Helen A. Clarke & Charlotte Porter 
Poet-Lore 
Monthly Magazine Devoted to Shake-Speare Browning and the Comparative Study of Literature

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. For the reasons which I shall presently state, I came to the con elusion that the first Opinion expressed by Mr. Halliwell-phillipps was the correct one, and on the assumption that in this Diary we have proof that Shakespeare took the side Of the Commoners in the enclosure dispute at stratford-on-avon, I proceeded to work out the results both with respect to Shakespeare’s own character, and the interpretation now to be put on many passages in his plays. Some of these results I stated in articles in the Contemporary Review and in the Athendum of June, 1885, as also in lectures delivered in 1886; and I prepared for a complete treatment of the whole subject in a projected book on Shakespeare as Citizen. My friend, Dr. Furnivall, however, questioned the reading Of that Shakespeare entry on which my fine superstructure was based. Let it all, I replied, like the baseless fabric Of a vision, dissolve, nor leave a wrack behind, if the foundation of it will not stand the test Of strict and impartial investigation: 1 SO Dr. Furnivall, having kindly offered me half an hour to make the best of my case before the experts of the New Shakspere Society, though not a member, I gladly availed myself of the chance of gaining fresh light on the subject from the criticisms that might be offered. And accordingly, Dr. F urnivall having then the chair, at a March meeting of the society in 1886, I read the paper now published for the first time.