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Dryden ſuppoſed Troilus and Creſſida to have been one of Shakſpeare’s earlieſt performances[1]; but has not mentioned on what principles he founded his judgment. Pope, on the other hand, thought it one of his laſt; grounding his opinion not only on the preface by the editor in 1609, but on “the great number of obſervations both moral and political with which this piece is crowded, more than any other of our author’s.” For my own part, were it not for the entry in the Stationers’ books, I ſhould have been led, both by the colour of the writing and by the abovementioned preface, to claſs it (though not one of our author’s happieſt effuſions) in 1608, rather than in that year in which it is here placed.
30. Measure for Measure, 1603.
This play was not regiſtered at Stationers’ hall, nor printed, till 1623. But from two paſſages in it, which ſeem intended as a courtly apology for the ſtately and ungracious demeanour of K. James I. on his entry into England, it appears probable that it was written ſoon after his acceſſion to the throne:
“ I’ll privily away. I love the people.
But do not like to ſtage me to their eyes.
Though it do well, I do not reliſh well
Their loud applauſe, and aves vehement;
Nor do I think the man of ſafe diſcretion
That does affect it.”
Meaſ. for Meaſ. Act I. ſc. i.
Again, Act II. ſc iv.
“ So
The general, ſubject to a well-wiſh’d king.
Quit their own part, and in obſequious fondneſs
Croud to his preſence, where their untaught love
Muſt needs appear offence[2].”
- ↑ “ The tragedy which I have undertaken to correct, was in all probability, one of his firſt endeavours on the ſtage.—Shakeſpeare (as I hinted) in the apprenticeſhip of his writing modelled it [the ſtory of Lollius] into that play which is now called by the name of Troilus and Creſſida.”—Dryden’s pref. to Troilus and Creſſida.
- ↑ See Mr. Tyrwhitt’s note.
