[409] If Lysander's efforts begin to relax—what must be the debilitated mental state of the poor annotator, who has accompanied the book-orator thus long and thus laboriously? Can Steevens receive justice at my hands—when my friends, aided by hot madeira, and beauty's animating glances, acknowledge their exhausted state of intellect?! However, I will make an effort:

'nothing extenuate
Nor set down aught in malice.'

The respectable compiler of the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. lxx. p. 178, has given us some amusing particulars of Steevens's literary life: of his coming from Hampstead to London, at the chill break of day, when the overhanging clouds were yet charged with the 'inky' purple of night—in order, like a true book-chevalier, to embrace the first dank impression, or proof sheet, of his own famous octavo edition of Shakspeare; and of Mr. Bulmer's sumptuous impression of the text of the same. All this is well enough, and savours of the proper spirit of Bibliomaniacism: and the edition of our immortal bard, in fifteen well printed octavo volumes, (1793) is a splendid and durable monument of the researches of George Steevens. There were from 20 to 25 copies of the octavo edition printed upon large paper; and Lord Spencer possesses, by bequest, Mr. Steevens' own copy of the same, illustrated with a great number of rare and precious prints; to which, however, his Lordship, with his usual zeal and taste, has made additions more valuable even than the gift in its original form. The 8vo. edition of 1793 is covetted with an eagerness of which it is not very easy to account for the cause; since the subsequent one of 1803, in 21 octavo volumes, is more useful on many accounts: and contains Steevens's corrections and additions in every play, as well as 177, in particular, in that of Macbeth. But I am well aware of the stubbornness and petulancy with which the previous edition is contended for in point of superiority, both round a private and public table; and, leaving the collector to revel in the luxury of an uncut, half-bound, morocco copy of the same, I push onward to a description of the Bibliotheca Steevensiana. Yet a parting word respecting this edition of 1803. I learn, from unquestionable authority, that Steevens stipulated with the publishers that they should pay Mr. Reed 300l. for editorship, and 100l. to Mr. W. Harris, Librarian of the Royal Institution, for correcting the press: nor has the editor in his preface parted from the truth, in acknowledging Mr. Harris to be 'an able and vigiland assistant.' Mr. H. retained, for some time, Steevens' corrected copy of his own edition of 1793, but he afterwards disposed of it, by public auction, for 28l. He has also at this present moment, Mr. Josiah Boydell's copy of Mr. Felton's picture of our immortal bard; with the following inscription, painted on the back of the pannel, by Mr. Steevens:

May, 1797.
Copied by Josiah Boydell, at my
request, from the remains of the
only genuine Portrait of William
Shakspeare. George Steevens.

The engraved portrait of Shakspeare, prefixed to this edition of 1803, is by no means a faithful resemblance of Mr. Boydell's admirably executed copy in oil. The expenses of the edition amounted to 5844l.; but no copies now remain with the publishers. We will now give rather a copious, and, as it must be acknowledged, rich, sprinkling of specimens from the Bibliotheca Steevensiana, in the departments of rare old poetry and the drama. But first let us describe the title to the catalogue of the same. A Catalogue of the curious and valuable Library of George Steevens, Esq., Fellow of the Royal and Antiquary Societies (Lately deceased). Comprehending an extraordinary fine Collection of Books, &c., sold by auction by Mr. King, in King Street, Covent Garden, May, 1800. 8vo. [1943 articles: amount of sale 2740l. 15s.]

Old Poetry.

NO. £s.d.
867.Gascoigne's (Geo.) Workes, or a Hundreth sundrie Flowers bounde in one small Poesie, (including) Supposes, com. from Ariosto; Jocosta, Tr. from Euripides, &c. b.l. first edition. Lond. impr. by Bynneman, 1572, 4to.1190
'With MS. notes respecting this copy and edition by Mr. Steevens.'
868.Another copy, 2d edition (with considerable additions); among other, the Princely Pleasures of Kenilworth Castle, the Steele Glass, the Complainte of Phylomene, b.l. ib. impr. by Abell Jeffes, 1587, 4to., with MS. references, by Messrs. Bowles and Steevens.440
869.Another copy, including all the aforementioned, and a Delicate Diet for Daintie Mouthde Droonkardes, b.l. Lond. impr. by Rich. Jhones, 1576, 8vo.
The Glasse of Gouernement, 4to. b.l. russia, with MS. references.
The Droome of Doomesday, 3 parts, b.l. ib. 1576, 4to. 'The above two volumes are supposed to comprise the compleatest collection of Gascoigne's works extant.'		5156
876.Googe (Barnabe) Eglogs, Epytaphes, and Sonnettes newly written, b.l., small 8vo. fine copy in Russia, Lond. impr. by Tho. Colwell for Raffe Newbery, dwelynge in Fleet Streete a little above the Conduit, in the late shop of Tho. Bartelet. See Mr. Steevens's note to the above; in which he says there is no scarcer book in the English language, and that Dr. Farmer, Messrs. T. Warton and Js. Reed, had never seen another copy.10150
949.Lodge (Tho.) Life and death of William Longbeard, the most famous and witty English traitor, borne in the citty of London, accompanied with manye other most pleasant and prettie Histories, 4to. b.l. printed by Rich. Yardley and Peter Short, 1593. [cost Mr. Steevens 1s. 9d.!]470
995.The Paradyse of Dainty Devises, MS. a fac-simile of the first edition, in 1576, finished with the greatest neatness by Mr. Steevens, 4to. in russia.5150
996.The Paradice of Dainty Devises, devised and written for the most part by M. Edwardes, sometime of her Majestie's Chappell; the rest by sundry learned Gentlemen, both of Honor and worship. Lond. printed by Edwd. Allde, 1595, 4to.460
997.The Paradice of Daintie Devises, b.l. interleaved, ib. printed for Edw. White, 1600, 4to.
Breton (Nich.) Workes of a young Wyt, trust up with a Fardell of Prettie Fancies, profitable to young Poetes, prejudicial to no Man, and pleasant to every Man, to pass away Idle Tyme withal, b.l. 4to. interleaved with a MS. list of the Author's Works by Messrs. Steevens, Ritson, and Park: impr. at Lond. nigh unto the Three Cranes in the Vintree, by Tho. Dawson, and Tho. Gardyner.
Soothern's Odes, 4to. b.l. interleaved with copious MS. Notes, and an Extract from the European Magazine relative to the Author: wants title, no date.
Watson (Tho.) Passionate Centurie of Love, 4to. b.l. interleaved: the 12 first sonnets, and the latter ones, from 78, in MS. Lond. impr. by John Wolfe.
"The above curious Collection of Old Poems are bound together in russia, with border of gold, and may be deemed with propriety, Matchless."		21106
1037.Puttenham's Arte of English Poesie, in 3 bookes, with a wood-cut of Queen Elizabeth; choice copy, in morocco, 4to. ib. printed by Rich. Field, 1589.7100
1073.Roy (Will.) Satire on Cardinal Wolsey, a Poem; b.l. sm. 8vo. russia, no date nor place.770
1078.Skelton (Jo.) Poet Laureat, lyttle Workes, viz. Speake Parot. The Death of the Noble Prynce, King Edwarde the Fourthe. A Treatyse of the Scottes. Ware the Hawke, The Tunnynge of Elynoure Rummyng, sm. 8vo. b.l. Impr. at Lond. in Crede Lane, Jhon Kynge, and Thomas Marshe, no date. 12mo.
Hereafter foloweth a lyttle Booke, called Colyn Clout, b.l. impr. by John Wyght, 12mo.
Hereafter foloweth a little Booke of Phyllip Sparrow, b.l. impr. by Robert Tob. 12mo.
Hereafter foloweth a little Booke which has to name, Whi come ye not to Courte, b.l. impr. by John Wyght. 12mo.		450
1079.Skelton (Master, Poet Laureat) Merie Tales, b.l. 12mo. Lond. impr. by Tho. Colwell, no date.5156
"See Note, in which Mr. Steevens says he never saw another copy."
1119.Warren (Will.) A pleasant new Fancie of a Foundling's Device intitled and cald the Nurcerie of Names, with wood borders, b.l. 4to. ib. impr. by Rich. Jhones, 1581.2160
1125.Watson (Tho.) Passionate Centurie of Love; b.l. 4to. the title, dedication, and index, MS. by Mr. Steevens.
"Manuscript Poems, transcribed from a Collection of Ancient English Poetry, in the possession of Sam. Lysons, Esq., formerly belonging to Anne Cornwallis, by Mr. Steevens."		5100
1126.—— Passionate Centurie of Love, divided into two parts, b.l. 4to. russia. Lond. impr. by John Wolfe.5180
1127.England's Helicon, collected by John Bodenham, with copious additions, and an index in MS. by Mr. Steevens, 4to. russia, ib. printed by J.R. 1600.11150
1128.Weblee [Webbe] (Will.) Discourse of English Poetrie, together with the author's judgment, touching the Reformation of our English Verse, b.l. 4to. russia, ib. by John Charlewood, 1586.880

The Drama; and early Plays of Shakespeare.

1216.The Plot of the Plays of Frederick and Basilea, and of the Deade Man's Fortune, the original papers which hung up by the side scenes in the playhouses, for the use of the prompter and the acter, earlier than the time of Shakspeare.1100
1218.Anonymous, a pleasant Comedie, called Common Conditions, b.l. imperf. 4to. in russia.6100
"Of this Dramatick Piece, no copy, except the foregoing mutilated one, has hitherto been discovered: with a long note by Mr. Steevens, and references to Kirkman, Langbaine, Baker, Reed," &c.
1221.Bale (John) Tragedie, or Enterlude, manifesting the chiefe Promises of God unto Man, compyled An. Do. 1538, b.l. 4to. now first impr. at Lond. by John Charlewood, 1577.12150
1248.Marlow (Chr.) and Tho. Nash, Tragedie of Dido, Queene of Carthage, played by the Children of her Majesties' Chappell, 4to. russia, Lond. printed by the Widdowe Owin, 1594.1700
1259.Peele (Geo.) The Old Wives Tale, a pleasant conceited Comedie played by the Queene's Majesties' Players; 4to. in russia; ib. impr. by John Danter, 1595.1200
"N.B. A second of the above is to be found in the Royal Library; a third copy is unknown." Steevens' note.

Early Plays of Shakspeare.