Excerpt from The Comedies, Histories, Tragedies, and Poems of William Shakspere, Vol. 1

Some of the incidents in this play may be supposed to have been taken from The Arcadia, Book I. chap. vi. where Pyrocles consents to head the Helots. (The Arcadia was entered on the books of the Stationers' Company, August 23d, 1588.) The love-adventure of Julia resembles that of Viola in Twelfth Night, and is indeed common to many of the ancient novels. Steevens.

Mrs. Lenox observes, and I think not improbably, that the story of Proteus and Julia might be taken from a similar one in the "Diana" of George of Montemayor. - "This pastoral romance," says she, "was translated from the Spanish, in Shakspeare's time." I have seen no earlier translation than that of Bartholomew Yong, who dates his dedication in November, 1598; and Meres, in his Wit's Treasury, printed the same year, expressly mentions the Two Gentlemen of Verona. Indeed, Montemayor was translated two or three years before, by one Thomas Wilson; but this work, I am persuaded, was never published entirely; perhaps some parts of it were, or the tale might have been translated by others. However, Mr. Steevens says, very truly, that this kind of love-adventure is frequent in the old novelists. Farmer.

There is no earlier translation of the Diana entered on the books of the Stationers' Company, than that of B. Younge, Sept. 1598. Many translations, however, after they were licensed, were capriciously suppressed. Among others, "The Decameron of Mr. John Boccace, Florentine," was "recalled by my lord of Canterbury's commands." Steevens.

It is observable (I know not for what cause) that the style of this comedy is less figurative, and more natural and unaffected, than the greater part of this author's, though supposed to be one of the first he wrote. Pope.

It may very well be doubted whether Shakspeare had any other hand in this play than the enlivening it with some speeches and lines thrown in here and there, which are easily distinguished, as being of a different stamp from the rest. Hanmer.

To this observation of Mr. Pope, which is very just, Mr. Theobald has added, that this is one of Shakspeare's "worst plays, and is less corrupted than any other." Mr. Upton peremptorily determines, "that if any proof can be drawn from manner and style, this play must be sent packing, and seek for its parent elsewhere.

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