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OBSERVATIONS.

THIS play has many just sentiments, some natural dialogues, and some pleasing scenes, but they are obtained at the expence of much incongruity. To remark the folly of the fiction, the absurdity of the conduct, the confusion of the names, and manners of different times, and the impossibility of the events in any system of life, were to waste criticism upon unresisting imbecility, upon faults too evident for detection, and too gross for aggravation. JOHNSON.

Mr. Pope supposed the story of this play to have been taken from a novel of Boccace; but he was mistaken, as an imitation of it is found in an old story-book entitled, Westward for Smelts. This imitation differs in as many particulars from the Italian novelist, as from Shakspeare, though they concur in the more considerable parts of the fable. This is the only copy of it which I have hitherto seen.

Some few hints, relating to Cymbeline, are taken from Holinshed:

"Kymbeline, says he, (as some write) was brought up at "Rome, and there was made knight by Augustus Cæsar, un"der whom he served in the wars, and was in such favour "with him, that he was at liberty to pay his tribute or not." ." Yet we find in the Roman writers, that after Ju"lius Cæsar's death, when Augustus had taken upon him the "rule of the empire, the Britons refused to pay that tribute." "But whether the controversy, which appeared to "fall forth betwixt the Britons and Augustus, was occasioned " by Kymbeline, I have not a vouch."

......

"Kymbeline reigned thirty five-years, leaving be"hind him two sons, Guiderius and Arviragus." STEEVENS

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

CYMBELINE, king of Britain.

CLOTEN, son to the queen by a former husband. LEONATUS POSTHUMUS, a gentleman, husband to Imogen.

BELARIUS, a banished lord, disguised under the name of Morgan.

GUIDERIUS,

ARVIRAGUS,

sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the
names of Polydore and Cadwal, sup-
posed sons to Belarius.

PHILARIO, friend to Posthumus, Italians.
IACHIMO, friend to Philario,

A French Gentleman, friend to Philario.
CAIUS LUCIUS, general of the Roman forces.
A Roman Captain. Two British Captains.
PISANIO, servant to Posthumus.
CORNELIUS, a physician.

Two Gentlemen.

Two Gaolers.

Queen, wife to Cymbeline.

IMOGEN, daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen. HELEN, woman to Imogen.

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions, a Soothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish · Gentleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE-80metimes in Britain; sometimes in Italy.

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