Shakespeare Scholarships in seminaries of that Church of England of which Shakespeare was a member, viz., at Trinity College, Melbourne, and at Grammar Schools in the colony of Victoria, which has been my home for more than half a century. No apology need be made for including copious extracts from Shakespeare in this volume. A work on "Shakespeare's Life, Works, and Teaching would be a deformity, if not intolerable, if framed without ample proof, in his own words, of the character of his teaching. RUSDEN'S WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE." PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. This work was written by the author during the last few months of his life; and he died soon after it was set up in type. Perhaps few persons could have written such a book when weakened by illness, suffering from pain and slowly dying. The friend named in his Will as Mr. Rusden's literary executor, on perusing the volume, found some few matters requiring correction; and it has accordingly been held over to make such emendations as, it was believed, the author himself would certainly have made had he lived. Under such circumstances, instead of being surprised at the errors noted, one may indeed wonder that they are so few. CORRIGENDA. Page 138.-15th line from top: Isabella's speech attributed in error to Claudio. Page 131.-12th line from bottom : The author says, "In the old legend all the daughters of Lear behaved unnaturally to their father. What a transmutation was effected by Shakespeare when he created Cordelia!" Page 208.-15th line: He also says, "By creating Cordelia Shakespeare redeemed the drama from loathsomeness, and, for us, in the language of Professor Dowden, the earth is made more beautiful by her life and by her death." Note. In the principal sources from which we get the story of Lear and his daughters, Cordelia is always the noble character and affectionate daughter that Shakespeare makes her, though the end is somewhat less tragic than in his play. In the histories, she restores her father to his throne; and, after his death, succeeds him in the Kingdom. She reigns five years, and is then dispossessed and captured by her two nephews; and, in despair, kills herself. The story is said to have been first told in English by Layamon in his "Brut," about 1205; and it is thus contained in the following works: 1. Geoffrey of Monmouth, "Historia Britonum," Book 2, Chapter 2, p. 15. 2. Layamon's "Brut" (1847 Edition by Sir F. K. Madden), Vol. 1, p. 124. 3. "Gesta Romanorum"-Introduction. About 1473. 4. Fabyan's "Chronicle Concorduance of Historyes" (Edition of 1811 by Sir Henry Ellis). 5. "Hollinshed's History." 6. Spenser's "Faerie Queene," Book 2, Canto 10, Stanzas 27-33. 7. "Mirrour for Magistrates," Queen Cordela, an historical poem by John Higins, 1574. 8. "Chronicle History of King Leir." About 1593. Page 307.-First word on page : For "Iago," read Iachimo. Page 337.-3rd line from bottom : "Where has thou been preserved ? to read: Where hast thou been preserved? Page 357.-10th line: For "marriage blessing," read marriage-blessing. Page 372.-8th line from top: (1) Delete parenthesis bracket before "Richard;" (3) Insert comma between "Richard" and bracket. Page 403.-7th line from bottom : Delete comma after "any." MELBOURNE, 9th May, 1905. MELVILLE & MULLEN. |