There are 2,350 quotations in this Anthology, of which 95 are taken from Shakespeare, 30 from the plays and 65 from the poems. The above is numbered 1,292, under the heading:
Revels, dances, masks and merry howers, Forerun faire love strowing her way with flowers.
Although not a rare book, it is of priceless value to the Elizabethan student. Extracts from extant plays being assigned to their proper authors, notwithstanding that the plays in which they appeared were printed anonymously.
Sometimes the editor goes astray and assigns the wrong name to an author; in this work there are 130 such attributions. This important book has been splendidly edited in recent years by Mr. Charles Crawford, who must have spent laborious hours in tracing the different extracts and allotting them to their rightful owners. Every lover of Elizabethan poetry should possess this book, which can be purchased for quite a moderate sum. I should mention that in a dedication to Sir Thomas Mounson the writer signs himself “R. A.” Farmer, the Shakesperean scholar of the eighteenth century, saw a copy with the name Robert Allot printed at length, and ever since, this author has always been considered the editor of this Anthology.
I will play three myself (three characters). V, 1, 150.
Our wrong doth not end like an old play; Jack hath not Jill. V, 2, 884.
A twelvemonth and a day, and then ’twill end, That’s too long for a play. V, 2, 883.
Their shallow shows and prologues vilely penned. V, 2, 305.
Worthies away! the scene begins to cloud. V, 2, 730.
Of these four Worthies, in their first show thrive, These four will change habits. V, 2, 541.
There is five in the first show. V, 2, 543.
It should have followed in the end of our show. V, 2, 898.
The King would have me present the Princess with some delightful ostentation or show a pageant or antic or firework. V, I, 115.
He is not quantity enough for that Worthy’s thumb. V, I, 138.
For the rest of the Worthies? I will play three myself. V, I, 149.
I will play on the tabor to the Worthies. V, I, 161.
They would know whether the three Worthies should come in. V, 2, 486.
I know not the degree of a Worthy but I stand for him. V, 2, 508.
Here is like to be a good presence of Worthies. V, 2, 537.