THE

PLAYS

OF

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE,

ACCURATELY PRINTED FROM

The Text of the Corrected Copy left by the late

GEORGE STEEVENS, ESQ.

WITH

GLOSSARIAL NOTES,

AND

A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF SHAKSPEARE,

IN EIGHT VOLUMES.
VOL. I.

LONDON:

Printed for J. Nichols and Son; F. C. and J. Ri
vington; J. Stockdale; W. Lowndes; G. Wilkie and
J. Robinson; T. Egerton; J. Walker; J. Nunn; W.
Clarke and Son; J. Barker and Son; J. Cuthell; R.
Lea; Lackington and Co.; J. Deighton; J. White
and Co.; C. Law; B. Crosby and Co.; W. Earle;
J. Gray and Son; G. Robinson; Longman and Co.;
Cadell and Davies; J. Harding; R. H. Evans;
J. Booker; S. Bagster; J. Mawman; Black and Co.;
J.Richardson; J. Booth; Newman and Co.; R. Phe-
ney; R. Scholey; J. Asperne; J. Faulder; R. Bald.
win; Cradock and Joy; J. Mackinlay; J. Johnson and
Co.; Gale and Curtis; and Wilson and Son, York.

S. Hamilton, Printer, Weybridge.

SKETCH OF THE LIFE

OF

SHAKSPEARE.

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE was born at Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire, on the 23d day of April, 1564. His family was above the vulgar rank. His father, John Shakspeare, was a considerable dealer in wool, and had been an officer of the corporation of Stratford. He was likewise a justice of the peace, and at one time a man of considerable property. This last, however, appears to have been lost by some means, in the latter part of his life. His wife was the daughter and heiress of Robert Arden, of Wellington, in the county of Warwick, by whom he had a family of ten children.