Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/297

[ 281 ] ances he eems to have been extremely fond, its imperfect verification, its artles and deultory dialogue, and the irregularity of the compoition, may be all urged in upport of this conjecture. Love’s Labour Lot was not entered at Stationers’ hall till the 23d of January 1606, but is mentioned by Francis Meres in his Wit’s Treaury, or the Second Part of Wit’s Commonwealth, in 1598, and was printed in that year. In the title page of this edition, (the oldet hitherto dicovered) this piece is aid to have been preented before her highnes [Queen Elizabeth] the lat Chritmas [1597], and to be newly corrected and augmented: from which it hould eem, that there had been a former impreSS undefinedion. Mr. Gildon, in his obervations on Love’s Labour Lot ays, “ he cannot ee why the author gave it this name.”—The following lines exhibit the train of thoughts, which probably uggeted to Shakpeare this title, as well as that which anciently was affixed to another of his comedies—Love’s Labour Won. “ To be in love where corn is bought with groans, Coy looks with heart-ore ighs; one fading moment’s mirth With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights: If haply won, perhaps a haples gain; If lot, why then a grievous labour won.” Two Gentlemen of Verona. Act. I. c. i.