Poems written by Mr. William Shakespeare.

A sweet early edition of Shakespeare's poems, comprising his narrative works Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece, together with the most-part of his sonnets, here published under the general title 'Poems on several Occasions'.

These are arranged thematically under sub-titles and printed alongside excerpts from A Lover's Complaint, The Passionate Pilgrim (mostly not by Shakespeare), The Phoenix and the Turtle (attributed to Shakespeare), and elegies and other poems in honour of Shakespeare by Jonson, Milton, Digges, Herrick, Strode, Carew, and others.

The text follows that of the first collected edition published in 1640 by John Benson, with the addition of an index of the sub-titles.

First edition; 8vo (18.5 x 12 cm); engraved vignette-title, ownership inscription in pen to title, reinforced to verso with archival tape, initials in pen to front free endpaper, ownership inscription in pen to E4 verso and in pencil to P8 verso, a little toned with occasional light spotting, a few fold lines; contemporary calf, rebacked preserving original gilt spine in 6 compartments, contrasting red morocco lettering-piece, headcap chipped with loss, corners bumped, a little rubbed, very good; [2], viii, 250pp.

ESTC T138089; Jaggard p.435.