[1] As this lecture was composed after the publication of my
_Shakespearean Tragedy_ I ignored in it, as far as possible, such
aspects of the play as were noticed in that book, to the Index of
which I may refer the reader.
[2] See Note A.
[3] 'Now whilest Antonius was busie in this preparation, Octavia his
wife, whom he had left at Rome, would needs take sea to come unto
him. Her brother Octauius Caesar was willing vnto it, not for his
respect at all (as most authors do report) as for that he might haue
an honest colour to make warre with Antonius if he did misuse her,
and not esteeme of her as she ought to be.'--_Life of Antony_
(North's Translation), sect. 29. The view I take does not, of course,
imply that Octavius had no love for his sister.
[4] See Note B.
[5] The point of this remark is unaffected by the fact that the play
is not divided into acts and scenes in the folios.
[6] See Note C.
[7] See Note D.
[8] Of the 'good' heroines, Imogen is the one who has most of this
spirit of fire and air; and this (in union, of course, with other
qualities) is perhaps the ultimate reason why for so many readers she
is, what Mr. Swinburne calls her, 'the woman above all Shakespeare's
women.'