THE COPY FOR THE TEXTS OF 1597 AND 1623

Summary

Four of the early texts of Richard II are of interest to an editor: the First Quarto printed in 1597 (Q.), the version included in the First Folio of 1623 (F.), the Quarto of 1608, which gives evidence of a recent revival of the play, and in which the ‘Deposition’ scene was first published (Qc), and the Quarto of 1615 (Qd) a copy of which, after undergoing ‘correction’ in the playhouse, was used by the printers of the Folio text. Moved by the discovery of a new and hitherto unrecorded edition of the play (Qw) in the library of Mr W. A. White of the United States, Dr A. W. Pollard has subjected the Quarto and Folio texts of Richard II to the most exhaustive bibliographical enquiry they are likely to receive for many years to come. All I need do here is to set down his findings, with which, except for one matter, I find myself in complete agreement.

Dr Pollard contends that the Quarto of 1597 was printed from Shakespeare's own manuscript (with the ‘Deposition’ scene cut out) after the play had finished its run upon the stage. This is by far the most important of his conclusions, and though in the nature of the case it remains a theory, it is never likely to be challenged. It marks too a turning-point in the history of the editing of the play.