There must have been years of labour before the genius that produced 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' could have produced 'The Tempest.' It is not merely the great solemn thoughts that we find in 'The Tempest,' or the marvellous beauty of the supernatural machinery, that so raise it above the play before us, and some others of Shakspere's earlier works. But it is, to our minds, the perfect distinctness with which the dialogue presents the plot and characters to our view. Look at the loves of Ferdinand and Miranda. That exquisite woman had never before seen a man, except her father. How clear is the conception of this most difficult position. What grace, what tenderness, what confiding modesty ! This is the work of the great matured artist. The Julias and Silvias of the earlier play are the sketches of a youth. They are very delicate and pretty; but they are lifeless by comparison. The one reality of 'The Two

Gentlemen of Verona' is Launce-a true creation of that comic power which in Shakspere is almost instinctive.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

SIR JOHN FALSTAFF.

Appears, Act. I. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act II. sc. 2.

Act III. sc. 3; sc. 5 Act. IV. sc. 2; sc. 5. Act V. sc. 1; sc. 5.

FENTON.

Appears, Act I. sc. 4. Act III. sc. 4. Act IV. sc. 6. Act V. sc 5.

SHALLOW, a country justice.

Appears, Act I. sc. 1. Act II. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4
Act IV. sc. 2. Act V. sc. 2.
SLENDER, cousin to Shallow.
Appears, Act I. sc. 1. Act II. sc. 3.
Act V. sc. 2;

Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4. sc. 5.

Mr. FORD, a gentleman dwelling at Windsor.

Appears, Act II. sc. 1; sc. 2.

Act IV sc. 2; sc. 4.

MR. PAGE, a gentleman
Appears, Act. I. sc. 1.
Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3;

Act III. sc. 2; sc. 3; sc 5
Act V. sc. 1; sc. 5.

dwelling at Windsor.

Act. II. sc. 1; sc. 3.
sc. 4. Act IV. sc. 2; sc 4
Act V. sc. 2; sc. 5.

WILLIAM PAGE, a boy, son to Mr. Page.
Appears, Act IV. sc. 1.

SIR HUGH EVANS, a Welsh parson.

Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 2.
Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4;

Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3.
sc. 5. Act V. sc. 4; sc. 5.

DR. CAIUS, a French physician.
Act II. sc. 3.
2; sc. 5.

Appears, Act I. sc. 4.
Act IV. sc.

Appears, Act. I sc. 3.

Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3. Act. V. sc. 3; sc. 5.

Host of the Garter Inn.

Act. III. sc. 1; sc. 2

Act II. sc. 1; sc. 3.
Act IV. sc. 3; sc. 5; sc. 6.

BARDOLPH, a follower of Falstaff.

Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act II. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 5.

Act IV. sc. 3; sc. 5.

NYM, a follower of Falstaff.

Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act II. sc. 1.

PISTOL, a follower of Falstaff.

Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act II. sc. 1; sc. 2.

ROBIN, page to Falstaff.

Act V. sc.

Appears, Act I. sc. 3. Act II. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 2; sc. 3.

SIMPLE, servant to Slender.

Appears, Act. I. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4. Act III. sc. 1.

RUGBY, servant to Dr. Caius.

Act IV. sc. 5.

Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2.

1. Act II. sc. 1. Act III. sc. 3.
sc. 4. Act V sc. 3; sc. 5.

MRS. PAGE.

Appears, Act I. sc. 1. Act II. sc. 1.
Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4.

Act. III. sc. 2; sc. 3; sc. 4.
Act V. sc. 3; sc. 5.

Act V. sc. 5.

MRS. ANNE PAGE, daughter to Mrs. Page.
Appears, Act I. sc. 1. Act III. sc. 4.
MRS. QUICKLY, servant to Dr. Caius.
Appears, Act I. sc. 4. Act II. sc. 1; sc. 2.

Act III. sc. 4; sc. 5.
Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 5. Act V. sc. 1; sc. 5.
Servants to Page, Ford, &c.

SCENE, WINDSOR.

THE first edition of this play was published in 1602. The comedy as it now stands first appeared in the folio of 1623; and the play in that edition contains very nearly twice the number of lines that the original edition contains. The succession of scencs is the same in both copies, except in one instance; but the speeches of the several characters are greatly elaborated in the amended copy, and several of the characters not only heightened, but new distinctive features given to them. A few sentences have been introduced from the quarto; and these are given in brackets.