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Imogen. [Awaking] Yes, sir, to Milford-Haven; Which is

the way?

I thank you. By yon bush ?-Pray, how far thither?

Ods pittikins!-can it be six miles yet?

I have gone all night;-'Faith, I'll lie down and sleep.
But, soft! no bed-fellow.

Act 4. Sc. 2.

*3*3&*3&3

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PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE :

A TRAGEDY, BY WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

THE original story of this play is Apollonius, King of Tyre; one of the most ancient and celebrated of all antiquity. Some affirm it to have been first written in Greek, and translated into Latin by a Christian, about the decline of the Roman empire; and others attribute it to Symposius, in the eighth century. It appears also in the Gesta Romanorum, chap. 153 ; in Gower's Confessio Amantis, book vii. ; and Dr. Farmer possessed a MS. poem of it, probably yet older. In 1510, Wynkyn de Worde printed a romance called Kynge Appolyn of Thyre, translated from the French by Robert Copland; in 1576, William Howe had a license for publishing The most excellent, pleasant, and variable, Historie of the strange Adventures of Prince Appolonius, Lucine, his wife, and Tharsa, his daughter; and in 1607 appeared, "translated into English by T. Twine, Gent." The patterne of painful adventures, containing the most excellent, &c. as in the title to the last-mentioned book, of which it was perhaps a re-impression. As Gower is made Chorus and interpreter all through the present drama, it is probable that it was derived chiefly from his poem. The name of Pericles is supposed to have been corrupted from Pyrocles, the hero of Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia.

After considerable doubt whether this play were the genuine work of Shakspeare, it has been decided from the internal evidence, that he either improved some older imperfect production, or wrote in connection with some other author; that it contains more of his language than any of his doubted dramas ; that many scenes throughout the whole piece are his, and especially the greater part of the last three acts; and that what he did compose, was his earliest dramatic effort, being assigned to the year 1590.-The external evidences are, that Edward Blount, one of the printers of the first folio Shakspeare, entered Pericles at Stationers' Hall, May 20th, 1608, though it appeared the next year from another publisher, with Shakspeare's name upon the title; that it was acted at Shakspeare's own Theatre, the Globe; and that it is ascribed to Shakspeare by several authors near his time. This play is not to be found in the folio of 1623, the Editors having probably forgotten it until the book was printed, as they did Troilus and Cressida ; which is inserted in the volume, but not in the Table of Contents.

The quarto editions of this piece are dated 1609, 1611, 1619, 1630, and 1635, in which it is called the “much admired" play of Pericles; and many old English authors mention it's very great popularity; yet it is the only drama by Shakspeare, which has never been once altered for the modern stage.

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Cerimon. The music there!-I pray you, give her air :Gentlemen,

This queen will live: nature awakes; a warmth
Breathes out of her; she hath not been entranc'd
Above five hours. See, how she 'gins to blow
Into life's flower again!

Act 3. Sc. 2.

A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS:

A COMEDY, BY PHILIP MASSINGer.

As this drama has been considered one of the finest of the ancient stage, and possesses so many features of merit, it is well qualified to succeed even the splendid series of plays by Shakspeare; to which, in the present selection, it properly follows in chronological order. Whilst it is full of entertainment, nature, and humour, it presents a lively picture of old English manners; and no work of it's author is more distinguished by variety and seriousness of moral.

A New Way to Pay Old Debts does not appear in the Office-book of Sir Henry Herbert, Master of the Revels, which extends from August, 1623, to the commencement of the Rebellion, 1641;-yet it is certain that it must have been produced before the year 1633, when it was first printed in quarto: the title-page stating it to have been "oft acted at the Phoenix in Drurielane by the Queen's Majesty's servants." There are also several allusions in it to the kingdom being in a state of war, but in 1629 a peace had been concluded with France and Spain; so that it possibly was written still earlier.

The scene of this Comedy is laid in the country near Nottingham, and the time of it's action may be supposed to occupy about five days.-The powerful character of Sir Giles Overreach, is shewn by Gifford to have been probably copied from nature, together with the parts of Justice Greedy and Marrall; the originals being called Sir Giles Mompesson, one Michel, a poor mean Justice, and his Clerk. About 1621, James I. had granted to the two former a patent for the manufacture of gold and silver lace, which they perverted by adulterating the metals "with copper, and other sophistical materials," which produced the most deadly effects." Sir Giles," continues Wilson, in his Life and Reign of James I., " had fortune enough in the country to make him happy, if that sphere could have contained him, but the vulgar and universal error of satiety with present enjoyments, made him too big for a rusticall condition, and when he came to Court he was too little for that; so that some novelty must be taken up to set him in æquilibrio to the place he was in, no matter what it was, let it be never so pestilent and mischievous to others, he cared not, so he benefited by it.”

This Comedy was revived at Drury-Lane in 1748, and in 1781, Henderson appeared in Sir Giles Overreach at Covent-Garden, and excited great applause. Cooke and J. P. Kemble also sustained the part with very considerable talent; but, perhaps, Kean first performed it with absolute perfection at Drury-Lane, September 21st, 1816.

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