[ 333 ]
had ſcarcely unlearned the Scottiſh idiom, ſhould have been more hardy than any other poet of that age.
I am aware, it may be objected, that this writer might have formed a drama on this ſtory, not knowing that Shakſpeare had previouſly compoſed the tragedy of Julius Cæſar; and that, therefore, the publication of Mr. Alexander's play in 1607, is no proof that our author's performance did not then exiſt.—In anſwer to this objection, it may, perhaps, be ſufficient to obſerve, that Mr. Alexander had, before that year, very wiſely left the bleak fields of Menſtrie in Clackmananſhire, for a warmer and more courtly reſidence in London, having been appointed gentleman of the privy chamber to prince Henry; in which ſituation his literary curioſity muſt have been gratified by the earlieſt notice of the productions of his brother dramatiſts.
Lord Sterline's Julius Cæſar, though not printed till 1607, might have been written a year or two before; and perhaps its publication in that year was in conſequence of our author's play on the ſame ſubject being then firſt exhibited. The ſame obſervation may be made with reſpect to an anonymous performance, called The Tragedie of Cæſar and Pompey or Cæſar's Revenge[1], which was likewiſe printed in 1607. The ſubject of that piece is the defeat of Pompey at Pharſalia, the death of Julius, and the final overthrow of Brutus and Caſſius at Philippi. The attention of the town being, perhaps, drawn to the hiſtory of the hook-noſed fellow of Rome, by the exhibition of our author's Julius Cæſar, the bookſellers, who printed theſe two plays, might have flattered themſelves with the hope of an expeditious ſale for them at that time, eſpecially as Shakſpeare's play was not then publiſhed.
We have certain proof that Antony and Cleopatra was compoſed before the middle of the year 1608. An attentive review of that play and Julius Cæſar, will, I think, lead us to conclude that this latter was firſt written[2]. Not to inſiſt
NOTES.
- ↑ This play, as appears by the title-page, was privately acted by the ſtudents of Trinity College in Oxford. In the running title it is called The Tragedy of Julius Cæſar; perhaps the better to impoſe it on the publick for the performance of Shakſpeare.
- ↑ The following paſſages in Antony and Cleopatra, (and others of the ſame kind may perhaps be found) ſeem to me to diſcover ſuch a knowledge of the appropriated characters of the perſons exhibited
