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THE WORKS OF

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

VOLUME IX

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]

THE WORKS

OF

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

VOLUME IX

KING LEAR

OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

METHUEN & CO.

36 ESSEX STREET W. C.

LONDON

Published in Methuen's Standard Library

in 1909

PREFATORY NOTE1

KING LEAR

OUR first notice of the tragedy of King Lear is an entry on the Stationers' Registers of 26th November 1607: John Busby, Nathaniel Butter. Entred . . a Booke called Master William Shakespeare his historye of King Lear as yt was played before the kinges majestie at Whitehall uppon Sainct Stephens night at Christmas last by his majesties servantes playinge usually at the Globe on the Banksyde' (see Arber, Transcript, iii. 366). That entry tells us that King Lear was played before King James 1. on St. Stephen's Night (i.e. the night of the 26th December [old style], 1606). In the year 1608 there appeared two editions of King Lear with title-pages nearly identical. The title-page of the edition which Mr. Daniel first showed to be the earlier, and which is now called Quarto 1, stands as follows: 'M. William Shakspeare HIS True Chronicle Historie of the life and death of King Lear and his three Daughters. With the unfortunate life of Edgar, sonne and heire to the Earle of Gloster, and his sullen and assumed humor of TOM of Bedlam: As it was played before the Kings Majestie at Whitehall upon S. Stephans night in Christmas Hollidayes. By his Majesties servants playing usually at the Gloabe on the Bancke-side, LONDON. Printed by Nathaniel Butter, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the sign of the Pide Bull neere St. Austins Gate. 1608.' That of Quarto 2 is the same, only that on it the poet's name is spelt 'Shake-speare' instead 1 A brief sketch of Shakespeare's career is prefixed to the first volume of this edition.

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