The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 22.0041 Friday, 11 February 2011
From: Robert C. Evans <
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Date: Thursday, February 3, 2011 9:06:52 PM ET
Subject: Request for Help
Dear Colleagues,
I have been asked to complete a lengthy reference book dealing with Shakespeare -- a book that was close
to completion when its author passed. I have been reading through the volume, correcting typos and
formatting the work in a uniform manner.
The chief problem I am facing is that the author used quotations from different editions of Shakespeare's
works but did not cite the editions. I'm sure he intended to do this later. I had assumed that it would
be relatively easy to figure out which editions he used, but this has not been the case. I have checked
many quotations from the plays against most of the standard editions and have had little luck. I believe
he used the Signet Complete Shakespeare for some of the tragedies and histories, but I have not been able
to determine for sure which edition(s) he used for other plays, including most of the comedies and
romances.
I am hoping that some helpful Shakespeareans (almost a redundancy) may be willing to check a few
quotations against various editions in their private libraries and offer opinions about which editions
these quotations may come from. I have chosen mostly prose quotations, or verse quotations that come
after lengthy pieces of proses, because the line numbering of in such cases is likely to be unique to
specific editions.
If you have the time to help, I will be glad to cite your help in the acknowledgments of the book. The
best address at which to write to me is
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; if you could please use the subject heading
Shakespeare Editions, that will help me search for the emails later so I can acknowledge any who helped.
With many thanks,
Robert C. (Bob) Evans
Here are some sample quotations:
FROM ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL:
Helena. [. . .] There is your ring,
And look you, here's your letter. This it says:
When from my finger you can get this ring
And is by me with child, &c. This is done:
Will you be mine now you are doubly won?
Bertram. If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly
I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly. (5.3.304-10)
FROM AS YOU LIKE IT:
They say he is already in the forest of Arden, and a many merry men with him; and there they live like
the old Robin Hood of England. They say many young gentlemen flock to him every day, and fleet the time
carelessly, as they did in the golden world. (1.1.112-17)
+++++
FROM AS YOU LIKE IT:
Rosalind. [. . .] Am I not your Rosalind?
Orlando. I take some joy to say you are, because I would be talking of her.
Rosalind. Well, in her person, I say I will not have you.
Orlando. Then in mine own person, I die.
Rosalind. No, faith, die by attorney. The poor world is almost six thousand years old, and in all
this time there was not any man died in his own person, videlicet, in a love-cause. Troilus had his
brains dashed out with a Grecian club, yet he did what he could to die before, and he is one of the
patterns of love. Leander, he would have lived many a fair year though Hero had turned nun, if it had not
been for a hot midsummer night; for, good youth, he went but forth to wash him in the Hellespont, and
being taken with the cramp, was drowned, and the foolish chroniclers of that age found it was Hero of
Sestos. But these are all lies: men have died from time to time and worms have eaten them, but not for
love. (4.1.84-104)
+++++
FROM HENRY VI PART 2:
CADE What canst thou answer to my majesty for giving up of Normandy unto Monsieur Basimecu, the
Dauphin of France? [ . . . .] Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm in erecting a
grammar school; and, whereas before our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou
hast caused printing to be used [. . . .] It will be proved to thy face that thou hast men about thee
that usually talk of a noun and a verb, and such abominable words as no Christian ear can endure to hear.
Thou hast appointed justices of peace, to call poor men before them, about matters they were not able to
answer. Moreover, thou hast put them in prison, and because they could not read thou hast hanged them,
when indeed only for that cause they have been most worthy to live. Thou doest ride on a foot-cloth, dost
thou not?
SAYE What of that?
CADE Marry, thou ought'st not to let thy horse wear a cloak when honester men than thou go in their
hose and doublets. (4.7.23-47)
FROM LOVE'S LABOR'S LOST:
Some certain honours it pleaseth his greatness to impart to Armado, a soldier, a man of travel, that hath
seen the world: but let that pass. The very all of all is, but sweet heart, I do implore secrecy, that
the king would have me present the princess, sweet chuck, with some delightful ostentation, or show or
pageant, antic, or firework. (5.1.97-104)
FROM TWELFTH NIGHT:
Bonos dies, Sir Toby; for, as the old hermit of Prague, that never saw pen and ink, very wittily said to
a niece of King Gorboduc, "that that is is"; so, I, being Master Parson, am Master Parson; for what is
"that" but that, and "is" but is? (4.2.13-17)
FROM TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA:
first, you have learned [. . .] to wreathe your arms like a malcontent, to relish a love song
like a robin redbreast, to walk alone like one who had the pestilence, to sigh like a schoolboy that had
lost his ABC, to weep like a young wench that had buried her grandam [. . . .] (2.1.18-23).
_______________________________________________________________
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Hardy M. Cook,
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