SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Under this heading we notice such Books of the week as have not ban reserved for review in other forms.] The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. Variorum Edition. Vol. L (G. Bell and Sons and A. H. Bullen. 10s. (Id. net.)—The "second thoughts" which substituted this variorwm edition for a contemplated reissue of Dyce's "Beaumont and Fletcher," published about sixty years ago, were decidedly "best." The apparatus criticus has been enlarged since Dyce's time, admirable scholar as he was. Various readings which Dyes gave sparingly will be more abundant. Each play will be prefaced by bits of original editions, and notes on dates, text, argument, origin of plot, and stage history. So far all will be agreed ; the modernisation of the spelling is more doubtful ; but as this edition is meant for readers, it is probably judicious ; antiquarians will have to be satisfied with reproductions of old title-pages. This first volume contains five plays,—The Maid's Tragedy and Philaster, edited by P. A. Daniel ; and A King and No King, A Scornful Lady, and The Custom of the Country, edited by R. Warwick Bond. The edition is to be completed in twelve volumes. We hope to return to it in an ampler notice on the issue of the final volume.
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