Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/288

[ 272 ] In the following attempt to trace the progres of his dramatick art, probability alone is pretended to. The ilence and inaccuracy of thoe perons, who, after his death had the revial of his papers, will perhaps for ever prevent our attaining to any thing like proof on this head. Little then remains, but to collect into one view, from his everal dramas, and from the ancient tracts in which they are mentioned, or alluded to, all the circumtances that can throw any light on this new and curious enquiry. From thee circumtances, and from the entries in the books of the Stationers’ company, extracted and now firt publihed by Mr. Steevens, (to whom every admirer of Shakpeare has the highet obligations), it is probable, that the plays attributed to our author were written nearly in the following ucceSS undefinedion; which, though it cannot at this day be acertained to be their true order, may yet be conidered as approaching nearer to it, than any which has been oberved in the various editions of his works. The rejected pieces are here enumerated with the ret; but no opinion is thereby meant to be given concerning their authenticity.

Of the nineteen genuine plays which were not printed in our author's life-time, the majority were, I believe, late compoitions. The following arrangement is in ome