known, even at the beginning of our century, that though the custom of alliteration had prevailed to that degree in the time of Shakspeare, that it became contemptible and ridiculous, yet it is made one of Waller's praises by a writer of his life, that he first introduced this practice into English verfification.

It will be expected that fome notice fhould be taken of the laft editor of Shakspeare, and that his merits fhould be estimated with those of his predeceffors. Little, however, can be faid of a work, to the completion of which, both a large propo tion of the commentary and various readings is as yet wanting. The Second Part of King Henry VI. is the only play from that edition, which has been confulted in the courfe of this work; for as feveral paffages there are arbitrarily omitted, and as no notice is given when other deviations are made from the old copies, it was of little confequence to examine any further. This circumftance is mentioned, left fuch accidental coincidences of opinion, as may be difcovered hereafter, fhould be interpreted into plagiarism.

It may occafionally happen, that fome of the remarks long ago produced by others, are offered again as recent difcoveries. It is likewife abfolutely impoffible to pronounce with any degree of certainty, whence all the hints, which furnish matter for a commentary, have been collected, as they lay fcattered in many books and papers, which were probably never read but once, or the particulars which they contain received only in the course of common converfation; nay, what is called plagiarifm, is often no more than the refult of having thought alike with others on the fame fubject.

The difpute about the learning of Shakspeare being now finally fettled, a catalogue is added of thofe tranflated authors, whom Mr. Pope has thought proper to call

The clafficks of an age that heard of none.

The reader may not be difpleafed to have the Greek and Roman poets, orators, &c. who had been rendered acceffible to our author, expofed at one view;* efpecially as the lift has received the advantage of being corrected and amplified by the Reverend Dr. Farmer, the fubftance of whose very decifive pamphlet is interfperfed through the notes which are added in this revifal of Dr. Johnfon's Shakspeare.

To thofe who have advanced the reputation of our poet, it has been endeavoured, by Dr. Johnson, in a foregoing preface, impartially to allot their dividend of fame; and it is with great regret that we now add to the catalogue, another, the confequence of whofe death will perhaps affect not only the works of Shakspeare, but of many other writers. Soon after the firft appearance of this edition, a disease, rapid in its progress, deprived the world of Mr. Jacob Tonfon; a man, whofe zeal for the improvement of English literature, and whofe liberality to men of learning, gave him a juft title to all the honours which men of learning can beftow. To suppose that a person employed in an extensive trade, lived in a flate of indifference to lofs and gain, would be to conceive a character incredible and romantick; but it may be justly faid of Mr. Tonfon, that he had enlarged his mind beyond

*See Vol. II.

folicitude about petty loffes, and refined it from the defire of unreafonable profit. He was willing to admit those with whom he contracted, to the just advantage of their own labours; and had never learned to confider the author as an under-agent to the bookfeller. The wealth which he inherited or acquired, he enjoyed like a man confcious of the dignity of a profeffion subservient to learning. His domeftick life was elegant, and his charity was liberal. His manners were foft, and his conversation delicate; nor is, perhaps, any quality in him more to be cenfured, than that referve which confined his acquaintance to a fmall number, and made his example lefs ufeful, as it was lefs extenfive. He was the last commercial name of a family which will be long remembered; and if Horace thought it not improper to convey the SosII to pofterity; if rhetorick suffered no difhonor from Quintilian's dedication to TRYPHO; let it not be thought that we dif grace Shakspeare, by appending to his works the name of TONSON.

To this prefatory advertisement I have now fubjoined a chapter extracted from the Guls Hornbook, (a fatirical pamphlet written by Decker in the year 1609) as it affords the reader a more complete idea of the customs peculiar to our ancient theatres, than any other publication which has hitherto fallen in my way. See this performance, page 27.

8 This addition to Mr. Steevens's Advertisement was made in 1778. MALONE.

How a Gallant should behave himself in a
Play-houfe.

The theatre is your poet's Royal Exchange, upon which, their muses (that are now turn'd to merchants) meeting, barter away that light commodity of words for a lighter ware than words, plaudities and the breath of the great beaft, which (like the threatnings of two cowards) vanish all into aire. Plaiers and their factors, who put away the stuffe and make the best of it they poffibly can (as indeed 'tis their parts fo to doe) your gallant, your courtier, and your capten, had wont to be the foundest pay-mafters, and I thinke are ftill the fureft chapmen:, and thefe by meanes that their heades are well ftockt, deale upon this comical freight by the groffe; when your groundling, and gallery commoner buyes his fport by the penny, and, like a hagler, is glad to utter it againe by retailing.

Sithence then the place is fo free in entertainment, allowing a ftoole as well to the farmer's fonne as to your Templer: that your stinkard has the felf fame libertie to be there in his tobacco fumes, which your fweet courtier hath: and that your carman and tinker claime as ftrong a voice in their fuffrage, and fit to give judgment on the plaies' life and death, as well as the proudest Momus among the tribe of critick; it is fit that hee, whom the moft tailors' bils do make room for, when he comes, fhould not be bafely (like a vyoll) cas'd up in a corner.

Whether therefore the gatherers of the publique or private play-houfe ftand to receive the afternoone's rent, let our gallant (having paid it) prefently advance himself up to the throne of the flage. I meane not in the lords' roome (which is now but the ftage's fuburbs.) No, those boxes by the iniquity of custome, confpiracy of waitingwomen, and gentlemen-ufhers, that there fweat together, and the covetous fharers, are contemptibly thrust into the reare, and much new fatten `is there dambd by being fmothered to death in darkneffe. But on the very rufhes where the comedy is to daunce, yea and under the state of Cambifes himselfe muft our feather'd eftridge, like a piece of ordnance be planted valiantly (because impudently) beating downe the mewes and hiffes of the opposed rascality.

For do but caft up a reckoning, what large cummings in are purs'd up by fitting on the ftage. First a confpicuous eminence is gotten, by which meanes the best and most effenciall parts of a gallant (good cloathes, a proportionable legge, white hand, the Persian locke, and a tollerable beard,) are perfectly revealed.

"By fitting on the stage you have a sign'd pattent to engroffe the whole commodity of cenfure; may lawfully prefume to be a girder; and stand at the helme to fleere the paffage of scænes, yet no man fhall once offer to hinder you from obtaining the title of an infolent over-weening coxcombe.

"By fitting on the flage, you may (without trauelling for it) at the very next doore, afke whofe play it is: and by that queft of inquiry, the law warrants you to avoid much miflaking: if you know not the