Page:Shakespeare of Stratford (1926) Yale.djvu/126

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110
Shakespeare of Stratford

Note. The immense and undeserved popularity of Pericles was proverbial through all the long period represented by these quotations.


XI. Othello, 1610.

Extract from the diary of Prince Lewis Frederick of Würtemberg, kept by his secretary, H. J. Wurmsser, chronicling his visit to England in 1610.

Monday, April 30, 1610. His Excellency went to the Globe, the usual place where comedies are played. There was represented the history of the Moor of Venice.[1]


XII. Macbeth, 1610.

Entry in Dr. Simon Forman’s Diary, April 20, 1610.

In Macbeth at the Globe, 1610, the 20. of April, Saturday, there was to be observed, first, how Macbeth and Banquo, two noblemen of Scotland, riding through a wood, there stood before them three women, fairies or nymphs, and saluted Macbeth, saying three times unto him: Hail, Macbeth, King of Codon [sic], for thou shalt be a king, but shalt beget no kings, ete. Then said Banquo: What, all to Macbeth and nothing to me? Yes, said the nymphs, Hail to thee, Banquo; thou shalt beget kings, yet be no king. And so they departed and came to the court of Scotland, to Duncan King of Scots, and it was in the days of Edward the Confessor. And Duncan bade them both kindly welcome, and made Macbeth forthwith Prince of Northumberland and sent him home to his own castle, and appointed Macbeth to provide for him, for he would

  1. Translated. ‘Lundi, 30. S. E. alla au Globe, lieu ordinaire ou l’on joue les commedies, y fut representé l’histoire du More de Venise.’