PLATES.

KING LEAR.

THE date assumed for the occurrences which form the plot of this celebrated tragedy is after the Romans had been in Britain, but before the arrival of the Saxons. The costume entails some disadvantages from want of variety and, in many instances, want of elegance; but it has been deemed right to complete these illustrations upon the principle laid down of strict antiquarian accuracy; and it is hoped that character will amply atone for casual inelegancies, and the want of variety in the individual instance be compensated by the much greater variety obtained in the whole work, in consequence of adhering to the truth, instead of reducing all costumes to one standard.

The first scene has been condensed. LEAR divides his kingdom between GONERIL and REGAN, and

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curses CORDELIA; KENT intercedes, and FRANCE claims his bride, at one moment, though in the play these events follow one another. This licence has been taken in some other plates, as in No. 3., where LEAR strikes the steward, GONERIL is supposed to see it, though in the text she does not enter for some time afterwards; and EDGAR, after EDMUND has fallen, is made to discover himself immediately. These trifling adaptations are absolutely necessary to convey the spirit of the scene, when translating from poetry to painting.