(Vol. iii., p. 140.)
In answer to MR. HALLIWELL's Query, "whether the remarkable passage
respecting Shakspeare in this work has descended to us in its genuine
state," I beg to inform him that I possess a copy of the edition of
1596, as well as of those of 1617 and 1621, from the latter of which the
reprint by Sir Egerton Brydges was taken, and that the passage in
question is exactly the same in all the three editions. For the general
information of your readers interested in Greene's works, I beg to
state, that the variations in the edition of 1596 from the other two,
consist of the words "written before his death, and published at his
dying request," on the title; and instead of the introductory address
"To Wittie Poets, or Poeticall Wittes," signed I. H., there are a few
lines on A 2, "The Printer to the Gentle Readers:"
"I haue published heere, Gentlemen, for your mirth and benefit,
Greene's Groateswoorth of Wit. With sundry of his pleasant
discourses ye haue beene before delighted: But now hath death
giuen a period to his pen, onely this happened into my hands which
I haue published for your pleasures: Accept it fauourably because
it was his last birth, and not least worth, in my poore opinion.
But I will cease to praise that which is aboue my conceit, and
leaue it selfe to speake for it selfe: and so abide your learned
censuring.
"Yours, W. W."
Then follows another short address, "To the Gentlemen Readers," by
Greene himself; and as this edition is so rare, only two copies being
known, and the address is short, I transcribe it entire for your
insertion:
"Gentlemen, The Swan sings melodiously before death, that in all
his life time vseth but a iarring sound. _Greene_, though able
inough to write, yet deeplyer searched with sicknesse than euer
heretofore, sendes you his swanne-like song, for that he feares he
shall neuer againe carroll to you woonted loue layes, neuer againe
discouer to you youth's pleasures. Howeuer yet sicknesse, riot,
incontinence, haue at once shown their extremitie, yet if I
recouer, you shall all see more fresh springs then euer sprang
from me, directing you how to liue, yet not diswading you from
loue. This is the last I haue writ, and I feare me the last I
shall write. And how euer I haue beene censured for some of my
former bookes, yet, Gentlemen, I protest, they were as I had
special information. But passing them, I commend this to your
fauourable censures, and like an Embrion without shape, I feare me
will bee thrust into the world. If I liue to ende it, it shall be
otherwise: if not, yet will I commend it to your courtesies, that
you may as wel be acquainted with my repentant death, as you haue
lamented my carelesse course of life. But as _Nemo ante obitum
felix_, so _Acta exitus probat_: Beseeching therefore to bee
deemed hereof as I deserue, I leaue the worke to your liking, and
leaue you to your delights."
Greene died in September, 1592; and this is curious, as being probably
the last thing that ever came from his pen.
The work commences on sig. A 4, the other three leaves being occupied
with the title and the two addresses. It concludes with Greene's "letter
written to his wife," and has not "Greene's Epitaph: Discoursed
Dialogue-wise betweene Life and Death," which is in the two later
editions.
I may here mention that I possess a copy of an extremely rare work
relating to Robert Greene, which has only lately become known, viz.:
"Greene's Newes both from Heaven and Hell. Prohibited the first
for writing of Bookes, and banished out of the last for displaying
of Connycatchers. Commended to the Presse by B. R." (Barnabee
Rich) 4to. bl. lett. Lond. 1593.
Concerning the great rarity of this interesting tract, which was unknown
to the Rev. A. Dyce when publishing his edition of Greene's works, your
readers may see a notice by Mr. Collier in his _Extracts from the
Registry of the Stat. Comp._, vol. ii. p. 233., apparently from the
present copy, no other being known.