It is to be regretted that all editions of Shakspeare, as well as of other dramatic writers, have not marginal references to the acts and scenes of each play. Those of Bell and Stockdale are, in this respect, preeminently useful. The time and trouble that would be saved in consulting them would be very considerable. The Edition of Shakspeare used in the compilation of this volume, and to which the pages cited refer, is the last published by Mr. Steevens himself, in fifteen volumes 8vo, 1793; but in order to facilitate a reference to most other editions, the acts and scenes of the plays are specified. ILLUSTRATIONS OF SHAKSPEARE. THE TEMPEST. ACT I. SCENE 1. Page 9. ANT. We are merely cheated of our lives—— MR. STEEVENS has remarked that merely in this place signifies absolutely. His interpretation is confirmed by the word merus in Littelton's dictionary, where it is rendered downright. SCENE 2. Page 10. a brave vessel, Who had, no doubt, some noble creatures in her. There is a peculiar propriety in this expression that has escaped the notice it deserved. Miranda had as yet seen no other man than her father. She had perceived, but indistinctly, some living creatures perish in the shipwreck; and she supposes they might be of her father's species. Thus she afterwards, when speaking of Ferdinand, calls him noble. It should the good ship, &c. This word should always be written ere, and not ever, nor contractedly e'er, with which it has no connection. It is pure Saxon, æn. The corruption in Ecclesiastes cited in the note, B is as old as the time of Henry the Eighth; but in Wicliffe we have properly" er be to broke the silveren corde," and so it is given by Chaucer. SCENE 2. Page 20. PRO. Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepar'd Nor tackle, sail, nor mast The present note is more particularly offered to the admirers of ancient romances, and to which class Shakspeare himself, no doubt, belonged. It is well known that the carliest English specimen of these singular and fascinating compositions is the Geste of king Horn, which has been faithfully published by the late Mr. Ritson, who has given some account of a French copy in the British Museum. He did not live to know that another manuscript of this interesting romance, in the same language, is still remaining in private hands, very different in substance and construction from the other. One might almost conclude that some English translation of it existed in Shakspeare's time, and that he had in the above passage imitated the following description of the boat in which Horn and his companions were put by king Rodmund at the suggestion of Browans, That is, "Sire, fet il purnez un de vos vielz chalanz Metez icels valez ki jo vei ici estanz 1. 58. Sir, said he, take one of your old boats, put into it these varlets whom I see here; let them have no oars to help them, sail nor rudder to put them in motion." ARI. SCENE 2. Page 26. sometimes I'd divide And burn in many places; on the top-mast, The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly, Then meet and join This is a very elegant description of a meteor well known to sailors. It has been called by the several names of the fire of |