In the "New Variorum Edition of Shakespeare," which is appearing
under the careful editorship of Horace Howard Furness (J. B. Lippincott, 18s.), we have The Tragedie of A ntonie and Cleopatra. The text is here happily a matter about which there is little controversy. Practically it• is that of the First Folio,— a Quarto of the play seems to have been meditated, but never, as far as we know, appeared. if any reader wishes to realise the unsparing labour which Dr. Furness bestows upon his work, let him study the appendix. First conies a discussion of the date of the play ; this is in general agreement with the conclusion at which Mr. Fleay arrived by help of his metrical text, "early in 1608." Then we have "Sources of the Plot." Then follows, printed at length, Dryden's imitation, "All for Love: or the World Well Lost" (1678), with criticisms by Walter Scott and others. After this come thirty pages of criticisms on Shakespeare's play. "Dramatic Versions" occupy more than twice as much space. There is a note on actors and aotresses, and another on costumes. There is a list of emendations and a bibliography.
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