Bővebb ismertető
INTRODUCTION.1. the date of the play.In determining the year in which a play of Shakespeare was composed, we must note three kinds of evidence: (1)Wholly external. This includes the entries of the publication of plays in the registers of the Stationers' Company (the earliest entry of an undoubted play by Shakespeare is that of Richard II., August 29, 1597); the mention of Shakespeare's writings in contemporary books or documents of ascertained dates; allusion to, quotations from, or imitations of, passages in a play of Shakespeare by a contemporary writer in a work whose date is known.(2)Partly external and partly internal. This includes allusions in the play to historical events whose dates are known, and quotations from, allusions to, or matter derived from, a book of known date. We may then infer that the play is of later date than the event or book to which reference is made.(3)Wholly internal. In the early plays we notice frequent puns and conceits, numerous classical allusions, many rimes, and some exaggerated figures. The verse is unbroken and regular, the pause invariably occurring at the end of the line. In the later plays we have fewer puns, conceits or classical allusions, scarcely any rimes, and simpler and grander figures; the verse is broken and irregular, and the pause occurs in the most convenient place, thus giving greater variety and vivacity to the verse, and making it more natural.Let us now apply those tests to Twelfth Night.The play was printed for the first time in the First Folio (1623). In the diary of John Manningliam, a barrister of the Middle Temple, occurs on Feb. 2, 1602, the following entry:"At our feast we had a play called Twelfth Night, or What You Will. A good practice in it to make the steward believe his lady widow was in love with him by counterfeiting a letter, as from his lady, in general terms, telling him what she liked best in him, and prescribing his gesture in smiling, his apparel, &c. And then when he came to practise making him believe they took him to be mad." It is noteworthy that Manningham does not mention the name of the dramatist.The " new map of the Indies", spoken about in act iii. 2. 69, isvii