; and was left untaxed.

1579. John and Mary Shakespeare
sold their landed property
at Snitterfield for the small
sum of £4. William's sis-
ter Anne buried April 4.

16 ......... 1580. William's brother Edmund

baptized May 3.

1581. Theatrical performances in

Stratford-upon-Avon by

two companies of players.

1582. A "preliminary bond" to the solemnization of these seven
matrimony between William Shakespeare and years Shake-
Anne Hathaway was dated November 28. speare may
The seal used on the bond bore the initials have found
R. H.,-those of the bride's father, Richard employment
Hathaway.
as a teacher

1583. William Shakespeare's first child, Susanna,

baptized May 26.

1584. Three companies of actors performed at Strat

ford. Burbage, Greene, Slye, Heminge, and Tooley, were players who came of War wickshire families; and were probably acquaintances of Shakespeare's at this time. 1585. William's twin boy and girl, Hamnet and Judith, baptized February 2. His desire to provide for his increasing family, his own tastes and talents, and his friends' instances, probably combined to turn his thoughts towards the stage.

at the grammar-school; or as a law. yer's clerk.

22 years old, 1586. The year of the imputed deer-stealing prank in Sir Thomas Lucy's grounds of Charlcote. John Shakespeare ceased to be alderman September 6. William left Stratford-uponAvon for London.

23

24

1587. 1588.

No record of these two years. Probably engaged in qualifying himself for his profession of actor; and in altering and adapting plays for the theatre of which he became part proprietor.

1589. William Shakespeare a sharer in the Blackfriars Theatre. His name occurs twelfth on the list of sixteen sharers.

1590. No record. Diligent thought and application. Rapidly

rising in public renown.

1591. Spenser's laudatory allusion to Shakespeare as a dramatist, appeared in the "Tears of the Muses;" that poem being then first printed.

34 .........

1592. Plague in London. Suspension of dramatic performances. Probable period of Shakespeare's possible visit to Italy. Robert Greene's attack upon Shakespeare, posthumously produced by Henry Chettle; who subsequently made apology in his "Kind-heart's Dream."

1593. First edition of "Venus and Adonis” published under the Author's direction by a printer named Richard Field,said to have been a Stratford man. Building of the Globe Theatre commenced by the leader of the company of actors, Richard Burbage, December 22.

1594. First edition of "Lucrece" brought out at Field's press. Spenser's second tribute to Shakespeare, in his poem of "Colin Clout's Come Home Again.' Probable period of

Lord Southampton's alleged gift of £1000 to Shakespeare.

1595. Probable period of the opening of the Globe Theatre on the Bankside, the spring of this year. The performances usu. ally took place at three o'clock in the afternoon; and, being open to the air, the theatre served for summer represen

tations.

1596. Petition of the Player-sharers (Shakespeare's name fifth on the list) to repair and enlarge their Blackfriars' Theatre for winter performances. William's son Hamnet buried August 11. Help to his parents. Applied for grant of arms to his father.

1597. John and Mary Shakespeare filed a bill in Chancery to recover their mortgaged estate of Asbyes; the mortgagee's son refusing to yield it. William's aid in redeeming his mother's inheritance. His purchase of "New Place," also called the "The Great House," at Stratford: bringing his father and mother home there.

1598.

Ben Jonson's comedy, "Every Man in his Humour," first acted, through Shakespeare's influence. Letter from Rich. ard Quiney to Shakespeare, requesting the loan of £30.