"To instruct by delighting is a power seldom enjoyed by man, and still seldomer exercised. It is in this respect that Homer may be called the second of men, and Shakspere the first."-LONDON MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 1, 1824.

SHAKSPEREAN FLY-LEAVES.

New Series.

KING LEAR.

THE TEMPEST.

BY

H. T. HALL,

Author of Shaksperean Fly-leaves and Jottings; Shaksperean Statistics; Shakspere's Plays,
with the Alterations done by various Hands; Dramatic Album; &c.; &c.; &c.

"To instruct by delighting is a power seldom enjoyed by man, and still seldomer
exercised. It is in this respect that Homer may be called the second of men, and
Shakspere the first."-LONDON MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 1, 1824.

Cambridge:

PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY

H. WALLIS, BOOKSELLER, SIDNEY STREET.

M.DCCC.LXXIX.

KING LEAR.

THIS tragedy was produced at the Globe Theatre in the spring of 1606. There was an elder play, under the title of King Leir, which was entered on the Stationer's register in 1594, and had been played by Henslowe's company in 1593. There is but little doubt that Shakspere derived some hints from the elder play, particularly in relation to the character of the faithful enduring Kent. From the chronicle of Holinshed the chief materials have been derived, though the catastrophe of Shakspere's tragedy differs from all other accounts. In 1608, three editions were published of Lear, which is really one of the greatest of all tragedies, though it is not composed only of tragic elements. Parental love and filial ingratitude are the leading features of the tragedy, and out of their development is evolved all the results of this tragedy of tragedies, which is really sublime, and may be "judged to be the most perfect specimen of the dramatic art existing in the world."

The fool is a splendid set-off to the sorrows of the fallen monarch, and he also serves to render those sorrows more impressive than they otherwise would be.