Cribbin’ from Staunton…

…All about the genesis of the plays and poems: this is a work in progress and will eventually be a page.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona- first printed in the First Folio of 1623-one of his earliest written plays. Probably based on Sidney’s Arcadia, where a similar incidents happen as in the play, and the Filismena episode in the Diana of the Spaniard, George of Montemayor in two translations, one by Bartholomew Yong and the other by Thomas Wilson. Another source is namely, ˜The History of Felix and Philiomena”, which was played before the Queen at Greenwich in 1584.

A Pleasant Comedie called Love’s labors lost- as it was presented before her Highnes this last Christmas. Newly corrected and augmented. By W. Shakespeare. Imprinted at London by W.W. for Cuthbert Burby. 1598. Quarto. (Title-Page)- Mentioned in Palladis tamia 1598 by Francis Meres. Alluded to by Robert Tofte in a poem intituled, Alba; or, The Month’s Minde of a Melancholy Lover, Octavo, 1598. Scholars believe it was an early written work.

The Comedie of Errors- is first printed in the First Folio of 1623. It is noticed by Meres in his 1598 list. Scholars believe it was an early written work.

The first edition of Romeo and Juliet- was printed by John Danter in 1597, with the title ˜An excellent conceited tragedie of Romeo and Juliet. As it hath been often (with great applause) plaied publiquely, by the right honourable the L. of Hunsdon’s Servants. The second edition was printed by Thomas Creede, for Cuthbert Burby, in 1599, and is entitled, the most excellent and lamentable Tragedie of Romeo and Juliet; newly corrected and augmented and amended: as it hath been sundry times publiquely acted, by the right Hourable the Lord Chamberlaine his Servants. The two remaining editions, published before the FF of 1623, are a quarto printed in 1609, and another without date, both by the same publisher, John Smethwicke. Dated by an earthquake of 1580 described by Holinshed.

The Taming of the Shrew- the earliest comedy in its present form, yet known, is that of the FF of 1623; but in the year 1594 was printed an anonymous play entitled A Pleasant Conceited Historie, called The taming of a Shrew. As it was sundry times acted by the Right Honorable the Earle of Pembrook his servants. Printed at London by Peter Short and are to be sold by Cuthbert Burbie, at his shop at the Royal Exchange, 1594. Its similarity in title and contents raise the question: who borrowed from who?

King John- is the only uncontested play of Shakespeare’s not entered on the books of the Stationer’s Company, was first printed in the FF of 1623. It is also included in Meres list. There is an older drama called the troublesome raigne of John King of England, which brings up the same question as The taming of a Shrew.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream- the earliest editions are two quartos, both published in 1600, one by Thomas Fisher, the other by James Roberts, entitled,
A Midsummer Nights dreame. As it hath been sundry times publickely acted, by the Right honourable, the Lord Chamberlaine his servants. Written by William Shakespeare. Fisher’s impression was duly registered with the Stationer’s Hall; but no memorandum of Robert’s has ever been found: and from this circumstance, and the greater accuracy of its text, the former has usually been considered the authorized version. Yet strange to say the player editors of the First Folio, when they reprinted the work 23 years afterwards, adopted the text of Roberts, and appear to have been unacquainted altogether with the more correct quarto of Fisher. Tradition in Stratford holds that it was first performed under the tree in the garden of Alveston Manor.