The present volume contains all the stories and verses for children which we know Charles and Mary Lamb to have written. The text is that of the first or second editions, as explained in the Notes. The Poetry for Children and Prince Dorus have been set up from the late Andrew W. Tuer's facsimiles. The large edition of this volume contains all the original pictures, together with the apochryphal Beauty and the Beast.
In Mr. Bedford's design for the cover of this edition certain Elian symbolism will be found. The upper coat of arms is that of Christ's Hospital, where Lamb was at school; the lower is that of the Inner Temple, where he was born and spent many years. The figures at the bells are those which once stood out from the façade of St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet Street, and are now in Lord Londesborough's garden in Regent's Park. Lamb shed tears when they were removed. The tricksy sprite and the candles (brought by Betty) need no explanatory words of mine.
E.V.L.
CONTENTS
TALES FROM SHAKESPEAR
PAGE
Preface 1
The Tempest 3
A Midsummer Night's Dream 13
The Winter's Tale 23
Much Ado About Nothing 33
As You Like It 44
The Two Gentlemen of Verona 58
The Merchant of Venice 69
Cymbeline 81
King Lear 92
Macbeth 106
All's Well that Ends Well 115
The Taming of the Shrew 126
The Comedy of Errors 136
Measure for Measure 148
Twelfth Night; or, What You Will 161
Timon of Athens 173
Romeo and Juliet 184
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark 199
Othello 213
Pericles, Prince of Tyre 225
THE ADVENTURES OF ULYSSES
Preface 240 CHAPTER I. The Cicons—The fruit of the lotos tree—Polyphemus and the Cyclops—The kingdom of the winds, and god Æolus's fatal present—The Læstrygonian man-eaters 241 CHAPTER II. The House of Circe—Men changed into beasts—The voyage to hell—The banquet of the dead 250 CHAPTER III. The song of the Sirens—Scylla and Charybdis—The oxen of the Sun—The judgment—The crew killed by lightning 262 CHAPTER IV. The Island of Calypso—Immortality refused 269 CHAPTER V. The tempest—The sea-bird's gift—The escape by swimming—The sleep in the woods 273 CHAPTER VI. The Princess Nausicaa—The washing—The game with the ball—The Court of Phæacia and king Alcinous. 277 CHAPTER VII. The songs of Demodocus—The convoy home—The mariners transformed to stone—The young shepherd. 283 CHAPTER VIII. The change from a king to a beggar—Eumæus and the herdsmen—Telemachus 290 CHAPTER IX. The queen's suitors—The battle of the beggars—The armour taken down—The meeting with Penelope 301 CHAPTER X. The madness from above—The bow of Ulysses—The slaughter—The conclusion 308
MRS. LEICESTER'S SCHOOL
Dedication 316
Elizabeth Villiers: The Sailor Uncle 319
Louisa Manners: The Farm House 328
Ann Withers: The Changeling 334
Elinor Forester: The Father's Wedding Day 350
Margaret Green: The Young Mahometan 354
Emily Barton: Visit to the Cousins 360
Maria Howe: The Witch Aunt 368
Charlotte Wilmot: The Merchant's Daughter 375
Susan Yates: First Going to Church 378
Arabella Hardy: The Sea Voyage 384